Before I left on vacation, I prepared my clients for my absence. I shared with them resources to use while I was absent and gave them the name and number of a colleague who would be covering for any emergencies while I was away. I didn’t want them to feel abandoned for the 3 weeks that I would be away. Imagine my surprise when one of my clients' said, “Is there also a number where I can reach you if I need to.” My mind flashed back to that old movie “What About Bob”. Needless to say I didn’t share my location, hotel or cell number with the client, but addressed his anxiety and reinforced the protocols established to give him safety and myself a time away. As we are preparing for time away from the office due to the holidays or vacation? What are you doing to prepare your clients for your absence? Are you sensing any resistance both in you and in your client? Does your organization help you to separate, guilt free, or are they also part of the resistance you feel in being absent from your job. Time away is more effective if you are at peace with leaving your job behind. Truly leaving the work behind involves being able to be fully present in your vacation. It is not only a physical absence from the tasks of your profession, it’s also being emotionally and spiritually present with those you chose to spend this special time with. So, take a moment and check in with yourself. Do you feel that you will need to bring along the work phone, check the work Slack account, or call in to see if the organization is still functioning without your presence? Are others, staff and administration allowed to call you while you are off? If this is the case then you are not truly away. A quick story: I was on maternity leave and my director called me a couple of times a day to ask “Where do you keep these forms? What do you want me to tell Dr. X about patient Y”, Is this agency the right one to call for this need, and if so who should I speak with?”. After her third call on my second day home from the hospital I told her that I would need to charge her for consultation services if she continued to call during my time off. The calls predictably stopped and I returned after 6 weeks as planned. Final thoughts: Plan your time away so that your organization can function, and function well without you. Prepare your staff, colleagues and clients for your absence. Posture your heart and mind to be present with those you have chosen to spend your vacation with. Only by doing this will your time off be restorative and revitalizing.
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AuthorAllison is a Professional Life Strategist, helping busy professional women maintain healthy relationships professionally and personally as they move forward in their lives. She gives you tools to build the life you want. Archives
April 2023
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