Ask the Business Coach Joyce K. Reynolds is an expert Business Coach who works with CEOs, Sr. Execs, entrepreneurs and countless others providing knowledge, solutions, motivation and support that assist her clientele in successfully meeting workplace challenges. Find out more about Joyce's coaching practice. Bringing Baby to Work Question: I am the owner of a small retail business and would like to start a family. The business is fairly new so I still need to be here quite a bit. My husband works full time and would not be able to be away for an extended period of time. What is your advice for bringing a baby to work? My customers are all close in age to me so I don't think any of them having a problem with it. My concern is having the time to get work done and have time for the baby. I do have a large back area and office with a kitchenette so we could set up an area for the baby to play and sleep. Kerri Answer: One of the distinct advantages of having your own business is that it often allows you greater operational flexibility. Therefore, bringing your baby to work with you might be a viable option. Successfully meeting the challenges of this choice will hinge on plenty of advance planning and preparation. First, understand that even if your customers are close to you in age and, as mothers, might be sympathetically inclined to your needs, they are patronizing your retail establishment for a reason. It is important to assume that they will want service uninterrupted by childcare problems. Be sensitive to this and make sure that the attention you need to devote to your onsite child is in balance with filling the needs of your customers. A separate childcare area sounds like a good idea provided that you can safely hear or see any activity that could otherwise lead to harm. It's best to find a place in your office that is not too distracting or noisy where the baby can easily be lulled to sleep. Obviously, having a playpen for the early months will allow you to put your infant down for naps or let her play safely in a confined area. Later, baby gates might help keep activities contained and manageable. In any event, this challenging arrangement will still require a good deal of your personal supervision. In fact, it could be quite hectic at times, especially if your baby is fussy in the midst of a customer or employee needing your attention. Not to mention the distraction of your simply wanting to spend more time with your newborn. To overcome the need for your constant vigil, you might consider bringing an on-site babysitter to help you supervise the baby. Perhaps even someone who can assist with light administrative work or answering phones. Then, it’s up to you to discipline yourself to know the boundary between taking time to visit with your baby and attending to business. Before you begin bringing baby in, review your business plan so that you are clear on what your goals and strategies are. Reestablish clear duties, priorities and deadlines that must be completed even with your baby around. The important thing is to institute benchmarks that will prove whether or not having your infant at the office can work well for you and your company. Be regular and painstaking in observing the state of your business as you try this out. If you keep your priorities straight and honestly continue to adjust as challenges around this issue arise, it’s very likely that having your baby with you at work will prove to be a quite successful and pleasant arrangement. Also see: • Ask Joyce your workplace questions • More questions • One-on-one business coaching Disclaimer: The information in this column is intended to provide the reader with general ideas or concepts to be used as part of a broader base of knowledge they collect to determine their own best course of action and solutions most suitable for solving their workplace challenges. The information in this column is not guaranteed to be the appropriate solution for each individual.