January 2022 Issue: Help Women Avoid the Burden of the "Mental Load" at your Firm-Help Women Avoid the Burden of the "Mental Load" at your Firm by Jen Dawson

Help Women Avoid the Burden of the "Mental Load" at your Firm by Jen Dawson

Pdf Summary

In a late 2021 conversation with women professionals in the financial planning industry, it was found that women often carry a disproportionate amount of the "mental load" at work. This refers to the invisible work of constantly organizing, planning, and managing life in their households or offices. Women often find themselves filling in gaps at work, taking on tasks like comprehensive planning or nurturing colleagues, which can detract from their own career progression. Three popular solutions for addressing the mental load in the household can also apply to the workplace. <br /><br />Firstly, making the mental load visible by examining the division of labor in the office and understanding each employee's workload is important. This can help identify imbalances and ensure a fair distribution of responsibilities. Secondly, embracing delegation allows women to focus on tasks that represent their highest and best use. Managers should encourage women to delegate tasks and provide training in effective delegation, creating a culture of collaboration. Finally, helping women let go of perfectionism is crucial. Many professional women are overachieving perfectionists who put immense pressure on themselves. Normalizing conversations about respecting boundaries and letting go of unrealistic expectations can help women find a healthier work-life balance. Organizations can provide softer skill training and coaching to build confidence and shift mindset. <br /><br />Supporting women to avoid the mental load at work benefits everyone involved. It allows women to focus on higher-impact activities and can lead to more fulfillment, better work for clients, and greater career progression. By challenging organizations and women leaders to notice and address areas where women disproportionately spend time and mental energy, we can create a more equitable and supportive workplace environment.

Keywords

women professionals

financial planning industry

mental load

organizing

planning

managing

work-life balance

delegation

perfectionism

career progression