Taking any amount of time off work can be anxiety provoking, even if it’s for a happy event like having or adopting a baby.
You’ve got a lot to plan for and you want everything to go smoothly while you’re away on parental leave.
To get over those nerves, it’s helpful to remember that your team is there to support you.
It’s really important to be collaborative and plan thoroughly with your colleagues so when you’re on leave, they know exactly what needs to be done to make things run smoothly at work.
You will have more time to be focused on what you need to know as new parents at home when you know that at worked things were being covered.
Parents often talk about enlisting “the village” — their team of allies who support them.
If you’re an expecting parent, take advantage of your team at work. Let them help you create a leave plan that makes sense for everyone — and that allows you to focus on your new responsibilities at home.
To effectively plan your parental leave with your team:
1. Create a coverage plan with your boss
Work with your manager on a detailed coverage plan for when you’re away.
Define your responsibilities, describe where projects stand, and identify which colleagues will fill in for you and how.
2. Involve your colleagues
Consult with the people who will be covering for you.
Answer any questions they have about your projects or processes.
Then ask for feedback on the transition plan you’ve laid out.
If need be, carve out time for training or to introduce them to your contacts.
Collaboration is key.
3. Offer to stay in the loop, but set boundaries
Taking time to bond with your child is the priority.
But if you want to keep tabs on how things are going, you can schedule two or three check-ins with your boss during your leave.
This isn’t legally required and is entirely up to you.
It’s also considerate to let your colleagues know that you’re reachable in case anything critical comes up.
But again, what’s best for your family takes precedence, so establish clear boundaries.
4. Prepare to let go
Enjoy your time off with family.
It can be tempting to try to stay on top of work, but trust the colleagues filling in for you.
While you might schedule some check-ins with your manager, generally, your focus going into leave should be on your new child.
Getting ready to go on leave can be nerve-racking.
There’s so much to plan for, and you want everything to go well while you’re away.
But rely on your team at work.
The more you can involve them in your planning, the more you’ll be able to enjoy your time off.
A real-time example:
The first time I adopted, I underestimated how much my team wanted to be involved in helping me through that process.
I felt like it was something I had to bear alone.
This time around in this adoption, I felt so much more empowered to say,
“Hey guys, I need help. I can’t do this by myself.”
I’m going to need help in these critical areas.
These are things I can’t juggle while I’m gone or I’m just not going to have any line of sight in too.
So I’ve been a lot more open and humble in saying, “I need help.”
