Eight reasons why business owners should take holidays
Think you’re too busy to take a break from running your company? Here are eight reasons why you can’t afford not to…
For business owners, taking a holiday is an opportunity to see how the business fares without them. It’s a chance to try to delegate tasks – something many entrepreneurs struggle with – and to put a chain-of-command in place so that the entrepreneur isn’t always required for decision-making
More than 30pc of entrepreneurs don’t take holidays, according to research from Sage. As the rest of the UK prepares to come back to work after the long Easter weekend, we explain why these workaholics should take a break.
1 Let go of the ego
For business owners, taking a holiday is an opportunity to see how the business fares without them. It’s a chance to try to delegate tasks – something many entrepreneurs struggle with – and to put a chain-of-command in place so that the entrepreneur isn’t always required for decision-making
2 Have a Eureka! moment
Taking a break gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to take a rest but also get some perspective on the business. It’s hard to see the big picture when you’re working within the company. Time off could generate some important revelations about improvements that could be made.
3 Emergency planning
For one-man bands with no staff to bear the strain, holidays mean they have to find a whole new support network to cover the owner’s time away. But this could be more useful that you imagine. If sickness strikes, or unexpected issues that call you away from the business for a few days, there will be people at hand who understand how the company works and can hold the fort during emergencies.
4 Recover and reboot
Entrepreneurs work longer hours than most people, which can hamper productivity over the long-term as exhaustion and stress build up. A holiday could help you to return to work revitalised and refocused. Spending time with friends and family is also a healthy way to rebalance a life that is frequently dominated by the needs of the business.
5 Accept that there is never a good time for a holiday
In all but the most seasonal companies, there is never a good time to leave the business to go on holiday. This is an unavoidable truth of running businesses but shouldn’t stop you. Book time off well in advance so that you, and your employees, know what’s coming, and make sure you take it.
6 Think of the holiday as an investment
You are probably the company’s most valuable asset. You wouldn’t leave machinery rusting in the corner, unserviced and in need of repairs, so you should make sure that you are in peak condition too. This doesn’t just mean taking holidays, but eating well and exercising during the rest of the year too.
7 Set a good example to staff
As the person who owns and runs the company, your staff look to you to determine the culture of the business. If you toil away, day after day, you will create a toxic culture where your staff feel unable to take time off. The best companies make sure that employees have a fair work/life balance. Set the example by taking your annual leave.
8 But don’t cheat
If you spend the whole time away glued to your laptop or smartphone, that does not count as a holiday, just flexible working. It is important to unplug, turn off phones and computers, and actually have a break in order to reap the benefits. Setting aside an hour a day to deal with pressing issues is a way to ensure that you stay in control of the business without spoiling your time off.
