Preparing your maternity leave and learn to delegate
Testimonial by Caroline Webster, Human Resources Manager
For the past three years, Caroline Webster has been the HR manager for the logistics platform of a large U.S. manufacturer of mechanical shovels. The young 30-year-old is in charge of recruiting, training and managerial coaching of executives on this 220-person team. In a few months, she will be having a baby. To prepare for her coming maternity leave, she is training her replacement.
Up to now, how did you organize your absences?
Usually, when I go on vacation, I am not replaced. I take leave in August and at Christmas, when my company shuts down. I always try to do as much as I can before and after. I train my assistants to manage simple things that can’t wait, such as work accidents. They provide the link with my managers. More technical projects such as staff training can wait until my return.
Will your pregnancy affect this company?
Yes, of course! This temporary fix won’t be able to work during my four to five months off work. And when I come back, I won’t be able to immediately pick up my usual pace. Last May, I therefore hired a trainee to work with. Given her skills and motivation, I plan to hire her as HR assistant. When I go on maternity leave, she will replace me for recruiting and training personnel. The more managerial duties will be taken up by the managers in the company’s various departments.
Is it difficult to be replaced, even temporarily?
Like everyone, I have a certain fear of delegating. I’m one of those people who need recognition, and to my mind, work is a major source of fulfillment. Many managers fear losing a bit of their power by being replaced. It can be tempting to not hire extra people and try to do everything yourself. Out of necessity, I will have to delegate more than I do now. The question is how to find my niche when I get back. I’ll have to transform the quantitative—working 12 hours a day—into the qualitative, i.e. by bringing true added value to my area of expertise and developing managerial abilities.
Worried?
Not really. I have increasingly greater self-confidence. . . Our corporate culture is to provide managers with career plans. My absence will be taken care of, while for a smaller company it would have been more of a problem. And then again, you have to put things in perspective—my replacement is straight out of school, while I have seven years of experience!