We’ve all been there. You’re trying to pack your bags for a well-deserved summer break, but instead of feeling excited, you’re dealing with a major case of absence anxiety.
With research showing that over fifty per cent of managers globally report feeling completely burnt out, taking time to switch off from work is essential for your own sanity.
But switching off is easier said than done.
Studies show that half of all workers admit to sometimes checking their emails on holiday, while a shocking twenty-seven percent look at them often.
It’s entirely natural to care about your work and feel the weight of responsibility for your team. However, taking a real break is vital for your mental health. In fact, research proves that just three days into a holiday, travellers feel refreshed, less stressed, and in a much better mood.
So, what if your upcoming holiday could do more than just recharge your batteries? What if it’s actually the secret weapon your team needs to grow?
By reframing your time away as an opportunity rather than a gap to fill, you can fundamentally transform how your team operates.
Try This Instead
True leadership isn’t about making yourself indispensable or relying on an outdated command-and-control style where you dictate every move. Micromanagement is incredibly dispiriting and often leads straight to disengagement. Instead, build a team that functions without you by shifting your mindset towards the STAR® system.
This all starts with a simple approach:
- STOP and bite your lip. The next time a team member comes to you with a problem, take a mental breath. It’s always tempting to instantly give the answer to get a quick resolution, but all that teaches them is that you will always fix things. Pausing gives you a valuable moment to THINK about how to respond more helpfully.
- ASK powerful questions to stimulate their own problem-solving skills. Ask questions intended to get their brains thinking; what do they think the best approach is? This helps them build their own mental models and validates their expertise. Successful organisations work collaboratively from the bottom up by tapping into the diverse experience of the entire workforce. You are coaching them in the flow of work to be the problem-solver.
- Give appreciative feedback. A classic management trap is only giving feedback when something goes wrong. If you help someone achieve a result by letting them take action on their own, make a point to give them some positive recognition. Regularly making the effort to give feedback normalises open conversation and helps both of you identify strengths to build upon. Suddenly, performance appraisals become an ordinary part of the working day rather than something to fear.
The Ultimate Trust Test
Going away is the ultimate test of leadership trust. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to delegate responsibilities, your holiday is the perfect stage.
In many retailers, the highest performing managers are seen as those whose stores continue to perform, or even outperform, when they are away on holiday.
So, hand over the reins for that sales presentation, or to lead the weekly team meeting, and let your team shine.
With global employee engagement falling staggeringly low to only twenty per cent, giving your team more autonomy is exactly what they need to feel invested in their work.
Set strict boundaries before you go, and make it clear you should only be contacted for genuine emergencies. While it’s always tempting to sneak a peek at your inbox from the poolside, replying to minor issues completely undermines the trust you’re trying to build.
By letting go, you cure your holiday guilt and invest in your team’s long-term capability. You’ll return to an inbox that didn’t explode, and more importantly, to an engaged, resourceful team with a real can-do attitude.
So, log off your emails and reinstate your out-of-office and trust your team to have it covered!
Your Perfect Holiday Read
Want to unlock your team’s potential every day, not just when you are away?
Discover how to shift your style from telling to asking by reading (or listening to) The Answer is a Question.
