Worried about losing authority while on maternity leave

[Anonymous]

I know I'm lucky that I have five months of maternity leave coming up. But, I just earned a promotion into a position of a lot of authority, and I'm concerned that I will lose my place, symbolically, as a leader while I'm out for so long. At the same time, I really want to take the whole five months (that I've earned- it's mostly accrued vacation time) to bond with my baby. Anyone BTDT? Advice?

[Anonymous]

Once baby arrives, you won't have time to think about small stuff like this.

[Anonymous]

The surest way to lose your power is to be fearful of losing it. Project confidence. Believe in yourself. You got this promotion because you earned it. Own the position before and after your leave.

[Anonymous]

Who is going to do your job while you are on leave?
That's who I'd be concerned about.
The first time I went on leave, the person who did my job ended up keeping some of my duties. The second time I went on leave, someone was promoted into a position that made my position redundant. At the end of the day, I landed on my feet but you are right to be concerned.

[Anonymous]

Check in frequently. With my first I checked email daily starting at 3 weeks. I participated in meetings via conference call on occasion. For my second, I was able to check email from the hospital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who is going to do your job while you are on leave?
That's who I'd be concerned about.
The first time I went on leave, the person who did my job ended up keeping some of my duties. The second time I went on leave, someone was promoted into a position that made my position redundant. At the end of the day, I landed on my feet but you are right to be concerned.

Agree with this. I could take 5 months off at my organization and my employees and my boss and a few other folks would cobble something together but I know none of them would be scrambling for my job. OP, in your place I would only worry if you think there's someone who would try to completely take over while you're gone. Otherwise, people do go on maternity leave, people get sick with cancer, people leave and visit family overseas for 2-3 months ... It happens. I wouldn't stress too much about it and just be ready to do a good job when you get back! Which is easier said than done!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who is going to do your job while you are on leave?
That's who I'd be concerned about.
The first time I went on leave, the person who did my job ended up keeping some of my duties. The second time I went on leave, someone was promoted into a position that made my position redundant. At the end of the day, I landed on my feet but you are right to be concerned.

Agree with this. I could take 5 months off at my organization and my employees and my boss and a few other folks would cobble something together but I know none of them would be scrambling for my job. OP, in your place I would only worry if you think there's someone who would try to completely take over while you're gone. Otherwise, people do go on maternity leave, people get sick with cancer, people leave and visit family overseas for 2-3 months ... It happens. I wouldn't stress too much about it and just be ready to do a good job when you get back! Which is easier said than done!

Thank you, this is helpful. No one will be jockeying for the position and I'm not worried about being made redundant. It's more psychological for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once baby arrives, you won't have time to think about small stuff like this.

How condescending- my career will no longer be important once I have a child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check in frequently. With my first I checked email daily starting at 3 weeks. I participated in meetings via conference call on occasion. For my second, I was able to check email from the hospital.

+1. I didn't do meetings but responded to important emails once a week or so instead of waiting for my "substitute" to respond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once baby arrives, you won't have time to think about small stuff like this.

How condescending- my career will no longer be important once I have a child?

np I doubt that's what pp meant--you're overreacting.

[Anonymous]

5 months is great bc you'll be ready to go back and kick ass. I took a more standard 12 weeks and for me it meant pumping a lot and head still in baby land a bit. I would be careful about the daily check ins approach--is that the message you want to send to your team, a la Melissa Mayer? I think you might have more authority if you are totally gone and then come back with high expectations. Sets clear boundaries. But it depends on you and your team and company culture and you know those better than we do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once baby arrives, you won't have time to think about small stuff like this.

How condescending- my career will no longer be important once I have a child?

Uhh... Sorry. That's not what I meant. You sound very insecure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once baby arrives, you won't have time to think about small stuff like this.

How condescending- my career will no longer be important once I have a child?

Uhh... Sorry. That's not what I meant. You sound very insecure.

Yeah, if this is OP, I see the concern that led you to post . I get that you are hormonal now but top pp is right--your perspective is going to shift somewhat when the baby is here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check in frequently. With my first I checked email daily starting at 3 weeks. I participated in meetings via conference call on occasion. For my second, I was able to check email from the hospital.

Yeah, don't do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check in frequently. With my first I checked email daily starting at 3 weeks. I participated in meetings via conference call on occasion. For my second, I was able to check email from the hospital.

Worst examples/advice ever. Please do not check any email from the hospital unless it has to do with congratulating you on your new baby.