In summer, everyone dreams of warm sand, mojitos and switching off.
Except that before they can even lay out their towel, managers often have another task: ensuring that everything keeps running smoothly whilst diaries start to empty.
Between holidays, schedules that look like a 2,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, last-minute emergencies and the new season already on the horizon… managing the summer is a real challenge.
Just like a good cocktail, it’s all about finding the right balance. 🍹
📌 Key points to remember
- 🍊 A touch of anticipation can help you avoid getting worked up.
- 🧊 Good communication can cool things down in any situation.
- 🌴 Summer is the best time to develop your teams’ independence.
- 🍹 Getting ready for the new term before you go away is the secret to a proper holiday.
Ingredient No. 1: coping with absences 🍊
Summer is officially the only time of year when your schedule looks like a game of Tetris.
Between holidays, time off in lieu, sick children, and “Oh, by the way, I’m off on Friday after all…”…
Don’t panic.
The secret isn’t to try and control everything. The secret is to plan ahead.
✨ Who can cover for whom?
✨ Which tasks are a priority?
✨ Which matters can wait until September without causing the end of the world?
Ingredient No. 2: knowing how to say ‘not just yet’ ⏳
Summer is the perfect time to do what every manager should do more often: prioritise.
Not everything is urgent. Not everything is strategic. Not everything is essential.
Do less… but do it better.
That’s part of being a manager, too.
Use the Eisenhower Matrix 💡
Before the holidays, take 10 minutes to categorise each task according to two criteria: urgency and importance. You’ll quickly be able to identify what needs to be dealt with, delegated, planned… or simply left until September.
Ingredient No. 3: don’t forget those left behind 🔥
Whilst some are on holiday, others are keeping things running smoothly.
These colleagues deserve your full attention.
A thank you, some feedback, a coffee, a sincere expression of appreciation.
Because motivation doesn’t go on holiday.
Ingredient No. 4: preparing for your future self 💻
Before you leave:
✅ Leave a progress update;
✅ Plan your first deadlines;
✅ Share key information;
✅ Clear your mind… by completing a handover document.
This will make your return all the more stress-free.
What if summer became your favourite playground? ☀️
Summer often brings out the best in managers. Those who know how to trust others, adapt their communication style, distribute the workload wisely and foster independence.
In other words,soft skills are the real essentials to pack in your suitcase.
And if you’d like to find out more...⭐️
For over 30 years, we’ve been helping managers develop the skills that really make a difference: leadership, communication, emotional intelligence, prioritisation, managerial courage and management in the age of AI. Because you can’t just wing it as a good manager… even in flip-flops. 😉
