by Solange Lopes | Jul 7, 2016 | Career
If you’re taking a vacation in the coming weeks (and you should), how exactly do you plan on spending your time off? Relaxing, unwinding, and leaving all your work worries behind? Or logging in when no one’s looking to check emails, and finish that last to-do you didn’t get to complete before going away?
I should know…One too many times, I paid the price or poorly planning my work with the currency of my vacation time. I remember traveling back home to Senegal, and being this crazed woman chasing a Wi-fi connection everywhere I went so I could sneak in an email or two here and there. Remember Miranda from Sex and the City (the movie), when she got to Mexico after Carrie got jilted at the altar? Her first question once she reached the resort was: “Got wi-fi?” Yup, that was me, in the middle of the torrid West African heat, searching for wi-fi in the palm trees….But I digress…
That’s when adequately preparing for vacation comes into play. The better your pre-vacation prep, the better your vacation, basically. And contrary to popular opinion, it doesn’t require all that much work, time or energy. Just a bit of advance planning, some serious caffeine, and the promise of a work-free vacation (and a few margaritas here and there), at last…
Here are a few tips to keep work at bay on your next vacation…and actually refrain from chasing a working wi-fi connection like the next Nordstrom sale:
Delegate, delegate, and delegate!
Repeat after me: “I can’t do it all!“
Really, it’s so easy, especially for many of us affected by the “Superwoman” (or “Superman”syndrome at work) to think no one else can do it like we can. So we end up taking all this work on, and having way too much on our plates. As a result, when it’s time to take some time off, the sheer amount of work to be done makes it impossible not to be plugged in to your laptop or smartphone 24/7.
Learning to delegate is one of the most underrated, but most important, career skills. Being able to give away tasks and allow your team to function without you not only shows leadership, but also frees you to deal with more important priorities (and keep your sanity in the process). So as you prep before your vacation, delegate your tasks and projects as much as you can, so you can focus on the priority items you must complete before saying sayonara!
Make friends with status updates!
Now that you’re taking some time off, status updates must become your new friends. Let your boss, team, co-workers, stakeholders know where you stand, and how far along you are, when it comes to ongoing projects and assignments.
The worst thing you can do is leave others in the dark, and have them send you loads of emails or harass you over the phone as you’re desperately trying to tan on the beach!
Keep the lines of communication open!
Make sure everyone who should know you’ll be away in the coming weeks does. This means making a list of all the individuals affected by any work you have going on, and actually reaching out to them to ensure they know you’ll be out of the office.
Go a step further by sending them an official calendar reminder, and updating your own calendar so that everyone who tries to get in touch with you or schedule some time with you is aware of your upcoming (lack of) availability.
Set Vacation Drills!
Just like fire drills, vacation drills are meant to teach you and your team what to do when…you’re not in the office. You don’t want your boss, team and co-workers to text you at 9pm as you’re boarding your flight to ask you for a status update on that urgent project due the next day, right?
That’s why you have to have vacation drills, when you actually train your team to operate without you. That entails leaving specific instructions on any ongoing projects and logistical details, and letting them figure out the rest for themselves.
Do this a few weeks before leaving, so by the time you’re sipping on that margarita in the islands, your phone won’t be buzzing from one of your team members asking the code to some work database you forgot all about…
And a bonus tip if you really want to take the guilt out of that mango margarita and all that time off:
Get A Headstart on Upcoming Projects!
It’s one thing to complete any projects due by the time you leave for vacation; but it’s another to actually give yourself an edge by starting any upcoming projects. Not only will it give you this sense of accomplishment as you pack up your bags, but it also will help in enjoying your vacation even more! Go you, overachiever you!
Do you follow these steps to avoid working on vacation?
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To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jul 6, 2016 | Career
Photo credit: shop style.com
Stripes make an unexpected statement with this A-line cotton blend skirt from Toyshop. Loving the interplay of vertical and horizontal stripes on this comfortable and chic midi skirt. It’s $95 at Nordstrom.
As alternatives to this midi skirt, I’d suggest this gorgeous pleated faille midi version, or this scribble-print number from Neiman Marcus.
Which one is your favorite?
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jul 5, 2016 | Career
There’s something about white tops that make summer even brighter (even when you’re stuck in your office). Hence today’s Corporate Catwalk pick, this fringed Rudin top from Saks Fifth Avenue. Love the fitted bodice accented by the uber-flattering peplum hem on this original top; not to mention the fringe added wow factor! It’s $102 at Saks.
Speaking of summer white tops, I also love this Tory Burch geometric lace tee, or this simple and chic Elizabeth and James papillion top.
What do you say? Yay or Nay?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jul 5, 2016 | Career
Summer’s calling, and so is that well-deserved, long-awaited vacation…You’re ready to get the heck out of the office, and go breathe some real air, on a warm beach somewhere with a cold margarita in hand…Except, before you actually step out of the front door and get on your way, there are a few things you must do to make sure you don’t come back to angry emails, aggravated co-workers, and some serious work trouble in tow…
How do you effectively prep for your vacation before shutting your computer down and saying sayonara to your inbox? Do you just take off and hope for the best, at the risk of stressing out during your entire vacation? Or are there specific steps you should follow to ensure you leave with your reputation intact, and actually enjoy your time off? I’d pick the latter…
Focus Even More!
You know the feeling, vacation’s a few days away and your mind seems to have left for the Caribbean islands already…Well, now’s not the time to mentally check out and let your tasks slide! Before you can actually lay on that tropical beach and sip on that margarita, there’s still work to be done! Instead, try to finish off any pending tasks, and anticipate any upcoming need or question from your manager and/or co-workers.
Check In With Your Boss!
Leaving your manager in the dark before you leave for vacation is never a good idea! Even worse, you wouldn’t want her/him to have unanswered questions or requests while you’re away. Instead, be proactive and set up a meeting with her/him to let them know where you stand before leaving. Even better, show them exactly your current status by preparing a status memo or spreadsheet they can refer to in your absence!
Check In With Everyone Else As Well!
Although you should check in with your boss first, don’t forget the rest of your team! Put your proactive hat once again, and ask everyone around what they need. Whether it’s co-workers, project stakeholders, or clients, make sure to check in with them and discuss pending questions and upcoming deadlines. Not only will you avoid any (bad) surprises, but they’ll thank you for it too…
Prioritize the to-do’s in your absence.
As part of updating your boss and team as related to your work priorities when you leave, make sure to communicate these in order of priority. You want them to be able to know where to start when you’re gone, and what should come first. Prepare a schedule of work priorities you can leave with your boss and co-workers to help them navigate your workload when you’re away.
Use Your Work BFF.
Your work BFF is not only good to grab coffee and gossip at the watercolor. S/he can also be instrumental when you prep for vacation. See if they’d be willing to be your point-person while you’re gone. You could even include them in your out-of-office automatic replies for reference.
Smash Upcoming Deadlines.
The best way to ruin an upcoming vacation is to leave some deadlines unmet. If you know a big project is gone the week after you leave for vacation, then make sure you work on it immediately and leave all the necessary elements behind. The same thing applies if you have a crucial deadline right when you get back. Take a step ahead and smash these critical upcoming deadlines, so you can go in peace…and come back in peace!
Don’t forget your out-of-office auto reply.
This is usually the detail I leave for the last minute…and the one I usually forget most easily! Instead of leaving it for last, prepare a concise and to the point message informing others you’re away on vacation, when to expect a reply from you, and who to go to in case of emergencies.
How do you prep for vacation?
PS: Like this post?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jul 4, 2016 | Career
Today’s Corporate Catwalk pick will remind you of the Caribbeans with a dash of style. This half-sleeve palm print dress from Last Call is both perfect for summer, and a great addition to any work wardrobe.
Loving the easy sheath cut of this elegant dress, accented by a simple jewel neckline and attractive palm print dress. The silhouette is both comfortable and stylish for work and after-hours. This dress is on sale for $87.75 at Last Call.
Speaking of printed summery dresses, I also love this Tahari watercolor-print dress, also from Last Call. And this Lafayette 148 New York brushstroke pleated beauty is to die for too…
What do you say? Yay or Nay?
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jul 4, 2016 | Career
You know the feeling…You’ve been out of work for some time, whether it was for a long week-end, some well-deserved vacation time, or even sick days…And now it’s time to go back, and face the pile of emails and work awaiting you without stressing out (read: totally losing your mind)…Talk about stressful…
How do you get back in the groove on your first day back at the work? And actually manage to do some work, keep your hair in place, and refrain from booking the next flight to the closest island? Here are 3 tips, infographic-style, to keep stress (and caramel-filled chocolates) at bay when returning to work after taking some time off:
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jul 1, 2016 | Career
This is our weekly career and lifestyle news update, where we round up exciting news of the last week and we let you have it…ahem, news-wise that is…
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Happy Friday, and happy 4th!
To your success,
The Corporate Sis.
