By source www.business.govt.nz - 9 Dec 2011
For most business owners, the last thing they’re able to do when they go away on holiday is relax. But a little foresight and planning will allow you to relax, safe in the knowledge that your business can cope in your absence.
And, should you find it impossible to cut yourself off
completely, the brilliance of 21st century technology means that
you can always check in to find out how things are going.
For most business owners, the last thing they're able to do when
they go away on holiday is relax. But a little foresight and
planning will allow you to relax, safe in the knowledge that your
business can cope in your absence.
And, should you find it impossible to cut yourself off
completely, the brilliance of 21st century technology means that
you can always check in to find out how things are going.
Letting go over a shut down period
There's no need to be overly anxious about your business
during a shutdown period as long as you have a few basic
precautions in place.
Back-up all your important documents and information and store
the back-ups in a secure place off site. It also makes sense to
take this one step further and check that you can restore your
systems from your back-up.
Arrange for a responsible staff member or someone independent of
your business to keep an eye on your business premises. Ask them to
check for break-ins, fire or other damage and ask them to contact
you if there is a problem. Alternatively, install security systems
if you haven't already: fire alarms/sprinkler systems, and break-in
monitoring by a security firm.
It's also a good idea to ensure you have appropriate insurance
cover in place and that your insurance policies haven't lapsed.
Allowing staff to run your business
Trusting your staff to run your business for the first
time can involve a large dose of trust and faith, but if everyone
is clear about what is expected of them, it is highly likely that
they'll manage just fine without you.
Delegating and putting good systems in place are the keys to a
carefree holiday. You should:
- Plan for contingencies. What would you do if staff fall ill,
who should be contacted if there are any unexpected
calamities.
- Discuss your team's concerns, and your own.
- Pick the right people for the right jobs. This is critical
because, if you want your business to continue to operate well in
your absence, you'll be relying on your staff while you are away.
It is essential that you prepare them.
- Make sure that everyone is familiar with the contingency plans
- discuss, revise and practise them before your departure.
Establish clear lines of authority and
communication
With the boss on holiday, other members of staff have the
opportunity to prove their worth. So, be sure they know their
responsibilities and have tasks to complete with written
guidelines. Establish who will have contact with you. While you
don't want to be overburdened with messages, a brief one-liner text
message once a day can be a comfort. Save phone calls for more
serious concerns.
Encourage your staff to work as a team, and ask them not to
swamp you with minor issues Make sure to share everyone's mobile
number with the team. Make sure everyone knows who they should call
in the event of an emergency, and who is responsible for what.
Chances are that unless you hear from them, your staff are
coping just fine. Email, text or phone from time to time if you
must, but try not to micro-manage from afar. Make the most of your
well-earned break instead.
Check in remotely
If you're not able to let go entirely, advances in
technology mean that you're able to work remotely or even manage
things from a distance - perhaps even from the beach.
All you need is the ability to communicate from anywhere, and
technology is your link. You'll need to check whether you'll have
wireless or wired access to the Internet and a good mobile
connection where you're going.
If you need to buy new technology for this purpose, don't leave
the purchase until the last minute. You'll want to be comfortable
with the gadgets you are using and have the opportunity to set them
up, test them thoroughly, and know what you expect them to do.
Ideally, you'll have the ability to access and review business
documents and ongoing project work through a server-based system
that stores all company documents centrally or in the cloud.
And here's something even more radical: keep your eye on the
job…literally. It's surprisingly inexpensive to install cameras
that allow you to view your premises from afar, for example, from a
mobile phone with web-browsing capabilities.
Article source www.business.govt.nz
http://www.business.govt.nz/managing/management-practices/how-to-have-a-stress-free-holiday#lines-of-authority