As a business owner, the idea of taking a holiday might send you into a panicked state. Whether you are closing down or staying open during the holidays, it may seem daunting to sort out everything before the silly season. We’ve put together a list of a few things you can do to keep your business running and your mind at ease while you take a well-deserved holiday.

Plan ahead

Planning ahead can help you prepare and avoid any last minute hiccups that may require you to intervene while you’re relaxing. Set up a to-do list of priorities that need to be finished before you go and keep your employees’ expectations in mind. The earlier you plan, the more you and your employees will be prepared.

Sort out your staff

If you’re not closing down for the entire holiday period, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve got a staff roster sorted. This should be done well in advance so they can prepare their holiday plans. If you’re closing down, it’s good for you to know who will be away when. Make a note of when each staff member will be taking leave so you’ve got enough hands on deck when you need them.

Have procedures in place

If you are staying open during the holiday season, no matter how prepared you are, some things don’t always go to plan. This is why it’s important to have procedures in place for your employees to feel comfortable when something goes wrong. Appointing someone to manage the day-to-day running of the business who knows the job well and is confident in making decisions will be crucial. This may even be an opportunity for someone to develop in the business.

Get into the festive celebrations

It’s important to recognize your staff and all the hard work they have done throughout the year. This could be some sort of event or dinner that will boost team morale. Sending out a token of appreciation to your clients is also a good way to continue building rapport – this could be a hamper or a bottle of wine.

Set up out of office emails

Setting up automatic emails letting people know when you will be back means they aren’t left hanging. If you have someone working over the break, you can include an alternative contact so they can still get through to someone during this period.