Too busy for a holiday?

Business owners are notoriously bad at stepping away from the needs of their business and taking a much-needed break. But a few simple processes put in place beforehand can make going on holiday easier.

With the rise of Covid-19, and ensuing effects of lockdown, many business owners have, quite rightly, ploughed their energies into their businesses.

But with the drive and determination to see their businesses survive during what continues to be challenging times, often altering business models, expanding into new markets and embracing large-scale change through technology and digital adoption, owners are at risk of neglecting their mental health.

Although 89% of business owners agree that holidays are important, and that rest and recuperation, taking a break away from the office, is vital, it’s predicted that from October 2020 to October 2021, 73% of business owners will take a maximum of five days leave. And 37% will take no holidays at all.

It can feel difficult for a business owner to take time off

Business owners report wanting to be there for their clients, take on all the work that comes their way, and actively market for new clients, while meeting all the demands of their current ones.

Many business owners have less staff due to the pandemic, and can often be fulfilling several different roles, including managing others’ challenging workloads.

What can business owners do to get away?

The more self-sufficient and communicative an organisation is with its clients, the easier it is to leave it to run.

1. Train clients to self-serve

When clients can self-serve, you need less people to answer the phones and carry out one-off routine tasks. Are there simple requests, tasks and queries that could be automated? A simple chatbot on your website can save hours on the phone for an employee, whose time could be better spent elsewhere in the business.

Do you know clients want to self-serve? Research bears out that clients want to visit your website and buy/find out what they need and leave, in an easy, hassle-free process.

Your clients may expect a personal service now, but training them to serve themselves will benefit you in the long-run, and done right, will not compromise their loyalty to you, only enhance you in their eyes.

2. Communicate with clients

Do you need to offer a reduced service if you take time off? Are you able to hand-over to someone temporarily?

A simple thing such as an email footer a month before your holiday to let clients know you won’t be around and service will alter during this time, may be all it needs to get the message through to expect to be without you for a short time.

And if you have a customer who always leaves it until the last minute, be sure to drop them a line personally to let them know you will be away on a much-needed break, but able to help them on your return.

3. Get your IT support on standby

You don’t need to ignore business continuity just because you’re going on holiday. If you feel you can’t go away because the internet will break or staffs’ computers will explode, you need the backup of a competent IT support provider.

Imagine the reassurance of having complete IT support to hand for your team while you’re away. No need to leave lists of complex instructions about what to do if the printer malfunctions, or someone deletes files; just have your people call your IT support instead.

Need help getting away for a holiday?

If you recognise the signs of stress that mean you really need to get away and can’t see a way to do this, talk to us about what can be done with technology. There may be short and long-term measures that will help you to, more consistently, take the essential time away you need.

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