This was my first week back at work after a 10-month maternity leave. As much as I missed my little guy, – wow – it felt grand to put on some corporate attire and spend the day using my brain for non-baby related subjects.
As I sat through a full day of catch up meetings, the realization dawned on me “I am replaceable – utterly and completely replaceable.” With all the new activities in the works and existing projects that had moved forward, it was clear that I, personally, am not an essential cog in the machine. Yes – my particular mix of skill sets and personality and approach to work is unique, but that doesn’t make me irreplaceable.
And in fact, with someone else’s unique bag of attributes, there are pieces that would be achieved even better, than with my skill set.
Did this make me feel threatened? At one point it undoubtedly would have. But right now, it is an exceptionally freeing thought. First, that I am fortunate to be surrounded by a such a strong group of capable and committed people, and secondly, that should I decide that both motherhood and demanding career are not for me, I can let my current job go guilt free. Because, while I am certain that I am replaceable in the role I play for my organization, I am even more certain that I am utterly irreplaceable in the role I play for my son.
