Ensuring A Worry-Free Holiday From Your Business | Ep 26

To say that this year has been an ordinary year is an understatement. If anything, 2020 has really pushed us to reflect on who and what we value the most, and to check if our priorities align with these. Sometimes, one of the pitfalls of being so driven by a vision or a goal, is that the things that truly matter to us fall into the peripheries. 

This year has made us more mindful about the simple truth behind the old cliche--that life is short, and so, we must live this one life we get really well. 

For most entrepreneurs and business owners, living well means going and going and going. Like the Energizer bunny, we push ourselves and work hard, pausing to rest only when we’ve completely run out of batteries. We suffer the occasional burnout and see it as a sign of weakness rather than an alarm bell alerting us to a natural human need: rest. 

The fact of the matter is, if you want to be running your business for the long haul, then you must stop hitting the snooze button on rest. It is important to see rest as an essential use of your time, rather than an inefficient one. Regardless of field, scale, or industry, you, dear fellow business owner, are still human. And so taking a break is just as important as forecasting next year’s sales or revisiting your marketing strategies.

Now, if we’re honest about it, much of the anxiety around having to take a break lies in what could happen to our business while we’re away. Most of us have this silly (almost illogical) mentality that stepping out of our businesses, even for just a little while, could lead to their complete and utter ruin. Or something like it. 

This is not true. 

Planning for your break as though you were planning for the launch of a new project can ease this tension and give you the confidence you need to take that vacation, and trust that your business will be ok. Here are four practical ways to ensure that you are able to take a holiday without all the worrying, knowing that your company is well-equipped in your absence.

One: Free up your calendar and commit to keep those dates untouchable

You must begin with the mindset that taking that vacation is a commitment. One that is just as important as every other commitment you make for your business. Knowing that your vacation days are untouchable allows you to work around those days as needed. This, as opposed to having the mindset that vacation dates are flexible. If we think they are flexible, we will keep moving them around until they’re pushed back to next year instead.

It is also important to let your team, your partners, your shareholders, and your customers know that you will be gone on the said dates. Keeping everyone in the loop ensures that expectations are properly managed and necessary adjustments are planned out or made. 

Two: Resolve all pending items on your to-do list

I don’t mean cram everything just for the sake of getting things done. That will only be cause for more stress. Rather, examine each item on your to-do list and determine what you can get done before you leave, what you can delegate while you’re gone, and what you can delay until you get back. 

This simple exercise can do wonders for your peace of mind as you go on break. After all, the last thing that you want is to be sitting on the beach, enjoying the sun, and then suddenly realizing that you left something undone or un-delegated.

Three: Equip your Team to Address Issues on their own

One of the quirks of being a business owner is that we take fire fighting seriously. Often to the point that we don’t think anyone else can do it well apart from us. As mentioned, this is one of the big reasons why business owners don’t take breaks to begin with. There is a quiet fear that something will go wrong and that we won’t be around to handle it the way it must be handled. 

Equipping our teams adds great value to the workplace. In fact, their ability to handle issues on their own,  whether we go on vacation or not, is a mark of a healthy business. As needed, put protocols in place, assign point persons who will be responsible for specific tasks or processes, and write things down. Having the proper documentation ensures that everyone has access to the same streamlined information at any given time.

Four: Entrust your business to your team and let them know it

One of the most empowering things a business owner can do is communicate to his or her team that they are trusted. There will be a few hiccups here and there for sure, but the learning curve will be more likely to improve in the long run. This gesture of trust can motivate every team member to work out of a place of assurance and reinforcement, rather than a place of fear and self-doubt. 

Remind your team of your company’s goals and encourage them that all their work is appreciated.

And so, those are 4 simple things that you can apply to ensure that you get a worry-free holiday. One that is much needed after the kind of year this has been. May these help you take a step away from your business with confidence, so that you can come back refreshed, renewed, and re-energized.