When you become a mom, you don’t just learn how to parent, you learn a valuable set of skills that can help you in your business as well. I know having kids has helped me to run my business better.
- Time management. Moms underestimate their ability to manage their time effectively. There is nothing more productive than a mom during nap time or while their child is at school. A mom who works from home probably gets more done while her child is at school that people who are in an office get done in two days.
- Logistics. If you thought managing the diary of a CEO or working distribution centre schedules was tough, think again. Managing the diaries of children takes logistics to a new level. This has been particularly useful for me when I am planning client meetings or trying to assist clients with projects that require logistical planning.
- Multi-tasking. It is very seldom that you will find a mom doing one thing at a time. Yes, she may be working on your report but in between she is scanning her child’s class WhatsApp group, replying to emails and probably cooking dinner. This skill is particularly useful when you run a business, it means you can get more done than most people.
- Crisis Management. If you are a mom reading this you will know all about this. You are sitting in a meeting and the message pops up “Mom I left my science project on the table” or your husband “Forgot about my meeting, can’t fetch kids” (the latter is usually sent 5 min before the school is about to close). Being able to crisis manage is a vital tool for running your own business.
- If you have a toddler you will know all about how parenting provides you with some of the best negotiation skills in the world. Toddlers teach you pretty much every negotiation skill that is known to man. These will come in handy when you are negotiating with new clients or trying to negotiate the terms of a contract.
- Moms can budget better than any finance minister in any country. We know how to handle un-expected expenses, which are pretty much a monthly occurrence. Moms learn how to stretch pennies and make sure everyone has everything they need when they need it. When you start your own business, there is often little cash flow so you must make it work with what you have, moms know all about this.
While we can’t, as moms, put any of this on to our CV’s. These skills all help us to run our businesses and run them well. Most moms probably don’t even realise just how good they are at these things because it becomes such a big part of who they are.
4 Responses
these are all such good points!
Jasmine Hewitt recently posted…5 Reasons Mothers Are Crazy Obsessed With Yoga Pants
Yes to all of these! I am a stay-at-home mom, but most recently before that, I was a business manager – responsible for lots of HR & finance and oversight.
I often think about how many transferable skills motherhood has taught me, many of which you listed here. It’s incredible how much parenting has to teach us!
This is so true. Being a mom has helped me with all of these things.
These are great points especially the crisis management! I can totally solve major problems with a baby on my hip and delegate to my kid squad so much better after becoming a mom!