When is the last time you went on vacation? Earlier this summer? Earlier this year? Now, when is the last time you went on a real vacation – no phone, no email, no checking in at the office – with just you and your friends or family?
For CEOs, that answer is probably longer than you care to admit. The truth is, it can be difficult, if not impossible, for some CEOs to get away from the office. Your company is like your child, and trusting it to run smoothly without you is terrifying. What if something happens and you’re not there to fix it?
Here are some benefits to getting away:
Decompress: It’s Good for Business
CEO taking an unplugged vacation could actually help the company, as opposed to causing problems. Instead of looking at your business from the same point of view every day, you can step back and look at the larger picture. Giving your mind a chance to decompress and reset itself is the perfect way look at a project or problem you’re dealing with at work in a different light. Sometimes, you get so close to something that you can’t see it. By intentionally not focusing on it, you’re giving your mind a chance to work out the problem on its own time without causing yourself undue stress.
Get New Ideas
You can also get ideas from other businesses. If you have an exceptional experience at a hotel or a restaurant you visit, think about why it was so great. Is there any way you can apply any of those techniques to your business? Going on vacation doesn’t mean you abandon your business, it just means you move it to the back burner. If you happen to come up with an idea you really want to implement, make a note of it and put it on your calendar for when you return.
Vacations Give You a Chance to See How Effective Your Policies Are
Another reason many CEOs can’t stand the idea of being disconnected from their employees or clients is because they feel a loss of control. The truth is, you don’t normally have control over anyone’s day-to-day actions. You can’t go from cubicle to cubicle and monitor how employees are spending their time.
Rather, you control how your employees work through your policies and the company culture you have established. And, of course, your senior management will make sure projects are staying on schedule and clients are receiving the proper attention.
Running a company is a lot of work. You come in early, stay late and play a role in every aspect of the business. It’s important for you to take a work-free vacation, not only for yourself but for your employees. Allowing yourself to take a break and get a fresh perspective on how your company is performing and where you want it to go in the future shows that you understand a company isn’t run by one person. You show your employees that you trust them to handle affairs as smoothly as if you were there, which will make everyone more confident in his or her position.
