My 7 tips for maternity leave as a small business (studio) owner!

Just before I went on maternity leave I had so many questions from the BB community about how I was managing to take some time off - which I'm happy to report I actually did!

As a self confessed workaholic, I always knew this time would be challenging to navigate but my excitement to meet the little man overcome any thoughts about how I would manage stepping back. In hindsight, I probably should have prepared myself a little more mentally (but honestly, how can you!) because I actually really struggled watching day time television whilst in a constant loop of feeding, burping, changing and rocking. 

But more on that later...

My goal was to teach for as long as possible so I could take the time off once baby arrived. I was fortunate enough to feel really amazing throughout my pregnancy and ended up teaching right up until little man was born. I took the last class of the evening on Thursday night and checked into the hospital at 6am the following day for my planned caesarian. 

Running a dance studio or teaching ballet classes requires dedication and commitment to your community. Despite all my planning I was really nervous about taking a step back because I didn't want my students to think I'd 'disappeared into the baby bubble' never to return. However, there comes a time (after 10 years of service to my dance community!) when you need to take a break to welcome a new addition to your family.

My Mum said that maternity leave is an important milestone in every parent's life but as a dance studio owner and ballet teacher, it was essential to prepare my small business for this very temporary absence. Despite everything I'm about to mention (I'm giving you all the tips!) I unfortunately came up against students who thought my temporary absence was a long term one and whether intentional or not made me feel pretty guilty for taking a step back. 

Interestingly, I found that students who had been with me for a very long time not only respected my boundaries during this sacred time but encouraged them. Students (not all, but some) who were relatively new or had only been at the studio for a couple of years either kicked up a bit of a fuss about having another teacher or stopped attending classes all-together when I announced I was pregnant, citing they'd be back when I was 'not pregnant' which was just strange and dissapointing.

It's the biggest compliment when people don't want anyone else to take their class but you. However it's as much a burden as it is a blessing! I could count on one had the times I haven't been able to take class in the past decade and I think that has spoilt my students and their inability to comprehend when I'm unable to take class. Whilst I'm all about consistency and showing up is key for a successful dance community, I do need to create a little more balance in this area - like actually take a sick day when I'm unwell!

Anyway...

In this blog post, I want to share with you some practical tips on how I planned my maternity leave and was able to take a total of six weeks off which doesn't sound like much but is a lot when it comes to owning your own business.

1. Proactive Planning!

I think the key lies in proactive planning. I know this sounds crazy but I started planning what my maternity leave would potentially look like about 12 months before I actually began trying to get pregnant. I started by assessing my current workload and determining what it would take to replace me, including what it would cost. I really considered factors such as the dance studio's schedule, upcoming performances, ballet exams and the availability of substitute teachers. I had these discussions with my business partner (aka Mum) and we really thought about every aspect. 

When I did fall pregnant I started planning my maternity leave and looking at dates well before anyone even knew I was pregnant (including Mum)! I also started lessening my teaching hours so it wasn't such a rude shock to the ecosystem of my dance community at the beginning of the year. I wanted to minimise disruptions and ensure a seamless transition for everyone and even had a plan if baby arrived early which leads me to...

2. Train and Delegate!

After identifying the gaps in the teaching schedule if I was to take a back seat, I started putting my feelers out there for potential new staff members. Most I acquired before I was even pregnant with a game plan of keeping them part of our dance community long after baby arrives. I didn't just want mediocre covers filling a gap. I wanted to use this opportunity to find team members who would elevate our studio and be with us long term.

Having teachers join our dance family well before I even fell pregnant ensured that they were familiar with our teaching methods, syllabus, and studio policies. I invited them to observe classes and conducted trial sessions to familiarise them with the students, essentially training them to be the perfect fit.

Over the past 18 months I've also delegated administrative tasks or responsibilities to trusted staff members which has given me the space to work on other projects (eg. my 12 Week Adult Ballet Course and Butter Ballet) and then able to take maternity leave without little disruption to the everyday runnings of the studio.

3. Communicate with Students and Parents!

Open and transparent communication with students and parents was crucial. Informing them about my impending maternity leave well in advance, providing clear details on the duration and who will be taking over the classes was imperative. This assured them that their dance education and progress will not be compromised.

I encouraged students and parents to reach out with any concerns but I also reassured them of a smooth transition and couldn't sing the praises of my team high enough during this time. I am genuinely proud of my team and highlighted their skillsets in conversations whilst reminding everyone the value of having a fresh set of eyes on their technique. 

4. Create a Detailed Maternity Leave Guide/Timetable!

To ensure that my staff had all the necessary information, I created a detailed maternity leave guide. This included important contact details, student attendance records, lesson plans, concert and exam schedules and any other relevant information. This guide, along with email check in's served as a valuable resource to keep everything organised and running smoothly during my absence.

Once everyone knew I was pregnant and substitute teachers were scheduled, I emailed my staff a timetable that would be actioned if he arrived when he was supposed to or if he was to arrive early. I was fortunate enough to have an amazing team who were on board with the plan and knew it could be actioned at any moment, leaving their schedules free (which I know is a big ask).

I also detailed what the goals of each class were during my absence (eg. exam preparation and then concert work) ensuring everyone was clear about their roles and responsibilities in my absence. And so far I've come back to exams finished, concert work well underway and in general thriving classes!

5. Stay connected via a simple phone call (if desired)!

It was important to decide how much involvement I would like during my maternity leave and I knew that zero involvement would never help my mind settle at night - I would have been worrying about my first baby, the studio! So I ended up calling Mum almost every night the studio was open to have a little check in, debrief and be updated on anything that required my input or attention.

I'm sure some people prefer to disconnect and fully enjoy this special time, while others may want to stay connected to the studio remotely. I was the latter. I think deciding if and how you would like to receive updates, and communicate this clearly with your staff is important. For example, I told my team to not hesitate to email me (but I might be a bit slow on the reply). Utilising technology to maintain open lines of communication, whether through video conferencing, email, or messaging platforms, allows you to stay informed without disrupting your maternity leave too much.

6. Take it day by day!

As a dance studio owner or ballet teacher, preparing your small business for maternity leave is an essential step in balancing your personal and professional life. By planning ahead, training and delegating responsibilities, communicating with students and parents, creating a detailed maternity leave guide, and deciding on your desired involvement, you can ensure a smooth transition during your absence...

But it's also important to remember that things happen, not everything goes to plan and you really do need to take it day by day. I honestly wish I could turn back time and give myself this advice. Take it DAY BY DAY!

Taking care of myself and my little family is just as important (if not more important) as nurturing the dance studio and I wish I had of reminded myself of this more often. Enjoying this precious time and returning to the business recharged and ready to continue sharing the joy of dance with my students was the goal and I think I did a fairly decent job of it even if I was a little sleep deprived upon my return!

7. Accept help!

This is a big one that I struggle with. I've never been good at accepting help and stubbornly need to do everything myself out of pride. I've always been a bit of a lone wolf and independent gal, so this was a challenge. 

However what I've learned during this time is that it really does take a village and your family is so very important. My Mum has been an absolute trooper, running everything like clockwork whilst I was away. I honestly can't thank her enough and on the flip side I'm proud of myself for letting go and trusting her to just handle everything - which she did with such grace and rigour. 

I understand that not everyone has such a wonderful business partner (many studio owners operating on their own!) but don't hesitate to ask for and accept help from family and friends who offer. Put your hand up when you start drowning (which you inevitably will at some point) and don't be afraid to trust others to help you during this time. Especially Mum's, Aunty's and close girlfriends who know exactly what you're going through. It's been so beautiful to go to new depths in my relationships with these people.