A Whole Week? 

As the owner of a Small business, we find it very hard to stay away from our home office during the holiday season.   What if someone wants to order and we’re not there? Or the company you’ve been courting for a contract decides to call while you’re sipping eggnog?

Listen up – you need time away to refresh, renew and re-energize. You’ve worked hard all year.

The world will not come to a screeching halt but if you prepare, your holidays can be enjoyable and your return to work, something to look forward to.

Here are four tips to prepare your clients (and you!) for that well deserved time away.

1. Tell them! Let your clients know in advance that you will be away. (If they call when you’re not in, it’s obvious they don’t read their emails! )
2. If you’re really antsy about no one around to answer the phone, hire an answering service for the interim. They can filter your calls based on the criteria you give them as well as take inquiries from new clients.
3. If you’re the type that need to have contact with clients. (really?) Let them know you will be accessing your email  on this date at this time. (really?)
4. Set up an out of office reply on your email and phone informing that you are on holiday and will be back on <date>.

You will be pleasantly surprised that the catastrophes and urgent issues that you imagined will not materialize.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous New Year!

About Cathy Kuzel

Cathy is one connected woman! With 20+ years of experience as a successful Entrepreneur and Business Coach, she is recognized across Canada for her in-house and public seminars on “All Things Small Biz”. Named one of the Top Ten Mentors in Canada,Cathy is the Founder of The Connected Woman Association, Author of “Are You a Collector or a Connector?” and “I’m on the Phone!” and is a networking maven.