Business owners often have a person in their employ that they trust
This right hand knows the business so well, that it allows the entrepreneur to have time for their family, and for them to go on vacations. Having this person in the staff can work well as a holiday cover for business owners. If you are a new business owner, and know that the holiday season is right around the corner, you might want to consider hiring an individual or a team of professionals to manage the business while you are away. Of course, you need to make sure that you choose the person that is well-suited for the job and the tasks undertaken, so that you won’t waste your resources and time.
Selecting the right individual won’t be that difficult, if you already have a team of professionals under your payroll. All you need to do is to select someone who you feel is the most reliable, and promote this person as your second-in-command while you are away. They will not only come in handy on planned vacations, but also when you unexpectedly get sick or have an emergency that needs to be handled. Of course, you need to see to it that this person is well-trained, so that there will be minimal to no errors on the days that you won’t be around.
If not, using an outsource/freelancer can work just as well. Treating them as a team member will also ensure you get the right cover with the agreed outcomes.
Here are some ideas you might find useful:
- Work with them closely, so that you get an idea of their working style, and they get an idea of yours as well. Doing so will enable them to understand how you want things done, and if there are certain formats that need to be followed. This will save a lot of time spent on going back and forth between the two of you when you are away, because they will know how you like things done.
- Create a detailed to-do list, and don’t forget to note down deadlines. It is also highly recommended that you highlight the tasks that need to be prioritized, and discuss the list with your second-in-command, so that everything can be explained while you are present, and questions can be answered before you leave.
- It won’t hurt to actually give them a trial run. Give them a few days to do things on their own, just as they would do when the time comes for you to go on a holiday break. This will allow both parties to get a feel of how things are going to be, and both you and your right hand man will be able to adjust ahead of time.
It’s important to have a holiday cover for business owners, which is why it won’t hurt to let go of the reins for a while, and leave some of the responsibilities to an individual that you know can handle things when you are away.
Employing staff is a whole new ball game with its own set of rules. Working with a VA is an option that a great many business people are turning to. Check out my book on How to Hire a Virtual Assistant. Available on Amazon by clicking here
Connect with Michelle on other platforms too: Learn how you can work with Virtual Hand; how your business can grow and how you can communicate better with your audience.
