One of the biggest fears that employers have during summer months is that all production will suddenly come to a grinding halt. And without taking the appropriate precautions, this is truly a genuine concern. Keep in mind the following tips so that you make sure that your team continues to operate efficiently, while still giving your employees the time off they deserve – doing so can actually help increase productivity.
Tip #1: Spend Some Time Outside
One of the quickest ways to burn out is by spending all of your time in the office working, while your family and friends are making time for vacations and other outdoor activities. It is important that you – and your employees – take time to enjoy yourself and soak up some of the summer rays.
Natural sunlight triggers our bodies’ production of Vitamin D, which is crucial to our health. It can protect against things like inflammation and even cancer, plus it improves muscle development and brain function. While it might feel counterproductive for your employees to spend time away from their computers, taking necessary time for oneself will actually increase efficiency in the long run.
Tip #2: Manage Vacation Expectations
Obviously, this is the time of year when you can expect lots of employees to be requesting time off. What you do not want to have happen is for an entire department to be out of office all at the same time – this is a procedural crisis just waiting to happen. In order to minimize this, it is important that you plan ahead and keep open communication with your team.
Let your employees know to inform you as soon as possible about any time off requests. Make sure that you keep track of individuals’ scheduled vacation days in a calendar, so you can be aware of any overlap or potential issues.
The other thing that you need to communicate early on is your expectation for availability while team members are away from their desk. For example, you may agree to letting someone take a four-day weekend, with the understanding that they will check their email once a day or make sure that a certain document receives approval while they are away.
Tip #3: Take Advantage of Any Downtime
With lots of people taking vacations during the summer months, this can also mean more downtime for those in the office. If you happen to be one of the unlucky ones stuck behind your desk while everyone else is at the beach or a block party, do not let the opportunity pass you by. Take that time to catch up on organizing the files that you have been meaning to get to for months, or any other task that you never seem to have the time to do. You will be happy you did when things are running at full speed again.
Make This Summer the Most Productive Yet
This is the time of year to recharge and gain inspiration. With the right balance of work and play, you can continue to check things off your to-do list while also making time for yourself. Take the appropriate steps so that your full team takes advantage of these key tips.