It’s important to be disconnected when you’re on vacation. It can be hard to get your mind off of critical work in-flight and unfinished business. Here is a strategy to help.
Before you go on vacation, schedule a 45-60 minute meeting with your direct reports the afternoon of your first day back in the office. Reserve time in the morning of that day to work through your inbox and digital channels.
Set these expectations with your direct reports before you depart:
- Each person gets 7 min max for an update
- Crisp comments on key issues, not a list of everything
- Focus on active and open issues, questions that need an answer, and things your boss or peers will want to know or want done
- Save less time-critical items for your next one-on-one meeting
Let your mind relax while you’re on vacation, confident that your team will be on top of the right things.
Done well, this “catch-up meeting” helps you get back to speed quickly with less interpretation of cryptic email messages that are no longer relevant.
Pro tip #1. Before you leave, create your “cheat sheet” of critical issues and planned events for follow-up queries. These are things you know you want to ask about.
Pro tip #2. Even if your boss doesn’t schedule something like this, be prepared to give just such an update when she returns.
