How to be a great manager while you’re on holiday

Our digital age does not respect the sanctity of summer. Work is now just a thumb stroke on a mobile device away at all times, so taking yourself off for a proper holiday can feel impossible – especially when you have a team to worry about back at home. 

Back in 2021, we polled CMI’s members about their attitude towards holidays. When asked about their approach to the Christmas break, 34% said they’d be available in emergencies only. But a surprising 19% said they’d be working all the way through the holiday.

• The great holiday switch off?

Yet, we all know how valuable breaks are for stress relief, improving mental and physical health, and achieving a healthy work-life balance. 

And it needn’t have an adverse effect on the workload, as Paul Starbuck CMgr FCMI tells us. “Balancing trust, delegation and preparation is key to maintaining leadership while you’re away,” he says. “A manager’s absence shouldn’t disrupt the flow of work or the morale of the team.”

Here’s how you can ensure that everything still functions successfully in your absence – while getting the time out that you need…