All salespeople need a great vacation. One recent study found that women who took vacations were less likely to become tense, depressed and tired. It went on to link vacations with increased overall mental health, as well as showing ties between increased mental health and improved productivity at work.
Many Americans receive two weeks of vacation annually, compared with four to six weeks in many other countries. One of these studies showed that one in five people hadn’t taken a vacation in five years. How is this possible?
I believe many people don’t take vacations because they worry about what will happen while they’re away.
So here are five tips for ensuring your business doesn’t go south while you’re basking at the beach or rock climbing:
1. Don’t abandon your customers. One common mistake many business-to-business companies make is not having a procedure for when an employee goes on vacation and not having adequate staff to handle the workload of the employees on vacation.
Most companies probably assume their employees will just figure out what to do in advance of their departure, taking the necessary steps to ensure their customers are well cared for during their absence.
2. Give notice to your team to ensure there aren’t any conflicts. Think ahead about who is going to cover any situations that come up during your absence. If you want to be able to enjoy your vacation and not worry, having someone who is able to step into your shoes (even though that individual may not be as capable as you) is worth a lot to both your peace of mind and your customer’s.
Nothing’s worse than going on vacation but then spending hours on the phone each day taking care of business.
3. Tell your customers what steps you have taken to ensure they will be well taken care of. If possible, go one step further and introduce the people who will be responsible for helping your customers during your absence.
Rather than just verbally giving your customers the contact information for the individuals they should be in touch with during your absence, send it via e-mail as well.
4. Take at least two books on vacation. One book is just for you. It should feed your soul. Maybe it’s a book on Italian cooking, one about a wonderful place you’ve always wanted to visit or just a heart-warming story. Its purpose is to help you smile.
The other book is designed to inspire you professionally. Maybe a biography of a great coach or athlete, maybe a story on the making of a particular company. Not a how-to manual but a book to stir your mind in nontraditional ways.
5. Enjoy your vacation. Vacations give us a chance to engage in fun activities you can’t or wouldn’t normally do at home. Enjoy more outdoor time, exercise more, laugh more, sleep more and enjoy more time with friends and family.
By: Laura Laaman
www.bizjournals.com
Sell More: Laura Laaman is an award-winning sales, management and customer service speaker and trainer. For free sales tips and newsletter go to www.lauralaaman.com or call 1-888-SELL-MORE.
