Return to work post-maternity leave

When returning back to my role as a management consultant after maternity leave, I knew I would require some extra support and focus on how to make it work. I was concerned about how I would achieve the right balance between work and home life and how I would transition to a new part-time working pattern with a demanding, client-facing role. All whilst continuing to develop my career and keep some glimpse of sanity!

I can honestly say I don’t know how I would have done it without Helen’s coaching and support. In the coaching time we had together, Helen would manage to transform my mindset from, at times, being in a place of existential crisis (i.e. “can I do this anymore?”) to feeling positive and empowered with the actions and toolkit to go forward. Helen has an incredibly high EQ and can quickly tune into the said and unsaid, to ask insightful questions that really get to the heart of the issue. Helen created a safe space, where I could be completely honest about how I was thinking/feeling and provided the right balance of both challenge and empathy. Each session, she would hold me to account for the actions I’d set for myself in the previous session and I found this accountability and dedicated time to reflect very helpful.

Coaching isn’t about giving you all the answers, but when done well, really forces you to engage with your own internal rationale and preconceptions - in this way, I think is truly transformative. Thank you so much Helen – I highly recommend Helen to anyone who is grappling with a professional or personal challenge or transition point – I would not hesitate to ask Helen for further coaching support in the future.