Accountancy boss offers summer relaxation top tips

The owner of Vibrant Accountancy has offered some of her top tips to help business owners relax over the summer holiday.

According to research by TUI, 90% of UK business owners work while on holiday – and the majority take just five days off a year. It also found one in 12 keep their laptop on while away.

Bev Wakefield, owner of Vibrant Accountancy, believes it is important for business owners to wind down – and has put together some tips designed to help them get some much-needed respite from the day-to-day stresses of being in charge.

Her first piece of advice is to start small with a few days or a week off, which will enable them to work out what they are the “road block” for.

She said: “When you get back, create a process for it so the team can follow the way you want things done. Then move onto the next one.

“As you grow, getting your business systemised, and having processes for everything – while it can feel onerous – will mean you’re able to step away more often and the team will know how you want to man the ship day to day and when you’re away.”

Bev’s next piece of advice is to have a great team to whom business leaders can delegate without abdicating responsibility.

She said: “Make sure you’ve got your team structure sorted so the team know who’s in charge in your absence, and where all those processes are should they need them!

“Trust in your team. In true Dr Pepper style, what’s the worst that can happen? Empower your team and get them to step up day to day too, so it’s not a big jump when you do go away.

“Try to make yourself redundant. It’s scary I know, but it means you’ll spend more time focusing on what’s important moving your business forward than you will in putting out daily fires.”

The next important thing, Bev said, was for business owners to be strict on being properly disconnected during their holiday.

She said: “Don’t be approachable. Switch off your emails, your Teams, any other channels – work out what things are really life and death for your business while your away and encourage your team not to contact you unless it’s essential.

“Maybe entrust one person to be this emergency contact. I switch off my phone and have given my leadership team my husband’s number in case of an emergency. But be ruthless on what an emergency is!”

Bev believes solo operators, or those without a team, could find benefit in outsourcing while away using tools such as Virtual Assistant, while it was also important for business leaders to “understand their numbers” so they could rest easy while away from their desk.

Lastly, she said business owners should put their energy into choosing a break that would be a proper distraction.

She said: “Focus on what makes you happy. Take a break doing something you truly love and that needs your focus.

“A yogic meditative break might sound like what you need but if you’d prefer to be climbing mountains, follow your heart – it knows the way!

“There will be nothing worse than being away but not be happily distracted enough to push work to the back of your mind.”