Are you constantly being bothered by your staff while you’re on vacation?
Maybe you run an entire division or perhaps you only have three staff members that are constantly emailing, texting, and calling you. Maybe you’re the owner of your own company.
It doesn’t matter how many people are calling you or what your title is at the moment. What matters is that you cannot unwind and enjoy your time away from the office without everyone needing to reach you.
I had a management team member come to me with this exact issue. He complained that he never truly received a day off because he was constantly working and being contacted.
I have shared my feedback on this subject with him. Now I’m sharing my tips with you.
Empowering Others
You have to empower others to make decisions while you are in the office if you ever expect for them to feel empowered to make decisions while you are away.
Perhaps your team has to go to you for every answer because that’s how you like it or you do not trust their decision making skills. They are going to feel that they have to continue to do this while you are on vacation.
My suggestion would be to start encouraging decision making without your input. When one of the members of your staff comes to you with a particular issue and asks what they should do, ask them what they think they should do. Get them to start having an opinion and a voice. Their recommendations are valuable to you.
Not only is this going to shift them into finding a solution, it’s going to transform you into a more likeable employer. You’ll become a leader that people want to follow by empowering your staff.
Once they do make a decision, applaud it. Be proud of the decision they made on their own. Be sure to share with other members of the team how proud you are of their decision making abilities.
Decisions
There may be some decisions that you feel only you can make. This is most likely the case with company owners or executive members. It is quite alright to have a list of a few items that you would like to retain sole decision making authority.
Make sure your staff knows that you are encouraging them to make decisions on their own. Your micromanaging of their decisions has come to an end and you are working on letting things go and putting trust into their very capable hands.
Clearly make note of the very few items you would like your approval on before someone else makes a decision.
For example, you are good with a particular team member approving any expense that is less than $5,000. If the expense is more than that, you would like them to come to you for your approval first.
Don’t leave any blurry lines. Be very confident and direct in what should come to you and what they can decide on their own. Put it in writing and send to everyone in an email. Post it somewhere in your office that can be easily found. When you go on vacation, send out a reminder email with the list again.
In addition, make sure you stick to what you say. Don’t get frustrated when someone approves a $4,800 expense, as your line was $5,000 and it is under that amount.
Train Properly
Do not hoard information. If your team doesn’t know how to do something, of course they are going to reach out to you. The business is going to continue running if you are there or not.
Don’t be afraid to ever share information. As a great leader, you share constantly. You’re making sure that everyone in your department is backed up and knows how to cover the workload when someone is out.
The case should be the same for when you are out. Trust your staff members to do the job (almost) as well as you can while you are enjoying some much needed time away.
Communicate
Of course your team is going to reach out to you if they do not know you are on vacation or taking a day off.
Perhaps you didn’t feel the need to tell anyone that you’re taking the day off – you’re the boss and you can do what you want. If they don’t see you in the office and they call or send an email, it’s your mistake by not informing the members of the team as to why you are out of the office. They could be assuming you have an appointment with a client, you’re running late, or you simply are working from home that day.
Inform everyone of your vacation time. Don’t be vague as to the reason why you are out of the office. Make it clear that you’re taking some time off and would appreciate them stepping it up and getting it done for you while you are away.
Mark it on a calendar that is visible to others. Write it on any shared calendars that your team may have.
Set up your email to auto respond with who to contact due to your vacation dates of “July 12 – July 19”. In the automated response, let the email sender know that you have limited access to emails. If they require immediate answers, please contact your assistant or whoever you designate as your second in command. Share their contact information.
Be The Example
You are wanting your staff members to stop contacting you while you’re on vacation. You have to do the same for them.
If you are emailing, texting, or calling your team while they are on vacation, you are setting the example. They now know that it is acceptable and expected for them to do the same to you while you are on vacation.
Do not expect your team to work on vacation. Do not want them to work while they are on vacation. You want them to unplug and unwind and come back well rested and feeling like they got the most out of their time off.
Our vacation days are precious. They are precious for us and they are precious for the people who work for us.
Set the same example for them that you would expect for yourself. You should not be allowed a unplugged vacation while they are expected to constantly be on call. Do not hold your own personal vacation to a higher standard than theirs.
Plan Well In Advance
If you have things that are not complete when you leave for vacation, you will surely be bothered during your time away.
The one thing that gets me through every day is having a to do list.
Make a “pre-vacation” to do list. Things that you know you need to take care of before you leave for vacation in order to get the most enjoyment out of your time away.
If possible, start the list weeks in advance. Add to the list as necessary and make a gameplan to have the entire list crossed off before your final day.
Wrap Up
When one of our management team members came to me and told me that he couldn’t be left alone by his employees while he was on vacation, I did blame him.
This may sound a bit harsh. I told him that he needed to rethink how he was empowering his team to make decisions.
I do think it will take some training on your end to stop the endless calls, texts, and emails while you are away. However, the steps I have suggested are recommended not only for your vacation time; but also to create an environment where people are proud to work.
Setting the example, planning, and empowering your team members is the key to having a stress free vacation.
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