Alice Gilbert is Head of Client Services at B2B tech marketing specialist Fox Agency.
As a mother in a senior leadership position, Alice discusses the importance of a work-life balance from a mum’s perspective and how flexible working can help businesses flourish.
The pandemic has shifted many organisations’ perspectives on how they view flexible working structures. When the pandemic first struck, employees were compelled to work from home, as they were unable to enter the office due to government restrictions. This ushered in a fundamental shift for businesses, as employers realised people could still work effectively from their own homes.
As restrictions ease, it is evident that the pandemic has changed how companies view flexible working, and many more have started to adopt a more flexible working pattern. This shift in work structure is a huge asset for many, especially people like me who have families, as time is no longer divided between home-life and office-life.
Finding an employer who is supportive of a flexible work schedule was vital for me. When I returned to work following maternity leave, I wanted to work for a company that valued work-life balance and would support me to achieve my career goals while allowing me to spend precious time with my daughter.
Happily, Fox Agency offered me this balance and provided the flexibility I was looking for. I’ve since been promoted twice, and I am now part of the Executive team, where I’m in charge of directing Client Services and implementing the agency’s ambitious expansion plans. This demonstrates that welcoming a flexible approach can result in great outcomes and be hugely beneficial for both employee and employer.
Hybrid working
Having adopted a hybrid working model, Fox Agency embraces the best of both worlds. I find being in the office is more conducive to collaborative working as I can interact more easily with my colleagues, but it’s equally beneficial to have the option to work from home when I really need to focus. Additionally, having the flexibility to stay home has been really handy as I can accommodate drop off/pick up routines and save valuable time by not commuting to the office every day.
Numerous studies show that most workers prefer a hybrid working style, as they may divide their time between the office and home to fit their lives and schedule. Employers acknowledging that many talented individuals value flexibility as a top priority when applying for jobs can attract a wider pool of talent that bolsters creativity and brings new ideas to the table.
The Client Services team and I work cohesively together; as many of us are working parents we empathise with each other’s situations. This has been a great asset for our day-to-day activities, and I have found it has created a far more positive work environment.
Since the pandemic has eased, LinkedIn research indicates that there has been a dramatic increase in women leaving the marketing industry. Many female workers have realised that they want to spend more time at home and have some level of flexibility between home-life and work-life. Companies need to understand that offering a flexible, hybrid working system will help maintain employee retention.
Prioritising and multi-tasking
I believe the key to successful flexible working is the ability to prioritise your time effectively. A great habit to get yourself into is to review your calendar and to-do list daily, as you can ensure all deadlines are fulfilled and time is set aside each day for critical focus projects.
Although I consider multi-tasking to be a must in every aspect of my life, I often find I need to set boundaries between work and home. Being able to separate these two worlds is essential to avoid burnout and adopting good practices is key. For example, when I have finished working for the day, I always turn off my computer completely to look after my daughter.
During the first lockdown, distinguishing home-life from work-life was especially challenging. This was particularly problematic when nurseries closed, but with the help of my husband, I devised a detailed childcare plan. Between us, we were able to handle both the demands of busy workloads and the needs of having a toddler at home full-time. Although it can be tough to separate your work from your home-life, it’s vitally important.
Communication
A top tip from me is to prioritise communication. Communicating with your team helps you to build strong relationships and to develop a high level of trust with your colleagues. Everyone needs be aware of key deadlines across all projects and their individual responsibilities for each of our clients.
With children, unanticipated circumstances often arise, so one of the first steps you should always consider is communicating to the team. When children returned to school, the uncertainty of bursting bubbles and surprise isolations meant workplace flexibility became even more important.
I think the lessons we have learned over the last 18 months should continue even after the world returns to normality. It should not be forgotten that flexible working has brought huge advantages to workplace wellbeing and productivity and, through providing choice for employees, creates a more positive workplace environment.
At the end of the day, finding the appropriate balance that benefits everyone — your employer, yourself, and your family – is what it’s all about.