Vacation Preparation: Leadership Priorities when You’re Leaving the Office | Video

Vacation preparation is not just packing your bags; it’s leaving everything tidy. So, at vacation time, what are your leadership priorities when you’re leaving the office?

This video is safe for viewing in the workplace.

This is learning, so, sit back and enjoy

If it’s vacation time, know this:

Your project won’t stop while you’re away.

So, as a project manager, your job is to set it up to thrive in your absence. 

The same is true if you are a team leader, or any kind of manager, supervisor, or leader.

Vacation Preparation: The Measure of a Leader

The measure of a leader is not how much people notice your absence. But instead, it is how well they can cope without you. So, here are the top three vacation preparation things to do before going on vacation:

1. Deputise

Identify someone who can stand in for you at meetings, support your people, and make decisions while you’re away. Think of this as a perfect developmental opportunity for one of your team.

2. Brief

If you want them to do a good job – and you can be sure they will want to – then you need to brief them well. Give them the context around everything that’s going on. Make reports and plans available. Be clear about what’s coming up, and what you expect of them. Also set out unambiguously what authority you are handing to them. Frankly, the more the better. 

3. Tidy your mess

It’s not fair to skip out and leave a mess behind you. Hand over your role a couple of days before you leave, then spend them tying up loose ends and making sure that there’s no mess for them to clean up behind you.

Vacation Preparation: Done!

Now you’ve done your vacation preparation, you can go on vacation with a clear conscience. And you can do what you are supposed to do: recharge your batteries. 

Recommended Videos

Carefully curated video recommendations for you:

• Top 7 Leadership Tools and Methods for Team and Project Leaders
• The Function of Leadership… | Bite Sized Project Management Thought from Ralph Nader
• What is Servant Leadership? Project Leadership at its Best | Video
• Five Project Leadership Tips: Be a Better Project Leader | Video
• Project Team Leadership: 5 Tips for Leading Your Project Team | Video
• Lessons I’ve Learned about Virtual Working

What Kit does a Project Manager Need?

I asked Project Managers in a couple of forums what material things you need to have, to do your job as a Project Manager. They responded magnificently. I compiled their answers into a Kit list. I added my own. 

Check out the Kit a Project Manager needs

Note that the links are affiliated.

Learn Still More

For more great Project Management videos, please subscribe to the OnlinePMCourses YouTube channel.

If you want basic Management Courses – free training hosted on YouTube, with 2 new management lessons a week, check out our sister channel, Management Courses.

For more of our Project Management videos in themed collections, join our Free Academy of Project Management.

For more of our videos in themed collections, join our Free Academy of Project Management.