Tracie Morris may present herself as nothing more than another energetic face in the office. With a bubbly personality and a commitment to getting the job done, it would be easy to overlook the fact that she is the mother of three children, a practicing yoga instructor, and a thoughtful human resources officer at BMO Financial Group. Let’s see parenting from the C-suite with the university of Phoenix.
More than 28% of c-suite executives are women These women are often tasked with choosing between personal and professional goals, often sacrificing one for the other while balancing family.
Finding a way to address these different needs and ambitions is not an easy task, but a growing number of women in c-suite positions are making it possible. Some are even showing how their family backgrounds can help with their executive positions.
Women in Leadership
Historically, it has been all too common and necessary for parental figures to choose between their professional and personal goals. Tracie Morris has long championed success in personal and professional experiences. Morris argues, “We can get so much into business that we lose empathy.”
Not an enviable decision to make, parents have long been forced to choose between work and family. However, Morris has not played into that trend, instead opting to join BMO Financial Group almost three years ago. Her goals early on were to help craft an enduring, winning culture while fostering career development within the roster. Morris would also work with community nonprofits to address diversity, equity and inclusion.
Through her efforts, Morris and other key figures were able to invest in the community in an actionable way, leading more than 25 women and people of color to partner with executives and directors to help foster their future growth and career development.
Success Behind the Scenes
Even though Morris finds a sense of accomplishment through her work by developing initiatives to foster growth in the community, some of her major work takes place behind the scenes. Morris finds that many of her most rewarding projects happen when nobody is writing a press release or trying to put together a story. Included in these efforts was her realization that the office she worked in did not offer a mother’s room or amenities that an expecting or active parent might require.
To better balance her life at work and at home without forgetting the importance of either, Morris incorporated more female employees on the planning committee for BMO’s newest office. The addition of a yoga flow room and eco-friendly features were just cherries on the top.
Becoming a C-Suite Parent
Working her way up the corporate ladder while raising a family was undoubtedly a difficult task for Morris. Yet despite her struggles, Morris looks back on what she has accomplished with awe. Morris saw this the most in the reflection of her daughter, a full-time worker who teaches part-time while balancing the start of her own family. Her daughter said, “The reason I’m successful is that you taught me to love me first.”
This was a pivotal time for Morris that led her to detail actionable guidelines on how to lead like a boss while balancing duties as a parent. Here is a closer look at a few of her recommendations.
Communicate Your Needs Successfully
You have not because you ask not. The lesson is simple, but the effect is profound. Morris understands that nobody can do everything. From caring for children to providing support to aging parents, individuals need to declare their needs so that they do not have to shoulder all the burdens alone.
Request Help When Necessary
Morris understands that asking for help can feel like extending a burden onto someone else, but we still must do it. Morris says, “What I had to learn was to communicate and ask for help.” Morris supports her employees with a group program that can provide support for those who need it in their work.
Accept That Life Is Not Perfectly Balanced
Don’t let any individual action ruin your sense of self-worth and progress. Morris has seen first hand that there is no such thing as perfect balance, but setting boundaries is still important. For Morris, maintaining an acceptable balance included turning her phone off during dinner or when she was with her son.
Manage and Maintain Your Mental Health
Focus on mental health has been particularly important over the past year. According to the Career Optimism Index study conducted by University of Phoenix, moms are more likely to pursue mental health resources than the general population, and that’s a good thing. Morris says, “There’s something very powerful that happens when talking one-on-one with a health professional.”
Take Time To Treat Yourself
In the same way that you must tend to your mental health, you must also take time for your own life. Look for slices of the day that you can embrace to make fully your own, whether you are taking a walk or listening to a favored podcast during your morning commute.
About University of Phoenix
Now maybe a good time to get your career off the ground, and the University of Phoenix Career Services team is here to help. With momentum growing in support of equality in the workforce, more than 41% of working adults believe that things have gotten easier for women in executive positions.
University of Phoenix has dedicated itself to providing flexible education opportunities for working adults. With a variety of career support services, academic advisors and online courses taught by instructors who are experts in their fields, students are able to learn and position themselves for success without sacrificing existing family or employment obligations.
Explore new opportunities by pursuing your career goals today!
