Availability on vacation: Many working people are ready to work. (Photo: Shutterstock-GaudiLab)
Not being available on vacation is a nice trend. But nothing more. The desire to really be away – so that we can tell everyone about it afterwards – is usually followed by an emergency, an exception or, in general, your own importance. People would rather be important than be left alone.
But somehow it would be nice to really be out, right? I asked t3n readers on LinkedIn and Twitter. Of more than 500 votes cast, on LinkedIn, 74 percent said they could be reached (22 percent), at fixed times (4 percent) or only for emergencies (48 percent). 26 percent try to switch off properly. It looks similar on Twitter:
So it doesn’t really work out with the inaccessibility .
The heart of the strategy: Be replaceable!
When someone goes on a trip, he has nothing left in the company to tell. Because he’s not there. It should be that simple. A few tips for implementation:
Pass on your knowledge to only one person
That is the most important aspect, really. While most people struggle to leave their devices off, really not to look at their emails, to just keep spontaneous ideas to themselves, one of the important factors actually lies with other people: If they are well looked after, then they have to do not answer with questions either.
The most important basic rule: Handing over to one person. Anyone who briefs the whole team has a silent crowd sitting in front of them whose members do not feel responsible. After all, everyone already has enough to do. If there is only one person, then this person is responsible – and at the same time receives the competence to make necessary decisions. Important:
- Who should, may and can make decisions?
- If you have urgent inquiries: Who should they be addressed to? (This information also belongs in the absence message.)
A general collection point may feel like the simplest solution, but it works to two problems: If the person collecting the inquiries cannot make their own decisions, processes are delayed. If he or she is too low in the hierarchy, it can be difficult to find responsibilities. Those who want to be absent in a relaxed manner clarify these responsibilities. Ideally at your own hierarchical level or with designated representatives.
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Pass on your knowledge structured
The longer the vacation, the more important it is that information can be found. Doctors who spend a long weekend leave the necessary information as a matter of course. But this handover becomes important in other professions as well, the longer a colleague is absent. What is important now will be different everywhere. But these questions should be answered in most cases:
- Where are the documents for the current project?
- Which customers could contact you?
- And what are these people like?
- Were there any unusual requirements?
- Which business contacts were important recently and who can help if there are still unexpected questions?
- What will be important soon after the vacation and how can the representation handle inquiries that come earlier?
These lists must remain incomplete as they cannot cover all professions. If you enjoy organizational development, you can develop a standard process for your team for a successful holiday handover. Which questions must be answered?
Name your availability
Astonishing few people in my surveys stated that they could be reached at fixed times. That made me wonder. If you assign fixed time slots to important inquiries, you have peace of mind at other times. Before I start my summer break of several weeks, I inform the people I work with about the exact times. And I name one or two days in between when I could add office days in important cases. If I am traveling for a shorter time, but know that there will be questions that only I can decide, then I will communicate the times. At other times it doesn’t work.
We can all draw the self-confidence for this from the knowledge that other people also like to have time off and understand that that means not being continuously available. And that things sometimes take longer. I would go further: if you clearly communicate your availability and responsibilities in your absence, you will generate positive envy. Look, you can do it that way too. Pretending to be flexible and committed at all times leads to stress on one side and irritation on the other. The clearer times are named, the easier it is for everyone else to work together. And the more relaxed the vacation will be.
