Going back to work after having a baby can be tough, especially if you’re returning to a leadership role. You’re expected to and may want to pick up where you left off. But what happens when you are over-functioning at work and running your team on high octane?
Podcast guest, Beth Finkle, candidly shares her post-maternity leave reentry, battling postpartum anxiety and overwhelming emotions. Beth is a loving mom to four wonderful kids and is an experienced worksite wellbeing practitioner with 16 years of expertise. Throughout her career, she’s left her mark in various employer settings, including hospitals, health insurance companies, national sports teams, and higher education.
In this episode, Beth shares how she led her team in the first few months after returning from maternity leave. She shares how she was holding it all together at work, only to come home and feel enraged. It wasn’t until her husband noticed she wasn’t herself that she got some help.
Beth reveals how she got herself back on track with her wellbeing and leading her team. She shares how her experience made her a better leader and offers her advice to others returning from maternity leave.
Beth’s experience underscores the significance of supporting mothers returning back from maternity leave. Her story sheds light on how high-functioning anxiety can be masked as being a “good” employee.
Key Highlights
- Beth checked in while on maternity leave because she didn’t want to be left out of the loop. She wanted a say in things.
- When Beth went back to work, she was stressing out her team. She was always searching for “what’s next”.
- Despite being overwhelmed, Beth was raising her hand to take more on. This extra work looked great to the outside world and it soothed her.
- She thought she was growing out of her job, questioning her leadership but it felt like a failure to admit something was wrong.
- In retrospect, there were a few signs something was wrong – she would feel rage at home, go to bed earlier each night to silence the anxiety, and reschedule meetings when she didn’t have the energy to have conversations.
- It was about 6 months post-baby when her husband noticed she wasn’t herself and she started getting help. She started going to therapy, started to close the loop on projects, and set boundaries.
Links Mentioned
Beth’s TedX talk
Beth’s LinkedIn
Guest’s Full Bio
Meet Beth. First and foremost, she’s a loving mom to four wonderful kids, an advocate for climate action, and an avid outdoor enthusiast. But beyond these personal passions, Elizabeth is an experienced worksite wellbeing practitioner with 16 years of expertise.
What sets Elizabeth apart is her innate ability to cultivate deep connections and build rapport and relationships. She believes that creating a healthy workplace goes beyond physical health; it’s about fostering meaningful connections among employees. Beth is on a mission to design environments that promote lasting health and wellbeing while nurturing these essential human bonds.
Her purpose is crystal clear: to help organizations create the conditions for people to not only thrive but also connect, work effectively, and find genuine joy in their roles. Throughout her illustrious career, Beth has left her mark in various employer settings, including hospitals, health insurance companies, national sports teams, manufacturing sites, and most recently, higher education at the University of Delaware.
Beth’s superpower is undoubtedly her people-centric approach. She effortlessly simplifies complex scenarios and brings people together. She’s a demonstrated leader in organizational health initiatives, employee experience design, program planning, and professional development creation.
So, if you’re looking for someone who not only understands the intricacies of worksite wellbeing but also excels in building deep connections and fostering relationships, Elizabeth Finkle is your go-to expert. Join her in making workplaces healthier, happier, and more interconnected.