Seven Steps To Ensure Your Vacation Pays Off

This may be a difficult time to take a vacation, but remember this: Time away from the job will improve your efficiency and help accelerate your career. In the end, personal down time will benefit your employer as well. Hopefully, you have the courage and wisdom to act on this axiom.

Career Coaching: Seven-Steps To A Successful Vacation

Let’s all hold up our right hands and swear we will abide by seven common sense ideas that will help assure that our vacation times will serve their best purposes.

1. Come to grips with the fact that your employer can get along for a few days without you. However, it is to be hoped that your absence will cause everyone to understand and appreciate how much you contribute when you are on the job.

2. Reject the macho idea that long hours with your nose to the grindstone demonstrate strength and commitment. It’s what you produce that counts for your employer and for the advancement of your career. Even an ox needs time out of the yoke.

3. Plan your vacation in advance. Hold to that date, come hell or high water. Cancel it only on a direct order from your boss. If your employer forces you to cancel your vacation, make sure he has a good reason. Absent a sound reason, consider whether you are working in an environment that will nurture your work to reach your career goals.

4. As you near the date of your vacation, establish a plan to cover your responsibilities while you are away. Do work in advance. Delegate. Advise those with whom you work of your plans and what you expect to happen while you are away.

5. Name a “gatekeeper” through whom you can be reached. Be sure this is a person who will protect your turf and time. Don’t check with the office while you are on vacation. Someone will call you if you are needed. Don’t panic if they don’t contact you. Take satisfaction that your vacation plan is working.

6. Flush work out of your mind. Put the components of your life in perspective. Recharge your batteries. Read things totally unrelated to your work. Get plenty of rest. Rebond with your friends and family.

7. Be prepared to double your efforts when you return from vacation to catch up and move ahead on your career path.

Career Advice: It’s well to remember that there is no record of anyone wishing on their deathbed that they had spent less time on vacation.

I wish you career success.

Ramon Greenwood, The Career Coach, Common Sense At Work