The owner of an award-winning Derby accountancy firm has offered some key advice helping business owners to step away from their desks and relax over the summer holiday.
Bev Wakefield, owner of Vibrant Accountancy, said it was important for business owners to be able to wind down and has put together some top tips helping them to get some much-needed respite from the day-to-day stress of being in charge.
Bev said: “Your business can really feel like your baby, you’ve shed blood, sweat, tears and endless hours, but you need to detach that your business isn’t you, your business is not a reflection of you, stepping away will help you with starting to be able to switch off.”
A survey from TUI this year revealed that 90 per cent of UK business owners work while on holiday and the majority take just five days off a year. Those who find it particularly difficult to switch off include personal trainers, photographers, plumbers, designers, make-up artists, electricians and hairdressers.
Farmers and shopkeepers also find it hard to go away, and one in 12 people reported never putting away their laptop during their holiday.
Bev’s first piece of advice for business owners is to start small with a few days or a week off, which will enable them to work out what they are the “road block” for.
She said: “When you get back, create a process for it so the team can follow the way you want things done. Then move onto the next one. As you grow, getting your business systemised, and having processes for everything – whilst it can feel onerous – will mean you’re able to step away more often and the team will know how you want to man the ship day to day and when you’re away.”
Bev’s next piece of advice is to have a great team to whom business leaders can delegate without abdicating responsibility.
“Make sure you’ve got your team structure sorted so the team know who’s in charge in your absence, and where all those processes are should they need them!” she said.
“Trust in your team. In true Dr Pepper style, what’s the worst that can happen? Empower your team and get them to step up day to day too, so it’s not a big jump when you do go away.
“Try to make yourself redundant. It’s scary I know, but it means you’ll spend more time focusing on what’s important moving your business forward than you will in putting out daily fires.”
The next important thing, Bev said, was for business owners to be strict on being properly disconnected during their holiday.
She said: “Don’t be approachable. Switch off your emails, your Teams, any other channels – work out what things are really life and death for your business whilst your away and encourage your team not to contact you unless it’s essential. Maybe entrust one person to be this emergency contact. I switch off my phone and have given my leadership team my husband’s number in case of an emergency. But be ruthless on what an emergency is!”
Solo operators or those without a team could find benefit in outsourcing while away using tools such as Virtual Assistant, while it was also important for business leaders to “understand their numbers” so they could rest easy while away from their desk.
“Having a clear idea on your budgets, and how your numbers are panning out, will leave you to be able to rest easy and know that whilst you’re away the business can sustain a period of time off, and you have clear deadlines when you’re back to keep you laser focused,” she said.
Lastly, she said business owners should put their energy into choosing a break that would be a proper distraction.
“Focus on what makes you happy,” she said. “Take a break doing something you truly love and that needs your focus. A yogic meditative break might sound like what you need but if you’d prefer to be climbing mountains, follow your heart – it knows the way! There will be nothing worse than being away but not be happily distracted enough to push work to the back of your mind.”
This story was written and shared on behalf of Vibrant Accountancy by Lucy Stephens. Can we share your news and get you in the headlines too? Find out how we can help by getting in touch.
