Honestly, Getting Back to It After Maternity Leave Has Been a Real Eye-Opener

This week has been… well, it’s been a lot. I’ve spoken to more new people than I did in the whole of last year, which is quite something.

I don’t want to go on about how difficult returning from maternity leave is, but it’s genuinely a shock to the system. You don’t just walk back in and pick up where you left off.

It’s absurd, but you almost forget how to interact on a professional level. Introducing yourself feels a bit clunky, starting conversations takes a conscious effort, and really listening to what people are saying requires a level of concentration you didn’t realise you’d lost. Then there’s remembering how to articulate your thoughts and contribute meaningfully to discussions, not just manage the day-to-day. It sounds silly, doesn’t it? That you’d have to relearn these basic things, but it’s true.

Because a toddler doesn’t require you to have a sustained conversation about the way Defence communicates, and mentally delve into strategic reviews and systems you glanced at 2 years ago, and apply strategic thinking. I just have to remember to smile, which of course is still relevant when building a network and relationships.

Honestly, just getting out of the house and meeting people face-to-face has been incredibly refreshing. And I had the luxury of being nearby where I used to work over in Salford Quays. The Imperial War Museum is a wonderful venue for any Defence related activity and beats the dusty hotels you can end up in sometimes. The people I met were interesting and had feedback ready for me, which I can take back to the teams and be positive about.
And taking part in my first CIPR council meeting was a real boost. Yes, I was underprepared, yes I was eating lunch when it started, but I was there. Actually contributing and feeling like I had something valuable to add was great. I noticed that I wasn’t as nervous and anxious as I used to be. I think that’s because I’ve been through so much and as a council member I’m there to give advice and direction not to pick up half a dozen tasks. I was open about experience in comms against these giants of industry that also appeared. I felt comfortable. Even when I could hear my little one calling for me at the gate and his dad telling him I was working.

Sigh.

I write this on my way back from an AI Masterclass at the office. Learning new prompts and ways to interact with AI always gives me inspiration and doh! moments when I realize I could have saved myself time and energy recently if I’d have just open Gemini. I’m a lover of AI but I do worry that policy and strategy experts using it, will eventually lead to a biased and boring future for government. And who will understand the reasons behind a change, if the person who creates it got Chat GPT to write it? When I think about my son’s future and AI’s future, I can’t help but worry the colour is drifting out of the world. As we pave over paradise to install data centres, will there be anyone left with knowledge, an opinion, or a heart?

Perhaps being a mother has made me more concerned about the future, as I have always heard parents say.

All I know is, AI can save us time, it can help us in many ways, but it can’t replace the feeling you get when you connect with real people, exercise your mind with complex issues, and learn new things.

Or relearn them after maternity leave.

If you’re going through something similar, whether it’s returning from leave or just feeling a bit out of sorts, you’re not alone. It’s a process. It’s about taking those small steps, rediscovering your confidence, and remembering that you’ve got this. And honestly, just getting out there and connecting with people makes a huge difference.

So, has anyone else had a week like this? Any tips for getting back into the swing of things?