Using an Interim Executive Directorship to cover Maternity Leave

The temporary passing of the Midwest Wall and Ceiling Contractors Association executive directorship happened in a Rosemont, IL parking lot today.  It came complete with a laptop, cell phone and brown paper bag that included nametags for a golf outing.

Best wishes to Andrea Harney, who is gearing up to have a baby at the end of the month!  It is an honor to support you and your association so you can take maternity leave. 

Until she asked me months ago for coverage, I never thought about executives who stood as the sole support for their associations and how it wouldn't be easy for them to take leave, maternity or otherwise.    I felt a swell of thankfulness for the good-sized association I served in that had a maternity leave policy in place.  When I would go on leave, there were plenty of people who could cover for me, from those on my own team to my boss to a peer serving in a similar role in another department.  I'd think Association Management Companies could provide EDs the same kind of delegation opportunities for coverage. 

But wanting to access a short- or long-term leave when you are the one person supporting a group?  That has to be tricky!  Andrea is a planner--she not only asked me to help out early, she also spent some time writing up processes and walking me through setups so I could just step in.  My goal: to not bother Andrea and continue seamless service to her group.  We will know in a few months how well it works. ;)

Anyway, I'd love to hear from the EDs out there who serve as one-person shows and took leave.  How did you or your organization provide coverage while you were away?  What would have been nice to have to support you and your group better during that time to keep you away from addressing work-related issues?   

Cheers to you, Andrea!  And cheers to all of you who find a way, whether through personal or association networks, like the ASAE or Association Forum, to uncover ideas to address leave.   You deserve to celebrate life's moments, @ work and @ home, and I hope you can find a way to enjoy them even when resources are slim.  

#worthit #maternityleave #standaloneassociations #executivedirectors

Elevating Women Contractors

Well, I am working to beome a business owner!  Managing Momentum, LLC will be my company name.  I will focus on helping organizations move to their 2.0 by engaging the next generation of leadership.  Step one: be more welcoming.  That means helping current leaders build their own networks. 

I was excited to do that today for a handful of women who run Chicagoland union mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) businesses. I invited the two dozen I could find to lunch.   Interest was high among those who made the organically grown list but the numbers that could come out were small...

AND mighty!  This little group of 7 (4 contractors and 3 advocates for women in the construction industry) lunched, laughed, and learned.  Networks were grown, frustrations were flagged, and what-ifs are still percolating.  This group could easily become an industry think tank!  What CAN be done to elevate WBEs/MBEs in the area? Some off-the-cuff ideas could help all subcontractors and others could help the union construction industry as a whole... Lots to think about!  

Anyway, I am thankful that I got to expand every attendee's network by at least 2 relevant contacts.  I am thankful for the helpful and patient server, Adrian, who took care of us as we chatted well beyond the suggested 90 minutes. I am thankful to feel support from the local MEP Coordinating Committee and the Mechanical Contractors Association of Chicago Diversity Equity and Inclusion Task Force.   I am thankful that these women, who shoulder taking care of their employees' families daily, got to commiserate and share a delicious meal together.   

At the end of the day,  I am simply thankful these women showed up. 

As for the future, I am hopeful that these women will come back and talk more. I am excited to elevate them and their ideas to people who can do something beyond what each woman can do on her own. 

#lucky7 #gamechangers #bethechange #leadershipcollab #managingmomentum