Melissa Nicholson intro

MELISSA NICHOLSON: Once you’ve put in the front-end work to create your rewarding job share, it’s so simple in practice and will transform your life and career. You’ll never want to work any other way. But first, let’s talk about who should be thinking about creating a job share. Because as life-changing as job sharing is, it’s not for everyone, my friend. Through my years of experience, I’ve identified four main types of people who can really benefit from job sharing.

Introduction

INTRO: Welcome to Job Share Revolution. The show about job sharing—a partnership between two people to bring two minds and skill sets to one full-time position. I’m Melissa Nicholson, former job sharer turned founder of the first U.S. job share company. But it wasn’t long ago that I felt like an utter failure at work and as a new parent. Job sharing was my game-changer. I reclaimed four days a week to fully engage in my life while my capable partner handled everything. Together, we achieved more than I ever could solo. Fast forward to many lessons learned to bring you the training and support I wish I’d had to change lives and the modern-day workplace. Let’s live life and slay work.

Melissa Introduction

MELISSA INTRODUCTION:

When I think back on it, it was so long ago, 18 years, 18 years ago. So hard to believe. But like any sense memory, it just floods back to me. I’ll never, ever forget that first week of my job here. I was thinking about it just yesterday because it was a gorgeous day, so beautiful. And it was right around the same time of year. And in Texas, we don’t get that many really gorgeous spring days where it’s breezy and everything’s blooming…jasmine vines everywhere, and the smell is glorious. And it was just like that. I have a very distinct memory of sitting on my porch, and my sweet baby girl, Iris, who was six months at the time, was in her rocker. You know those swings that they have for infants when you can take them outside? Even she was sitting there in that swing, swinging back and forth. I just remember looking at her and taking in that moment that day.

It was the fourth day of my day off of my very first week of job sharing. And I remember because it was the end of the week. Then, I worked the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday workweek. But I remember Saturday rolling around and Sunday rolling around, you know, they felt a lot like a regular weekend. And then, Monday rolled around and everything was just slow and quiet. It had just been a really long time since I had space to just slow down. And I remember that first week we didn’t go anywhere. We stayed home. We may have like strolled around the block, but I was just taking her in. And when that fourth day rolled around, I thought, I’m never going back to working even four days a week or five days a week. I just thought, “No.” I didn’t realize how intense my job was, how fast it always had me on this hamster wheel, and I loved the pace.

I loved my clients. I loved all the interactions, but I just never had time to slow down. I was always running around, running to the pump room that I had way down the hallway, and trying to squeeze in 3 or 4 pumps a day, trying to get out the door so that I could make it to the daycare in time and make it to her evening feeding. And it just was racing past me. I was missing her first things like her first laugh and her first smile. It wasn’t the pain of that, but it was that that first four days in a row after that, I realized literally, it took me a full day to shrug work off completely. So a weekend wasn’t even enough because by the time that I was relaxing into my weekend, it was time to start the workweek again.

And then there’s the Sunday scaries. But when that Monday rolled around and I was fully relaxed and I could just sit there and take her again, and then that fourth day rolled around. That’s when I knew I was never going to let my work dictate my life in that same way again. And that’s when it all began for me.

You know, it’s really strong that WHY… That WHY has got to be so strong. And no matter the difficulties I faced or the challenges, it was that moment of my very first week (of job sharing) that kept me completely motivated.

And you know, in those moments when your kids are so little, you just think this is an incredible way to work when they’re babies, you know, and things are going to be different once they hit kindergarten. But then you hit elementary, and things are different and wow, their needs never go away. And in some ways, I’m sitting here with my daughter who is graduating, who is a senior in high school, and we’ve got another month until she is done with high school and onto her college journey. And my kids have never needed me more than they do now.

Our lives just go really fast, friend. We are doing a lessons-focused series over the next several weeks, and I want to just start off with my job share story, which was last week. I also wanted to revisit this episode and how you know job sharing is right for you. And who are the people that job sharing benefits most?

Now, I want to say this before we get into the episode. You do not have to be a parent at all to job share. There is nothing gendered about job sharing, it’s just that I know how job sharing can really impact a caregiver’s life, especially mothers who hit the motherhood penalty whether they want to or not. If you are just somebody who simply wants more time, my goal is to empower you with the information you need in the shortest time possible so that you can make a change in your life.

And most importantly, I just want you to know it’s all in you. That WHY will lead you where you need to be, visualizing how you want to work, how you want to live. No matter the challenges that I and my job share partners faced over the years, from being on a ship with no oars on our own, making up the rules ourselves—that’s the reason that I was always able to stay so clear and focused on job sharing itself—even when I had gotten out of job sharing and been working full time and was really focused on getting back into a job share, is because I can remember that memory so clear of what my very first week of having four consecutive days off job sharing were like.

And it brought so much more joy and happiness, and satisfaction to those three days. Just having the space away from work to rediscover the joy in my work. And that’s what I want for you. That’s one of the main reasons that I am bringing back this episode for you, and I hope that going through my sense memory has given you a sense of really thinking of your why, so that you have that same thing to hold on to.

Here we go. Let’s dive in.

Melissa Nicholson

MELISSA NICHOLSON: Today, we’re diving into a question that I get asked all the time. “Job sharing sounds amazing, but how do I do it?”

And let me tell you, creating a job share arrangement can be a game-changer for your career, your family, and for you. Whether you want to job share in your current job or someone else’s, or even in your side-hustle, business, or startup, so you don’t have to go it alone, it’s a game-changer. Now, if you’ve been with me for awhile, you know that I will shout it from the rooftops, not just because it changed my entire life, but because I’ve seen what it’s been able to do for countless job sharers, students, and clients over my years of doing this work.. I’ve now been spreading job sharing nearly as long as I previously job shared – which is just so mind-blowing to me.

If you’re anything like me, it’s hard to concentrate for all of the cute first day photos in your social media feed. It got me thinking as I scoured my phone to find Iris’s first day of Kindergarten photo, just HOW amazing it was for me to have four days off every single week for all of those years job sharing. I would never have been able to spend special time with just Sam taking in the zoo or farm when she was at school or volunteer at nearly every one of their field trips, much less taken on a leadership PTA position raising money for their elementary school or a board position to protect women’s reproductive healthcare—not in the  24/7 media and advertising industry—had it not been for my job share.

My greatest honor has been playing a small part in empowering others to create their own job shares. I’ve seen it transform lives. So today I want to share some of the top reasons why you should consider creating a rewarding job share for yourself.

But first, let’s talk about who should be thinking about creating a job share. Because as life-changing as job sharing is, it’s not for everyone, my friend. Those who are most successful job sharing are often trusting, conscientious and flexible-minded folks who are committed, collaborative go-getters.

Through my years of experience, I’ve identified four main types of people who can really benefit from job sharing.. So see if you can find yourself in these four different types of people.

Number one, you’re a beyond busy parent of kiddos, complete with a full roster of activities, from dance to sports. always racing to from your job. You’ve been so intentional and have put years into your career, and you don’t want to give that up. You’re someone who takes a lot of pride in doing a job and doing it well, so it feels crappy not to be able to. At times, you’ve felt willing to throw in the towel altogether, but deep down, you are dreaming about a way to reclaim your time, slow down, put your self-care first, and not backtrack in your career.

Or number two, are you a soon-to-be or new parent who’s as committed to being the best mommy or daddy you can be, but frankly, you need your job and you need the benefits. And you like your job. Whether you work in a 9-to-5, with or without a side hustle, or even have your own small business or start-up, you’d give nearly anything to share the load with a partner who can bring their unique gifts and talents to the job, who can take the helm half of the week so you could rest, recharge, and rediscover the joy you once had in your job and in your life..

Now number three, you’re a committed professional, whether mid career to near retirement with other areas of life you’d like to explore, be that getting an advanced degree, community involvement, like I did as a non–profit board member, joining a board, wanting to travel…whatever fills your bucket. You’ve worked hard to get where you are, you just want to do your job in less time to go live your life! There’s no shame in that. It’s worth celebrating!

And number four really has my heart. Life transitions are often the catalyst for people vigorously pursuing their job shares. If you’re returning from a career break after caring for children or aging parents, or both (like me!), making a big career pivot to a new company or industry, or you have been affected first-hand by a tech layoff in this god-awful, more than challenging job market…Believe it or not, job sharing might just be your secret weapon to landing your dream job. Finding your partner first can alleviate discrimination, ageism, and interview woes and make the process simpler by sharing your partner’s job. It’s also a thought-starter, a curious idea and might be intriguing to their boss, bringing two talent to one role. Plus, you’ll get built-in on-the-job training by way of your job share partner. Ta-da!!

Beyond these four types, there are some folks who might not come to mind right away, but job sharing could be life-changing for military families to those with disabilities to those dealing with an illness or caring for an ill family member.

Maybe you saw yourself in one of those examples. Once you’ve identified if job sharing could be your work-life solution, you’re ready for the good stuff! I’m about to share 6 reasons that creating a job share is so freakin’ life-changing. Here is what you might not know about job sharing. OK – Hold onto your bootstraps. That’s what I tell my kids when I’m making like, a really sharp turn in the car or something. So, hold onto your bootstraps. Buckle up.

Even in if you are lucky enough to work flexibly, working in a job share means you can leave work at work. As in, no more being roped into working from vacation, late nights, or weekends. Really. You will power down every Wednesday (your new FriYAY!) and never again log on into the wee hours. Why? Because your awesome job share partner will take the baton 100% so you can go rest, recharge, and return ready to hit your task checklist on Monday with the confidence that your partner got SO MUCH done while you were not thinking about work at all. You’ll never have the Sunday Scaries again!

Secondly, you will say goodbye to the constant guilt you feel from putting work first or family first, and the worry that you’ll be seen as less committed, once and for all. In my humble opinion, this is the genius of job sharing that no other work practice I’ve found can give you. The structure of job sharing means that you are able to separate and prioritize your work and your life, so you can focus and bring your very best self to each.

Third, people get into job sharing for flexibility, but until you’ve lived it, it’s hard to fully get how much better you will actually be able to be in your job because of your job share. Think about it. You are bringing two minds, two skill sets, two lived experiences to one full-time role. Likely, one demanding, multi-faceted job with deliverables, stakeholders including employees you manage, students, patients, or clients. Having someone to brainstorm with, to play pitch, ya know? Catch and pitch. To work on big projects and get through big challenges with makes a difference. You can achieve better results together than you ever could solo and supercharge your career by leveraging two pros in one job as a SuperTeam! That’s right. You will become a SuperTeam.

Now, fourth, who didn’t change their priorities in the past several years? Who didn’t think about how they want to work and live, or reassess their personal and work boundaries? When you job share, you set clear boundaries respected by coworkers, organically. Simply working in a job share with a partne,r taking the baton for continuous work during your off days, makes your boundaries clear and commands respect (without saying a word). How good will it feel not to be tethered to your phone 24/7, on call because someone else is literally there doing the job when you’re not there.

Did you know that National Geographic did a global study, and the #1 factor for happiness at work was a work best friend? More so even than the relationship with their boss? That kind of blew me away. I couldn’t believe it. I mean, your boss is so integral to being able to feel good in your job. I mean, a horrible boss can really sink a person. So it really did blow me away when I found out about this research. That a work BFF was even more important. The number one factor for your happiness. But I can totally see it because I worked with four partners in my years of job sharing. And while I got better at finding a great partner fit through the years, once I got it right, I can’t tell you how HAPPY I was every week at work with my partners. Like giddy happy. Inside jokes happy. Someone who just gives you the side eye and you crack up all at once. And you never get tired of one another because you usually only see each other once a week. It just makes ALL the difference because you know that your work bestie, AKA your job share partner, has your back in work AND life. They are just there for you, there to support you in any way that you need.  And maybe most importantly, they are ready to step in and save the day when life throws you a curveball. And life will. That’s life. It happens. The fact is, job sharers ALWAYS tell me the relationship with their partner is just as important as the flexibility and work-life balance they find job sharing.

 

Sixth, and my favorite favorite—because, at my core, I’m a social justice gal. A feminist through and through, and not afraid to say it. And gender equity matters to me. Probably because I’ve seen SO MANY friends suffer the Motherhood Penalty. And I avoided it altogether thanks to my job share. I’m 100% in for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Values that make workplaces better for the entire work community. Here it is: When you start job sharing in your job, you start job sharing in so many areas of your life, including your home. You learn how to give up control and trust another person to do it their way, even if it’s not your way, respecting that the outcome is the same, even if you got there differently. I know how it is! I’m a woman, and it’s hard to unlearn deeply held traditional norms and socialization. It’s hard to unlearn these things. But here’s the thing: When you job share, you are working in a hyper-focused, efficient way, taking normal distractions off the table. I was the fourth person called when my baby was sick at the daycare. They didn’t even know me there. I know that seems impossible, but it’s true. Those three days every week, my husband was THE lead parent, and the other four, I was. We passed the co-parenting baton each week in my personal life, just like I did in my professional life, halving the unpaid household labor, including the Mental Load. And it didn’t happen with fighting and arguments. It happened in an organic, frictionless way. I started working this way from the start when Iris was just six months old, and even though I only job shared…Well, I job shared nine years. So I job shared right up until fourth or fifth grade in there, basically, through the elementary years. And now my kids are in high school, and she’s graduating this year. Those roles held up. And it was that early, that early giving up and sharing the load and taking the things that I learned job sharing, and applying them to my personal life without even meaning to. It just happened.  That’s a pretty amazing thing. Not to have to sit down and work through that with someone, but to just have it happen naturally. I mean, not that it’s not work to train the other people and let them know, “Hey! Mike is the lead parent on the kids’ soccer schedules. You can contact him on the text thread.” It was just such an incredible thing to witness. To see happen. It was so unexpected.  We did have to train those other folks—the teachers, afterschool folks, other parent,s that Mike was the lead on some things, but they got it eventually. We were consistent.  Even though I haven’t job shared in years,  those early years of equal parenting and household responsibilities have held up for a very equal co-parenting dynamic we still have today.

And honestly, I feel like my kids have such a strong relationship with their dad. I mean, he is so involved in their lives. And I think it has a lot to do with this.

Before we wrap up, I’ve got something special for you: The Work Muse to Job Sharing: The Step-by-Step Blueprint to Creating a Successful Job Share. You will not only gain clarity in exactly what steps you need to take to create a job share, but it also includes the 11 traits of successful job sharers checklist. And it also includes so many case studies in roles and industries you may not have thought of for job sharing, with links to videos and articles, even. So, go grab it by all means. Go to workmuse dot com forward slash guide to get it. Did you know you can send me a text message right from the show notes? Or you can DM me on LinkedIn.  I’d love to hear your thoughts.

If this has been enlightening to you and you’re excited to learn more about job sharing, stick with me – I’ll hold your hand through everything, friend. You’ll hear from job sharers and work changemakers. You’ll get lessons in how to create your own job share, and so much more. I’d love it if you share this episode with someone whose life may benefit from job sharing too. You deserve to find a slower pace of life and to be more intentional in your life. I’m sending you so much love this week. Bye for now!