How to Prepare at Work

Before Vacation

Or: Don’t Come Back to a Mess

So you’ve got some time off…

There are 5 things you need to do to prepare at work before

vacation:

1.Spread the word

2.Delegate

3.Prioritize

4.Be Realistic

5.Take care of admin

Spread the Word

Be up front

Don’t hide the fact that you’ve got vacation. Give everyone

time to prepare.

Set expectations

Decisions, meetings, conference calls and signatures need to

wait until your return.

Remind everyone

Send an email reminder telling people when you won’t be

available. Let the barrage of questions begin!

Delegate

Get a delegate

Choose one yourself, or have your boss choose one. Get this

locked down at least one week before you leave.

Include your delegate

CC your delegate on new communications; invite him or her to

meetings and calls.

Disclose all

You want your delegate to make good decisions while you’re

away. Now is not the time to hold back information.

Prioritize

Make a list

List out the tasks you’d need to do at work before vacation.

What’s important?

Figure out which are the most important. Flag important items.

What’s urgent?

Which tasks on your list are time-sensitive? Flag them for

urgency.

What’s both?

Your list has items that are important and urgent. Spend your

time on these ones before vacation, and make sure your

delegate understands them perfectly.

Be realistic

Careful about being too ambitious

If you plan to do too much before you leave, you’re setting

yourself up for failure.

Forgive yourself for not getting things done

It’s OK to leave some things until you get back. You’re still a

good person, I promise.

Don’t take on anything new

Before you leave is not the time to accept any new work,

projects, or initiatives.

Take care of admin

Clean your desk

Having a clean desk boosts productivity, clears your mind, and

sets the scene for when you return. Hint: just clean the top.

Make your availability clear

Will you be totally inaccessible or accepting emergency calls?

Be warned: give and inch and you’ve opened the floodgates.

Set messages

Cell phone, office phone, and email messages needs to be set.

Summary

Now you know how to prepare at work before vacation. Complete

these 5 steps, and you won’t come back to a mess.

1. Spread the word

2. Delegate

3. Prioritize

4. Be realistic

5. Take care of admin

Start now. It will be worth it.

Want more?

http://thetraveltype.com/work-before-vacation

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