In any type of relationship, whether it was a private one or a professional one, everyone knows that communication is the key. While some of us approach the topic with easiness, some of us are not so natural and that is why preparation is important. That’s So, even if you are not a chatterbox, we believe that you would do absolutely anything for your child and that is why it is crucial to develop a normal relationship with your nanny.
The biggest mistake that families make is assuming that the nanny of choice needs to know everything about their child immediately. Parents indeed feel better when they see a list of childcare qualifications and long-term experience, however, it doesn’t mean that the person will adapt immediately. Each family is different, and each child also, and that is why you need to make sure that all of you should give each other some time to adapt.
It is best if you could take a nanny for a coffee or lunch after the interview to speak in a relaxed environment. Try to keep the perfect balance between professional and casual, and that can be a great start to a normal relationship based on mutual respect.
Emphasizing The Crucial Component Of The Healthy Relationship-Communication
Do not be surprised that even after a great interview and some quality time spent with your nanny they somehow annoy you. Maybe you would be surprised at the beginning, however, it is important to act as a responsible adult in this situation. Adults have conflicts, and If there is something about your nanny irritating you, you will have to be honest about it and tell them.
Maybe they are not doing things in the way you would like them to. However, if you have never talked about the topic before, you cannot expect them to know everything about your needs and routines. Still, even if they did know about that, try not to lose your nerves and make sure to arrange a meeting on time before things get out of hand.
Like at any other job, make sure to give feedback in a kind and supportive manner and you will not be regretting it, that is for sure.
Sometimes, an honest talk and discuss your needs openly will save you a lot of trouble and also save your relationship. When both sides understand each needs better, it is a great foundation for developing the professional relationship in a right and correct manner. No matter how annoyed you are, keep your tone of voice normal and avoid acting out.
The Key Components Of A Healthy Professional Nanny-Employer Relationship
Besides the communication that we have already mentioned, there are some other crucial things that you need to pay attention to in order to have a high-quality relationship with your London governess of choice.
There are some components that are universal and in general should be applied to any type of work, being a governess included. Before we move on to discussing the components in detail, it is important to mention that when you are hiring a nanny, a great governess agency can help you a lot. By hiring a perfect agency, you will save yourself a lot of time and effort, so make sure to think about that too.
Maybe some of these will sound too obvious, but the truth is that for some people unfortunately it is not, so, that is why we will list them here:
- Mutual respect at all times
- Paying them on time
When you have these “two sacred” conditions fulfilled, we believe that both you and your nanny will be perfectly satisfied and happy with each other.
Mutual Respect At All Times And At All Costs
Good communication is the key, however, having mutual respect is another critical aspect of a great and healthy relationship of any kind. What employers often forget is that respect needs to go both ways.
For example, if you employ a live-in nanny, they need to obey the house rules, while you need to obey her own personal time and privacy. This is usually the biggest issue with the live-in nannies since the employers often abuse the fact that the nanny is just a door knock away instead of 30 minutes – 1 hour.
Of course, being a nanny is a pretty dynamic job and sometimes it is inevitable to have an arrangement where it’s ok to have certain exceptions from time to time, especially when the parents are working overtime, or children are sick and very small. However, you need to make sure that the effort does not go unnoticed and try showing some gratitude in the form of a late start the next day, etc.
Pay The Nanny On Time
This here sounds so obvious that it is strange how we still treat it as a condition and not as something that is normal, and part of every job. However, we live in a very dysfunctional economy and the world has already been through a lot, so, it will not hurt if we are tolerant of each other on this topic.
The truth is, being a little bit late can happen to anyone if someone gets fired, cuts hours, or any other reason. However, the most important thing here is honesty, so if you just make smaller arrangements and communicate on time, the situation can be resolved in a calm manner. Still, if the situation is normal, you need to make sure that you are punctual with paying for the services to your nanny.
No matter how much your nanny is earning, paying on time is just as important for anyone. Delayed payments without a good reason ( and even then) cannot be acceptable in any realm. Still, since sometimes it can happen, just make sure that it happens rarely and that when it does, you think of some kind of good explanation and solution for both sides. Maybe it is ok to always have a spare budget on the side for specific circumstances.
In the end, it is important to mention that nannies are much more than just employees. Of course, it is ok if not everyone thinks like that, however, when you think about that it is the truth. They care for your children, by providing them first-class care, education, and fun. Some people don’t have the possibility to have a nanny, so if you are one of the lucky ones, don’t guilt-trip yourself about having a nanny, but embrace the opportunity and be grateful.
AuthorBio: Anne Harris is an HR specialist working for londongoverness.com. She recruits nannies, governesses, and other childcare professionals, ensuring top-notch services for parents worldwide. In her free time, she likes reading about education, and children’s welfare, as well as visiting sports events.