The summer holidays are here, and you might be looking forward to some time off to enjoy the sunshine. However, if you run a franchise, worrying about work can make it difficult to relax. Many franchisees and business owners feel they can’t simply put their out-of-office on and switch off, like other people can.
With proper preparation and the right mindset, you can take the opportunity to rest and recharge, returning ready to give 100% for the rest of the year to come. Here are my five steps to a successful summer break as a franchisee:
Plan ahead
Consider how you will manage your usual tasks and projects while you are away. What can you delegate, complete in advance, or put on hold until you return? What tools can you use to help you, like social media scheduling? You might be lucky that summer is a quiet time for your franchise. However, if not, before you go on holiday is the time to get prepared.
Give your team, clients, and stakeholders plenty of notice that you are going away so they can plan accordingly. This will allow them to ask you about matters before you go or take the initiative, ensuring they don’t interrupt your holiday. If you lead a team, consider what you can empower your staff to do in your absence. Ask them if they have any concerns about your time away and agree on how you can address them.
By planning how your franchise will cope without you, you are much more likely to be able to de-stress and enjoy your vacation.
Communicate with your customers, your staff, and anyone your franchise is connected with
A simple out-of-office message could make the difference between a new enquiry wondering why you’re ignoring them, or understanding you will get back to them in due course. While you’re automating emails, take the opportunity to set up the “focused” and “other” inbox system that Outlook provides (if you haven’t already). This can make things smoother when you are back from your holiday, as the messages that need your attention should be easy to find. Don’t forget to turn your out-of-office off when you return, or set it to stop automatically.
Consider other ways people might try to get in touch with you, such as your mobile voicemail or LinkedIn, and set up specific messages or automated responses to help people understand when you are likely to respond.
Outsource what you can
Holiday cover is a game-changer. From fielding calls to managing inboxes, responding to enquiries, and more, outsourcing can help keep your franchise running smoothly while you are away. It’s what allows you to truly switch off, knowing your clients, your inbox, and your franchise operations are still being looked after.
Of course, there will be some things that only you can do, such as nurturing a client relationship built on personal trust or handling financial responsibilities as a named signatory. However, there are plenty of other tasks you can outsource to others to pick up on your behalf, so you don’t have a double workload to come back to.
Prepare for your return
Just as planning ahead for your holiday can help you relax whilst you are away, getting organised for your return means you can get the ground running. Write a to-do list for your first day back. By writing it down, you help get those thoughts out of your head, giving you more freedom to enjoy your break.
Adopt the right mindset
Let go. You have spent a great deal of time working and looking forward to your holiday, so you need to make the most of it. Focus on the present and the now, and try to stop your thoughts from wandering towards work. Remember, you have put the plan in place to ensure your franchise is well taken care of. Now you need to focus on yourself.
Be realistic. It’s easy to imagine a worst-case scenario, but the reality is usually less dramatic. Your franchise will survive without you. You might also learn some valuable lessons about what you can outsource going forward, to focus your time on what you do best.
Your franchise is your baby, but being glued to your desk isn’t healthy. Everything won’t grind to a halt without you. Self-care is critical to the ongoing success of your franchise. A holiday is a chance to reset and return reinvigorated, ready to make your franchise the best it can be.
