Taking a summer holiday from business life
With almost 1.5million* decision makers in SMEs not having any time off in the past 12 months, it’s evident that a proportion of business owners don’t feel comfortable stepping away from their business. What’s probably even more shocking, of those that do take holiday, they only take an average of 13 days annual leave – which is roughly half the normal statutory allowance available.
Perhaps the main reason is not feeling confident that the business will continue to run whilst they’re not there, when, in reality, it’s unlikely things will fall apart in a matter of days. Kevin Riley, a business growth specialist from ActionCOACH Warwick, supports business owners to grow their businesses, subsequently allowing them to take time out. He knows all too well just how many individuals feel guilty about taking a holiday.
“The mantra I live by is working ON, not IN the business,” said Kevin. “This essentially means that I develop business owners and their teams to grow at a sustainable rate, eventually allowing the decision-maker to take their deserved, guilt-free time off. It’s extremely common nowadays, due to the fast-paced nature of consumers, for business owners to feel tied in to daily operations, however there really is no benefit to not giving yourself a break.”
Kevin lists the top benefits of taking time off as a business owner:
• Improves productivity. The human body requires downtime. When the natural cycle of alertness and fatigue is ignored, the body’s need to reboot is completely disregarded. Short breaks are good, whereas longer getaways allow for a full recharge – ready to return to work with a clearer mind and ability to focus better on the task at hand.
• Reduces stress. Although some people like to work under pressure, it shouldn’t happen all the time. Studies have shown that taking a holiday helps maintain good health and prevents burnout. Working under pressure might be a viable option for you and your team, but when it turns into strain or stress, that’s when you’re due a break.
• Improves creativity. A simple change of pace can help you see the world differently. Disconnecting from the work environment will help focus your mind on other external sources, allowing you to absorb more influences that have an impact when you return to work.
• Promotes confidence. When you return from your time away, you will more than likely have a renewed sense of self. You’ll feel refreshed and will tend to approach projects with increased vigour, opting to tackle them with more enthusiasm rather than settling for an easy option.
• Sets a good example. Time away from the office can benefit all employees, with that example starting at the top. If employees see their boss never taking a day off and working long hours, they will assume they need to do the same. Taking a holiday shows employees that it’s okay to do so and that the company values their wellbeing. A culture of wellness goes a long way in recruiting and retaining employees.
Kevin adds: “You never know, the things you delegate to other members of the team during your time away might have the option to be permanently delegated. Your time could be freed up to focus on other aspects of the business that might not have been receiving your full attention. In today’s 24-7 world, the need for a holiday cannot be overestimated – trust me, the time you then spend in the business will be much more efficient.”
For more information, please visit: www.warwick.actioncoach.co.uk
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Editor’s notes:
For more information, or to speak with Kevin directly, please contact Liam on 07395 641 523 or liam@revpr.co.uk
Images attached: Kevin Riley in a coaching session.
Sources:
* Direct Line for Business: Taking it smeazy.