4 Skills That Make Moms Great ODs to Work With
I’m sure many of us can agree that being a mom is hard and rewarding work. Being a mom is basically like having a full-time second job, so have we considered what skills being a mom gives us? How can we apply those skills to our careers as ODs? Read these 4 skills moms have that make them great ODs to work with:
Time Management. When it comes to time management moms really do take the cake. Moms are always thinking ahead to what needs to get done next. Planning is essential to getting through the day and making sure everything gets done on time. When you have a child, there isn’t much time in the day to sit back and relax, so there needs to be some type of routine in place. Moms are always multitasking. Ever try making a phone call, jotting down notes and holding a talking child all at the same time? Its hard work but it teaches moms how to focus on multiple tasks at once while understanding which takes priority. These skills are an incredible asset when working as they prepare you to manage your time, plan ahead and handle multiple important tasks to meet ever important deadlines.
Decision Making. As a mom you learn to be able to adapt to any situation. Sometimes plans don’t pan out the way we want them to, but it’s a mom’s ability to fall to Plan A or B that can really make the difference in those situations. Moms learn to have confidence in their intuition and make split second decision. How do you get a child to eat a certain kind of food they don’t like? It’s questions like these that really makes a mom think creatively on how to solve different problems. This skill can be incredibly beneficial within the workplace.
Communication. When you’re a mom you need to learn how to navigate your way around a conversation and negotiate. Having a child means learning to think the way that they do to understand the message they are trying to convey. In the same token you need to be able to use this language to persuade them. This is no different than in the workplace in which you meet many different types of people that come from different cultures and communicate differently. Having the skill to learn how to communicate effectively with anyone that you meet is important! Being a mom makes you into a natural leader. You oversee teaching your children what they need to know and guiding them through life with your examples and actions. It’s no different then what you do when you’re at work.
Discipline and Patience. Taking care of children can truly take the energy out of a mom, and yet they still manage to get up and do what needs to get done. It’s this type of discipline and ability to take charge of your life and have a positive outlook on the day that is important to getting your work done. As a mom you learn patience. Potty training may take more time than you thought but it’s the end goal that makes things so rewarding. It’s the same for work. Despite knowing there’s a long road ahead you have the mentality and positivity that things will pay off if you work to your best ability and continue to stay determined. Being a mom teaches you where your strengths and weaknesses lay. Knowing these and working on them makes you even stronger within the workplace. You know exactly what you can and cannot take on and where your skills and experience can best be used.