February FAQ – How Can I Take Time Off – I Need a Break
One Friday each month, I dedicate the post to looking at some questions I have heard recently from developing leaders. Sharing those questions and my thoughts for them is a way for me to spread the information to as many leaders and future leaders as possible. If you have a question about leadership, or just a situation you would like some additional insight on, please email me at Effective Retail Leader. Let’s take a look at this week’s question.
I feel like it is so hard to take time off now. It is either too busy, or I have staffing challenges. I am afraid I'll fall behind. How can I get some time off – I feel like I am burning out? — Store Manager
“I need a vacation.” That is a feeling that many store leaders and even multi-unit leaders have often. Yet many believe that is nearly an impossible reality to have. Taking time off and getting away from your store or district is critical to your success and your health. That may seem odd to say, but it will likely resonate as true when you think about how different you felt after your last vacation.
Taking time off has always seemed like a hard option in retail, and it has been made more so since the start of the pandemic. It may be more critical than ever to take these breaks away from work to recharge and reset yourself.
Last year, I wrote about how you can get ready for a great vacation. There are steps you can take to prepare for enjoying your time off. There are huge benefits in taking that time off as well.
For Store Managers concerned about the consequences of taking time off, you’ll need to ask yourself some questions and answer honestly. If you are afraid of falling further behind when taking time off, ask, ‘am I already behind? Could I work better, smarter, faster, if I took time to recharge myself?’ Another good question to ask is, ‘why do I feel like I cannot take time away?’ Is your staff not able to lead in your absence? Are you afraid of missing something with your District Manager? This may be a good time to have some conversations with your team to share your concerns or start talking about what you would need them to do in your absence. You may find that your team is ready to take on those challenges. Often, your team knows you require a break and will be willing to step up to ensure you get time away to take a vacation.
Planning is a key step in taking that time off. Not just for where you are going and what you’ll do (that is a crucial part of the benefits that come from a vacation – by the way), but planning for who will take on the work you do while you are gone. There should be no reason that you have to come back and find yourself a week behind in everything you do. Your team can take on some of those items.
If you are concerned about missing something from your District Manager, sit with them as well as part of your planning process. What do they anticipate coming up while you are planning to be away? What things can you get ahead of before you go? What things can be eliminated while you are away? These are all topics you should be able to speak to your District Manager about. It is in their best interest that their Store Managers get rejuvenating time off as well.
District Managers, you may be thinking the same thing about your vacation time. How can I possibly take a vacation when so much is going on in my stores? Many of the things mentioned above apply to you as well. You likely have multiple Store Managers in your district that will be more than capable of stepping up for a week to support their peers in your absence. Someone will be able to fill in on calls, answer questions, and (yes) make decisions that will keep the business moving forward. Vacations can actually be great opportunities to provide additional exposure for top talent to other leaders in the organization.
It can be hard to work past the feelings of overwhelm when trying to plan a vacation. The problem will only continue to get worse if you don’t take the time off. We all need a break, we all need the time to spend away from work doing something fun for ourselves and with family or friends. I think you’ll find that you will be in a much better place to face the everyday challenges of the retail work environment when you come back. Start your planning now for your time off, so you can get away and enjoy that time. In fact, plan the next couple of vacation windows. Not only will it give you something to look forward to, it will help you get your team ready for those days you’ll be away. They will appreciate the opportunity to support you, and I think you’ll find that they are excited to allow you to relax and recharge your batteries.
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