Hitting snooze on that summer vacation button ? Here ’ s why you shouldn ’ t .
Hitting snooze on that summer vacation button ? Here ’ s why you shouldn ’ t .
About this time of year , I think it ’ s important to talk about why business owners aren ’ t getting out of the office and what steps to take to get your business vacation-ready . It ’ s also not just about discussing how to get out of the office but why it ’ s so important to take time away from your business .
We all know that times are tough . Business owners are cautious , facing an uncertain political landscape , the upcoming elections and how the rising minimum wages around the country will affect their business .
On the flip side , as people see their business pick up and things get busier as orders come in or new clients come on , it ’ s easy to say that you want to be on site and involved in the day to day activities to make sure that everything is running smoothly .
Whatever the case , it can be hard to justify leaving your business for a vacation . Here are a few reasons why you need to put the excuses aside and stop hitting the snooze button on your summer vacation .
Show your staff you trust them . Every business owner should have a day-to-day structure in place at their office lead by team members that they trust . Not ever getting out of the office shows your managers and team leaders that you don ’ t trust in their ability to keep the operation running smoothly without you . If this is actually the case , then you have bigger issues on your hands than making time for a vacation .
Test your contingency plan . That ’ s right , every business owner has a plan in place for their staff in case of an emergency . If you ’ ve never used it before or haven ’ t in a while , this is the perfect reason to dust it off , update it and make sure the staff is prepared to handle any disruptions or problems in your absence with minimal interruption of your vacation .
Taking a step back can clear your perspective . It ’ s easy to get stuck on a problem and miss a simple , obvious solution . Sometimes being in the office day after day and week after week can cloud your perspective on changes that need to be made , policies that need to be scrapped or partnerships that need to be forged . Taking a step back and recalibrating your business mindset can often lead to a more productive return to work .
Refocus your work / life balance . It can be easy to push off a vacation or quality time with your family . But life will always be busy , your business will always need you and there is never a perfect time to just get away . So make the decision to take a few days to focus on your family and reconnect with what ’ s really important- the people that you love .
Show your staff that it ’ s ok to take time away . Leadership starts at the top , and if management isn ’ t taking vacation then it sends a negative signal to your staff about them taking any time they have accrued . Americans work longer hours than most of the world and we take less vacation . Actions speak louder than words – set an example for your staff by taking a few days away .
Strictly Marketing Magazine May / June 2016 17