It can be hard to move work forward during the summer. People are away, the out-of-office replies are everywhere, the weather is hot, and things slow down. The problem is that projects need to be completed and results still need to be achieved. Here are five ways to get work done over the summer.
Have a plan
Summertime means vacations. In order to manage the holidays of teammates and stakeholders you will need to be organized (and get others organized, too). Before the summer approaches (sorry that this blog doesn’t come with a time machine), make time with collaborators on whom you’re dependent and get their input on what can and should be achieved by the end of August. Build meeting schedules around peoples’ holidays and be sure that everyone is clear with deadlines so that they can focus on the top priority when they’re back in the office.
Contain the work
When folks are away it can be tough to depend on others to move work forward – returning from vacation for a few weeks can get filled up with checking email, scrambling to understand new priorities, managing weird changes, or recovering from the holiday itself. As part of your plan, determine what’s in your control to finish over the summer. Taking ownership of a particular piece of a project ensures that value will be created during a slower time of the year and will probably raise peoples’ games when they notice your results.
Hire interns!
Many organizations, such as the financial co-operative where I work, have internship programs. Vancity has a diverse and talented cohort of 20 interns supporting a variety of projects – they have joined our organization to deliver results, learn new skills and build a community of friends and colleagues. Giving the right piece of work to the right intern will ensure that progress is made – oftentimes more than we might expect – over the summer while others are out enjoying well deserved vacations.
Delegate
Empowering a direct report or a rookie teammate to take on some of your portfolio is win-win-win approach to summertime result-getting. Your organization wins because the work gets done. Your employee or colleague wins because they get experience and a platform to showcase their potential. And you win because you get to enjoy your holiday and are never ever tempted to check and/or respond to email. (Seriously, don’t check email and absolutely don’t respond to messages, at it confuses stakeholders and undermines whoever you left in charge).
Go outside
Take advantage of the nice weather by holding walking meetings, bringing your laptop to a coffee shop, or reading an interesting article in the park. Being in nature builds up our energy and increases focus. People thrive when they get a chance to soak up some Sun while discussion their midyear performance. Balancing production with more social or flexible work can leave teams recharged for the busy Fall season, so think about organizing a scavenger hunt or kickball tournament in the months ahead.