‘Back’ to work?

Back to work?

As someone whose summer holiday finished TWO MONTHS AGO, it’s odd seeing the many ‘back to work’ posts this morning.  As far as I’m concerned, it’s this middle of autumn, there’s been a chill in the air for weeks and it’s dark on my 5.30am walk.

If this morning’s feed feels heavy, here are four practical ways leaders can make the September reset more energetic and honest.

1.       Don’t go ‘back’ to work.  Go ‘forward’ or ‘different’ to work. 

As leaders, we’ve got a privilege and responsibility to show those who follow us that approaching post-holiday work can be very different.  But we have to role model it.  So challenge yourself: identify how you’re going to approach the rest of this year differently and then shout about it.  Give your teams permission to do the same.

2.       Take time to honestly reflect on your plan and budget for the rest of the year.

Chances are it doesn’t feel fresh or relevant any more.  Things change, surprises crop up, people come and go.  As leaders, we have the privilege of being able to change our plans when they don’t fit with reality any more.  Most avoid doing it and miss out on the focus, excitement and freshness that re-planning and re-budgeting can bring.  Do it. 

3.       Invest in your team. 

Appraisals and objectives-setting tend to happen in the spring or early summer.  But then people go off for a few weeks and get the first decent chance to think about themselves, their ambitions and development areas, breathe and weigh up their big life decisions.  How, after a few weeks of reflection over summer, do people’s ambitions for themselves square up to what you discussed with them just a few months ago during appraisals season?  Who in your team could do with some extra support to take them to their next level?

4.       Invest in yourself.  

Get some perspective, an alternative mindset or slow thinking time with someone independent. If you want your team to reset with clarity, you need that space too; otherwise, you’ll default to carrying the same assumptions, pressure and pace into the rest of the year.