Out of Office, Still in Charge: Leading When You (Or Your Team) Are on Holiday
By James Fleming, Managing Director of The Power Within Training
Right, hands up if you’ve ever set your out-of-office on a Friday and thought, “This holiday will be different. I’m actually going to switch off this time.”
And then Monday rolls around. Your phone starts pinging. The team group chat’s popping off. Someone’s asking for a password you definitely don’t remember. One of your site supervisors is off sick, and a last-minute tender is due in by 3pm. So much for lying by the pool.
The reality is, it’s hard to properly switch off when you’re the one in charge. But it’s not just about you taking time off. The chaos can start when it’s your team off instead. Half the crew are sunning themselves in Spain, a few are trying to keep things ticking over back home, and suddenly you’re back on the tools, literally or metaphorically, wondering how the hell it all got so messy.
I get it. I’ve been there. And that’s why I wanted to write this. Because leadership doesn’t stop when you’re out of office. But that doesn’t mean it should follow you to the beach.
The Holiday Guilt Trip (And I Don’t Mean the Flights)
Let’s talk about that guilt. The one that creeps in when you take time off.
I used to think stepping away from the business was a luxury I couldn’t afford. That if I wasn’t there, it would all fall apart. It took me years, and a few stress-induced cold sores, to realise that being constantly available wasn’t leadership. It was martyrdom.
And it’s not just me. So many of the business owners and leaders we work with at The Power Within Training say the same thing. “I feel bad leaving the team.” “What if something goes wrong?” “I’ll just check my emails each morning…”
That’s not a holiday. That’s remote working with extra sun.
Real Leadership Is What Happens When You’re Not There
Here’s the thing; If your business can’t function without you for a week, it’s not really a business, it’s a hostage situation.
One of the most powerful mindset shifts I ever made was moving from “What if I’m not there?” to “How can I build a business that doesn’t need me to be there all the time?”
That’s what we teach in our programmes. Not just how to lead people, but how to develop leaders inside your business. So when the inevitable summer exodus happens, or you finally take that long weekend with the family, you’re not secretly dreading it.
What Happens When the Team Are Off
Let’s flip it. It’s not just about your holiday, is it? It’s what happens when your right-hand person is off. Or your best project lead. Or half the office in July because everyone and their granny’s booked a caravan in Aviemore.
It’s easy to fall into frustration. But what if, instead, you used that time as a test? A chance to see what’s working and what needs work.
Are your systems solid? Does everyone know who’s responsible for what? Can the rest of the team step up, or do things grind to a halt when one person’s off?
These are the gaps you don’t always notice until the pressure hits. That’s why we bang on about Motivational Intelligence (MQ) so much; it’s the mindset that gets your team to think beyond their role, to take ownership, to keep momentum even when the usual safety nets are gone.
The Power of Preparation (and Letting Go)
Before any holiday (yours or theirs) comes the prep. But not the “I’ll do everything myself to get ahead” panic. I’m talking delegation, clarity, ownership.
Who’s covering what? What decisions can be made without you? What needs to wait, and what doesn’t?
One of the best things we teach in our Leading with Motivational Intelligence programme is how to empower people to take action confidently, even when you’re not around. That’s when your business starts to scale. Not when you add more hours to your day, but when you stop being the bottleneck.
Growth Mindset, Even When You’re Off Grid
You know what’s funny? Some of my best business ideas have come when I’ve not been trying to think about work. Out on a walk, in the gym, spending time with my daughter, lying on a beach pretending not to be thinking about emails…
Because that’s when the clutter clears. That’s when you get perspective.
It’s why growth mindset isn’t just about pushing harder. It’s about trusting yourself, and your team, enough to step back. To let go. To believe that progress doesn’t always come from being on all the time.
We Can Help You Switch Off (For Real)
At The Power Within Training, we don’t just help you become a better leader, we help you build a business that gives you your life back.
From our Business Growth Academy to the Managing with Motivational Intelligence programme, we’re here to support the practical stuff: delegation, leadership mindset, strategy, systems. All the things that help you lead well, whether you’re in the office or not.
So whether you’re in construction juggling site visits and spreadsheets, or running a growing business with one eye on the Slack messages, we’re here for you.
Because leadership isn’t about being switched on 24/7. It’s about knowing when to step up, when to step back, and how to create a culture that runs even when you’re out of office.
And trust me, that cocktail tastes better when you’re not mentally writing a to-do list mid-sip.
James Fleming
The Power Within Training,
The Motivational Intelligence Company
james@tpwtd.com
