You can *actually* take a holiday during a pandemic
The past few months have been trying on all of us, in different ways. A lot of managers have stepped up in this time, supporting their teams through this unprecedented series of events. However, I can see that resilience levels are dwindling, energy levels are low, and we’re all kind of over it. None of us expected 100 days of lockdown - in fact, many of us thought we’d be mostly back to normal by summer.
Now that’s not the case at all. I spoke to one client who’s accepted that he won’t be seeing some of his team members until 2021 - at the earliest! Those of us looking toward the rest of the year are burdened with the role of keeping up morale, job security, and purpose. Tired and frustrated that we have to change the majority of our goals, we are mourning the loss of what was and longing for things back.
Cue summer.
It’s time for a break. A big one. I often have to help my clients figure out how to have an actual holiday where they’re able to switch off. Now more than ever, it’s imperative that we ALL take time fully away from our busy schedules. That includes checking emails, “5 minute” calls, and peeking at Slack.
Here’s how:
Set Short-Term Goals: Set your team up with clear expectations of what you want them to achieve for the time that you’ll be away. These should be initiatives that you know they can do without your permission or mentorship. Ask them to put their questions in a doc for when you come back, so they don’t get lost in your emails or Slack channels.
Learning Goals: Many businesses see a seasonal lull over the summer, so you should give your team space to set some learning goals. These quiet times are not meant to be filled with busy work - they’re a great opportunity to step out of the day to day, lift our heads up, and take stock of what’s going on in our industry and beyond. Ask your team to playback their insights (ex: remote ways of working) and plan for a team sharing meeting when you return. These insights can help shape your end of year planning.
Define Urgency: If you’re feeling tempted to add the “in case of emergency here’s my phone number” line to your out of office, don't do it! Everyone’s version of emergency will vary and you might find yourself getting calls that aren’t that important to you and interrupt your precious time off. Set clear expectations of what is worthy of getting in touch with you, and if not you, make it clear who to reach out to (make the intro before you head off if necessary). Set these boundaries with: your manager, your team, your peers, and if relevant, your clients.
Discipline: I’m pretty diligent about setting my team up so I don’t have to check emails. In fact, they’re great at enabling me to have real-time off. 100% of the time what ruins the system is me. I usually check my emails daily because I’m a) a control freak b) impatient c) bored on my holiday. I’ve had to start leaving my laptop at home and putting my phone in the hotel room safe so it’s not around me. Honestly, it’s embarrassing but the only failsafe is if I put my phone somewhere that takes a lot of steps to reach, so I have to check myself at each step and ask “is it really worth it?” Do what works best for you, just be sure you have the discipline to not check-in while you’re on holiday.
Now, I’ve heard (and used) the excuse that this time off is a great opportunity to do the deep work you don’t get a chance to do in your day today. Wrong. Use your time away to reflect on how you want to set up your time so that you CAN get that done during your week, and not on your holiday.
COVID has stretched us, and it’s not over. We still have 6 months of the year left, but they don’t have to be a write-off. They’ll come with challenges that require us as leaders to stay open and adaptable, and we can’t do that if we’re running on empty. Take a holiday and use it wisely.
Recharge. Rest. Repeat.
Give yourself that time, you deserve it.
If you’re interested in developing your leadership style in these uncertain times, you might be interested in talking to us about some of our remote offerings.
At OverTime Leader we provide executive leadership and management advisory for technology-enabled businesses and teams. If you are looking to spark a people-powered change in your business our team has a toolbox full of ways to help you get started.
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