With summer vacation season coming up in Europe and other parts of the world, this can be a challenging time in the workplace as more people take a break. This can impact employee resource groups who may find less of their committee are available and it is harder to plan. However, you can still keep your employee resource group focused and productive using these top tips:
PLAN AHEAD
Make sure you and your committee discuss in advance any deadlines or project milestones that need to be met before people go away. Think about what plans to have in place for when you are back so you can hit the floor running. Consider launching any big pieces of work after a vacation for maximum impact. This might include a members survey or launching a new event.
COMMUNICATION
If you are and your committee are taking time off from work, and network activity will be quieter, it is a good idea to communicate to members and stakeholders that you will be less active. This is useful so they know what to expect. If you are planning to take an extended break, you may want to use this as an opportunity for some messaging. This could include highlighting any key achievements and progress made in the year and what key plans to look out for when you return.
FOCUS ON GOALS AND WORK IN DEVELOPMENT
For those members of the employee resource group who may not be taking time off from work, it is a chance for them to focus on some of your plans. They can discuss new ideas for the upcoming year and other pieces of work that have may have been overlooked in busier times. This can be an ideal opportunity to focus on goals and your network strategy.
CHOOSE MEANINGFUL TASKS
If several committee members are taking leave, prioritise tasks that can be achieved. You can create a to-do list and decide what is most important to focus on at this time of year. This will help you to create a realistic picture of what you can achieve with less resource and have you ready to regroup when your colleagues return from vacation
DON’T LEAVE ISSUES HANGING
Make sure that any outstanding issues are resolved before you go on holiday. On the occasion when you cannot get a clear answer, make sure you have clearly communicated with members, stakeholders or your committee what the latest update is and if possible, give an idea of when you hope to provide more information. It can also be a good idea to write a handover plan a few days before you leave.
Navigating holidays can be tricky but with careful planning, clear communication and a focus on what you can deliver, you can keep the momentum going! Doing these things will also make it easier when you get back to routine and hit the ground running with new network activities. Enjoy your well-deserved break!
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