Is your job remote or hybrid? Are you given autonomy at work? Is there enough flexibility for you to manage the other parts of your life? Or do you feel chained to your desk with no work/life balance?
I took my coaching business on the road these past two weeks. To celebrate spring break, I took the kids on a road trip from Vancouver, BC to Seaside, Oregon. I woke up early each morning to write and post content and coached a few clients from the kitchen counter in our hotel room while my children watched TV in the bedroom.
To get some sun, I joined my friend in Dallas, Texas the following week. I filled my schedule with coaching clients, created my first YouTube channel while I was there (www.youtube.com/@AnnaGradie), and had a blast co-working from my friend’s fancy office.
I am so grateful for this flexible life I’ve designed for myself 🙏🏼
Do you have location freedom? My flexible schedule brings me so much joy and is essential as a single mom. I get to pick up my kids from school every day. They can stay at home with me when they’re sick. And I can run my business from anywhere 😎
Many of my women in tech clients work remotely, which helps them meet the competing demands of work and family life. Is remote work something you need in your life?
The pandemic changed the nature of work with many offices forced to go remote. Before the pandemic, we wanted “bums in the seats” at my edtech company, RYCOR. As owners, we didn’t realize work could happen just as well at home. If there is trust, clear expectations, and key performance indicators.
But many companies have now moved away from remote work. This lack of flexibility hurts mothers in tech and contributes to the persistent gender gap in the tech industry. According to the 2023 Women in Workplace Report, women represent only 27% of the tech workforce. This number hasn’t changed much since the 1980’s 😖
Balancing motherhood with the heavy workload in tech leaves many women “feeling like a failure in both areas of my life”. Without flexibility, some women experience chronic stress and burnout and decide to leave their tech careers.
To help attract, retain, and support valuable female employees, companies must offer flexible work options.
❓ Does your company give you enough flexibility?
While remote work can be empowering, there are still some challenges, including:
🛜 Digital divide: access to reliable internet connection and technology infrastructure may be uneven, particularly in rural or underserved areas, limiting opportunities for some.
😔 Isolation: remote work can lead to feelings of isolation and disconnection, especially if you thrive in social environments. Employers must prioritize communication and community-building initiatives to foster a sense of belonging among remote teams.
🙅🏼♀️ Boundary management: blurring the lines between work and home life can make it challenging to establish boundaries, leading to burnout and decreased productivity. You may feel pressure to constantly be available and prove yourself in remote settings.
So what’s the solution? Hybrid work models offer the best of both worlds, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of remote work while still maintaining some level of in-person interaction and collaboration. This balance can contribute to improved mental health and job satisfaction.
What’s your ideal working situation? Do you need to find another job that’s a better match for your needs?
Coaching can help support you when you’re in transition, or need to figure out the next chapter of your life. Sign up for one of my free Confidence Booster session to learn more: https://calendly.com/annagradiecoaching/45min
Lots of love,
-Anna
