Behavioral Competencies of Leaders During Motherhood: A Source of Effectiveness

This study is focused on the behavioral competencies that career women express while facing maternity experience. The research is based in a behavioral framework to recognize ways of being and acting of leaders in specific family and professional situations, and then to draw specific competency profiles. The aim is to identify these skills and try to go beyond the recent knowledge about the importance of soft skills and the increasing number of feminine careers, exploring which competencies are present to be efficient in both maternity and leadership roles. The study is attended to bring new knowledge to implement training on behavioral competencies. To achieve this goal, 36 mothers with top roles were interviewed, to understand how they effectively managed their roles as leaders and mothers. From the transcripts of their stories, 10 skills were identified that are associated with the role of mother, with positive impacts on their role in the firm. The results show that the ability to recognize resources is the skill present in most of the interviewees, followed by the ability of time management and practical organization. Findings highlights the need to valorize the skills expressed by working mothers, overcoming stereotypes that associate motherhood with a professional stop or a reduction in productivity. Training is encouraged to raise awareness of the importance of the identified skills. Finally, our research supports the design of training programs guiding professionals to efficiently balance career and parenting.