Margaret Brennan, the moderator of CBS’s Face the Nation, embodies the challenges and triumphs of balancing a high-profile career with the demands of family life. Her experiences offer valuable insights into managing a demanding job while prioritizing personal well-being. While weight loss tips are beyond the scope of information provided, we can explore the broader strategies she employs to maintain equilibrium in her life.
Juggling Act: Career and Motherhood
Brennan candidly discusses the constant juggling act between her role as a prominent journalist and being a mother to her young son. The relentless news cycle, coupled with the responsibilities of motherhood, creates a demanding environment.
"These days, it’s a juggle of handling my 16-month-old son and the news flow - the constant barrage of incoming news in the political world and on my foreign-affairs beat."
This illustrates the dual demands on her time and attention. Brennan acknowledges the added complexities of returning from maternity leave while staying on top of the news and appearing on camera.
"Every single person who tries to juggle a family and their life knows all those things that pull at you. Trying to adjust to coming back from maternity leave while on camera and trying to stay on the news were all added complexities."
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The Importance of Preparation and Prioritization
Brennan emphasizes the importance of preparation in her demanding role. She constantly feels the need to stay informed and ahead of the news cycle.
"I’m a firm believer that being prepared is essential to doing this job well, so I constantly feel like there’s something I need to be doing homework on. It’s hard to ever feel like you get ahead of this news cycle."
However, she also recognizes the need to prioritize and focus on what matters most to the American people.
"One of the things I try to [think about] constantly is: What is important for the American people to understand in terms of why this matters to them?"
This focus helps her navigate the overwhelming amount of information and make informed decisions in real-time.
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Establishing Routines and Support Systems
To manage her demanding schedule, Brennan relies on established routines and a strong support system. Her husband plays a crucial role in childcare, particularly on weekends when she is working.
"My husband is with our son Saturday and Sunday while I work. We have a great childcare routine during the week, too."
These routines provide structure and stability, allowing her to focus on her work while knowing her son is well cared for. She also cherishes specific moments with her son, such as story time on Mondays and nightly bath time and dance parties.
"I take my son to story time on Mondays. That’s my big event with him. If I’m lucky enough to be able to go home at night and not be on the road, doing bath time and a nightly dance party with my son is the best part of my day."
These dedicated moments provide a sense of balance and joy amidst the chaos.
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Maintaining Composure in a High-Pressure Environment
As a moderator, Brennan understands the importance of remaining composed and objective, even in a high-pressure environment. She sees her role as facilitating understanding, not promoting her own views.
"I take the role of moderator seriously. I’m not there to pound my chest and to make a point of my voice in this story. So I try to listen and follow up."
She recognizes the challenges of fact-checking in real-time and interjecting appropriately without alienating the audience.
"It is hard for anyone in this role in terms of fact checking in real time. And also in terms of [the right time to] interrupt and interject, while not turning off the audience."
Her focus on listening and following up allows her to guide the conversation effectively and provide valuable insights to the viewers.
Dealing with External Criticism
Brennan acknowledges the challenges of navigating the social media environment and dealing with external criticism, particularly as a female questioner.
"In the social-media environment that we’re living in, everyone’s got an opinion whether you want it or not. There’s an extra layer to that as a female questioner. I try to tune it out to the degree that I can - I’d be lying to you if I said you can completely tune it out."
She relies on counsel from trusted individuals to help her weigh important factors and stay grounded. She is also aware that in today's partisan climate, criticism is inevitable.
"These days so much stuff is put through a partisan lens. You’re going to get hit from one side or the other no matter what you do."
Embracing Conviction and Articulating Thoughts Clearly
Brennan's experience at an all-girls school instilled in her the importance of articulating thoughts clearly and with conviction. A nun challenged her and her classmates to avoid hedging their statements with qualifiers.
"If you don’t have the conviction of your own option, why are you raising your hand?” Which wasn’t to say don’t raise your hand, it was just to say that if you’re going to borrow our time with your explanation, clearly articulate it and have some conviction behind your thoughts."
This lesson has served her well in her career, where clear and confident communication is essential.