One responsibility of a business owner or leader often overlooked is knowing how to enjoy a restful vacation. Having the proper rest and regeneration while away from the office is important to keeping one’s business as well as personal life strong and healthy.
A good vacation can promote creativity and renewed excitement about current work. It gives new stamina to deal with the stresses and pressures of the job. There are right ways and wrong ways for taking a vacation however. If you are not coming back to work rejuvenated, there are some things to consider.
These questions may help to uncover some. Did you take a real vacation? Vacations might mean staying at home or traveling to a destination. When you go are you doing something that you find fun and relaxing? Some will take a vacation because a relative or friend suggested it but in reality It wasn’t your thing. For example, if you are afraid of heights, a trip to the mountains to rock climb may not do it for you. Figure out what does work for you and your family.
Have you ever combined a vacation with a business trip? This may be a good opportunity especially if the company is paying for part of the accommodations. However, be sure to separate the two experiences so each will be more productive. On your last vacation did you disconnect from the office? If your cell phone rings, will you have to answer it?
Are you checking email on a regular basis? If your self-discipline is a little weak work on forming new disconnecting habits. One way is to put a sticker on your phone reminding you not to take business communication. This may sound drastic but think of everything riding on it. Do you have a trustworthy and dependable backup? If possible, train someone to “be you” to the best level possible. Review with them possible scenarios that may come up during your absence.
If this person happens to be a peer perhaps you can make an agreement to cover them during their absence in return for being your backup. Devise other steps to take for a great get away. In doing so, your productivity and ability to lead will grow. Remember if you can’t get away to keep your good health, you have become a single point of failure.
Ted Saul is a business coach and writer that assists with Business Plans, Project Management and Career Management. He earned his MBA from Regis University along with a Masters in project management. Ted can be reached on LinkedIn or by emailing TedSaulbiz@gmail.com.
