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Download the PDFAccording to a 2020 QAPA study, 71% of French people answer business emails or calls during their holidays, and the vast majority say it bothers them. So how do you disconnect, and how do you prepare your leave so you can enjoy it? The tips below are built around five pillars: anticipate, delegate, communicate, motivate, disconnect.
1Anticipate and communicate
Tell your team in advance and be clear about your dates of absence. Also say that you will work out a team plan to manage this period smoothly, and share it later. Back up this spoken message in writing, and enter your time off in your personal calendar and your team calendar as soon as possible.
2Manage the team leave schedule
Anticipating the summer holidays also means organising the team’s schedule. Ideally two months in advance, remind everyone that the team needs to get organised for the period to go well.
Be clear about what this period means for the team and for each role, especially roles that depend on good team organisation, such as Customer Success managers. Collect everyone’s wishes and build together the schedule that works best for all. Finally, invite everyone to complete the admin tasks related to leave: updated calendars, days off entered in the dedicated tool.
Stéphane Moriou’s tip
To prepare for the holiday period, go back to the performance equation: performance = potential - interference. The whole question is how to anticipate this period to maximise your team’s potential while removing as much interference as possible. Your role is to create the right conditions for them even when you’re not there.
3Step back and delegate
Make an inventory of the important topics in progress. Identify those you need to complete before leaving, those that colleagues will take over and those that can wait until you return. This is a chance to take stock of priorities and emergencies.
The goal: delegate the projects that must keep moving during your absence, to a member of your team, one of your peers or your own manager.
4Set up back-ups
Delegating also means setting up back-ups. So as not to block projects, put clear, exceptional decision-making processes in place, and make sure every project on your team has a well-identified owner.
Also tell your team how to react in an emergency: who makes the decision and who to notify internally first. You can leave with peace of mind, and your team can take over calmly.
5Notify your strategic stakeholders
Internally and externally, you have key contacts. Let them know about your absence in advance. It is a matter of courtesy, and it avoids them finding out you are away just when they need you. It is also a chance to tell them who their contact will be while you’re away and to reassure them about the progress of your projects.
6Write your out-of-office message
It is one of the essentials, on email or on Slack. Feel free to write a message that will make people smile, but remember the essentials:
- when you will be back and available again
- who to contact while you’re away for an ongoing project or a real emergency
Stéphane Moriou’s tip
Email management is always a more sensitive topic than it seems:
- Can I, or must I, rely on members of my team to handle emergencies?
- Should I really disconnect during my holidays, or are there messages I have to answer?
Then there is the mental load: how do I deal with the guilt if I disconnect completely, or if I don’t? On his last holidays, Stéphane Moriou disconnected completely, with this out-of-office message: “If urgent, please contact my wife at +06 XX XX XX XX.” Guaranteed result.
7Hand over the keys and final instructions
Take a few minutes with each person on your team to make sure everything is ready for your absence. If you hold 1:1 meetings, the last one before you leave is often the best moment.
Go over your last instructions, but above all ask open questions and listen actively:
- Do you have everything you need while I’m away?
- Is there anything that worries you?
8Send a motivating message to the whole team
Delegating during your holidays shows your team that you trust them fully, and lets everyone grow with new responsibilities. It is a chance to send a particularly positive message.
It is also a chance to set an example: organise your time off well, communicate clearly and early, delegate fully, and give yourself the means to really enjoy your holidays.
Stéphane Moriou’s tip
Go further: use your vacation to step back from your team and think about feedback. Ask yourself: “What feedback did I not have the courage to give my team throughout the year?” Coming back is a good time to share constructive feedback, with hindsight and a rested mind, and start September with good momentum.
9Plan your return
Before leaving, take a few minutes to plan your return:
- block the first hours of your first day back to read the messages received while you were away
- schedule a meeting with your team soon after your return to sync and catch up
10Really disconnect during your time off
Now that you have followed the nine previous steps, really disconnect and recharge. If you have delegated, communicated and organised everything, there is no reason you can’t enjoy an uninterrupted break. Pause your notifications and resist the temptation to check your messages.
With the boundaries between work and personal life increasingly blurred, it is essential to keep protected time to recharge your mental and physical energy. It will benefit both you and your team.
Stéphane Moriou’s tip
Holidays are also a good time to step back and reflect on your own growth. Use this quiet time to be introspective and have a courageous conversation with yourself about what works for you and what doesn’t.
- In the short term, reflect on what you have done so far: your strengths, your areas for improvement, what you want to prioritise when you get back.
- In the long term, think about your future: take stock of your career, ask yourself whether you are where you want to be, think about your work-life balance.
The recap checklist
If you can’t check every box, you know what you have left to do.
- You have notified your team of your leave.
- Your team’s vacation schedule is finalised.
- You have delegated important matters.
- You have a back-up owner on ongoing projects.
- You have notified your strategic contacts.
- You have set up your out-of-office message.
- You have briefed everyone on your team.
- You have motivated the team before leaving.
- You have organised your return before leaving.
- You commit to disconnecting during your time off.
