Here are a few examples of how you can think differently in order to get a jump on things, plan ahead, engage in a little pre-autumn creative problem solving, and make your “chill mode” to “work mode” changeover as positive and productive as possible.
1. Ease into It
Your mind may still be on baseball, snorkeling, and suntan lotion, but during these final days of summer, it’s time to start thinking, just a bit, about what will be waiting for you on Tuesday, September third. No need for heavy lifting here; just imagine what will be going on when you return. In your mind, envision your coworkers, your boss, your team, and even your clients or customers. What kinds of tasks will you all be working on? What types of meetings will take place?
“The idea is to get motivated, even excited, about being pro- ductive,” advises Harmeyer. “Just taking this mental journey through future-gazing can help ease your transition back to the office.”
2. Set Some Tentative Goals
Why not take it one step further and actually identify some things you’d like to get done? Take a few minutes, clear your mind, and create an “aspiration list” of things you want to accomplish during the last four months of the year. What changes would you like to make in your work routine? How can you inspire and coach your coworkers or team to be more productive and successful? What personal and orga- nizational goals would you like to put in place?
“Think big and make it real,” says Rigie. “This will help pre- vent end-of-vacation dread, because you won’t have to go from zero to sixty the first day back after Labor Day. You’ll have set yourself up for success... and the moment you get back, you’ll have something tangible and worthwhile to focus on.”
3. Ask Yourself, What’s So Terrible About Work, Anyway?
If you’re not looking forward to the intensity of autumn, that’s probably based on your belief that whatever you’re doing now is more enjoyable than what you’ll be doing then. Vacation and summertime activities are certainly fun. But so are creative challenges, stimulating projects, positive collaboration with colleagues, and meaningful achieve- ments. So why not choose to embrace what lies ahead?
“Start looking at fall as the season for rekindling possibilities after recharging your batteries over the summer,” recom- mends Harmeyer. “Plus, you’ll soon have the holidays (and maybe a year-end bonus) to look forward to, as well!”
4. Cross Your T’s and Dot Your I’s
Every good scout knows to always have close at hand what- ever tools he or she needs to tackle any foreseeable chal- lenge. But how about you? Are you prepared?
“Is your contact list clean and up to date?” asks Rigie. “Do you have the necessary apps installed on your smartphone, tablet, and/or computer, and have they all been updated to the most recent versions? Is your schedule handy and accu- rate? Make sure you have everything you need to start the month efficiently and effectively, rather than spending your first few days getting systems in order.”
5. Get in Touch with Your Colleagues
Often, we aren’t in regular contact with our team or cowork- ers during the summer months. Vacations, days off and light- ened workloads often result in less frequent communica- tion. So why not reach out and reestablish contact with important coworkers before you get back to the office?
“Make a quick call or shoot them a brief email,” advises Harmeyer. “Try to do your personal ‘catching up’ before you return to the office so that you can all be optimally produc- tive and focused from the get-go.”
“Managing the inevitable transition at summer’s end is really all about being aware of what’s going to happen, acknowl- edging what needs to be done, and taking some small action steps,” says Harmeyer. “Be creative! Use your imagina- tion and problem-solving skills. Just doing something, any- thing, to prepare for your return will make a dramatic differ- ence.”
“Heading back to work after time off is as much a state of mind as it is a practical reality,” adds Rigie. “Take a few min- utes to readjust your thinking, make a few plans, tidy up your systems and your mind. You’ll soon discover you’re more motivated, more energized, and more productive for your efforts.”
Mitchell Rigie has been a creative professional for over 25 years, with expertise that spans the fields of art, design, communications, strategic marketing, and human development. Keith Harmeyer’s professional background includes over 25 years in advertising and strategic marketing, sales and business coaching. Together they have co-authored the book SmartStorming: The Game-Changing Process for Generating Bigger, Better Ideas.
www.smartstorming.com
Article courtesy of DeHart & Company Public Relations
www.dehartandcompany.com
Mid-Atlantic EVENTS Magazine 97
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