Everyone needs to recharge their batteries occasionally. This even applies to small business owners, many of whom may scoff at the idea. Retailers might think that if they take time off, profits will free-fall and they will return to a store that resembles a disaster area.
Yet, it is possible, with careful planning, for merchants to take time for themselves, whether it be an afternoon off, a weekend getaway or traveling across the country for a week’s long vacation.
Personal time has many benefits. A business owner who catches up on sleep, enjoys family time, or finally reads the novel that’s been sitting on their bookshelf forever will return to the job refreshed.
A revitalized retailer is more likely to successfully problem solve, identify efficiencies, lift employees’ spirits and find mistakes in a budget plan that might slip by after working a month while barely taking time to rest.
If you are so nervous about your business running smoothly in your absence that it could potentially ruin a vacation, technology can come to the rescue. Many apps and programs allow merchants to access sales figures and conduct inventory reviews from their phones. Just make sure that you strictly limit your device time.
In addition, try to curb actions such as calling your business to check up on things, or asking a neighbor to browse the store and report back.
Learning to delegate is key for an exhausted small business owner who desperately needs time away. A game plan in which every employee is given a task to ensure that no facet of the operation is overlooked allows merchants to sleep well.
If your staff is fairly inexperienced in their temporary responsibilities, you might want to treat them to an informal lunch to ensure that no questions are left unsaid. This could be a great pep talk and a way to convey that you have full confidence in their skills and judgment.
Assigning responsibilities to employees based on their skillsets is a critical starting point. For instance, assign scheduling tasks to your most organized staffer, loss prevention to someone with a keen eye for spotting trouble, and leave inventory management to your staff’s numbers whiz.
Taking personal time by delegating tasks to employees is a win-win situation. While you afford yourself a well-deserved vacation, your employees learn aspects of the business, allowing them to take over, including when you’re drawn away at a moment’s notice. It also allows the business owner to focus on their own work-life balance.
Some small business owners may still dismiss taking time off and consider assigning responsibilities to staff as a non-starter. They may also think that stepping away shows weakness in a very competitive industry. In reality, taking time off and tasking staff with literally running the shop is a sign of great leadership.
Leaders excel in teambuilding and inspire staff by encouraging them to expand their skillsets, all the while allowing themselves to clear their own minds and further grow their businesses.
