Welcome Professionals…

…it’s this time of the year, when most people in the Northern hemisphere go to summertime vacation. What makes up for a good relaxation during the summer for a top management consultant? Can you enjoy your summertime vacation at all or do you have to be ready for work at all times?

I personally have tried various models. I have shifted my vacation plenty times due to important project phases. I have interrupted my summer vacation for important proposals and client meeting and have traveled back to work. I have been riding my bicycle with the laptop on the back to the next WiFi hotspot in order to download and submit large PowerPoint files. I have stood outside in the rain for hours in order to listen to endless conference calls. On the other hand, I have also tried to make myself unavailable to any work, went to nature spots in a tent without any connection to the outside world.

The extremes of being ready for work all the time or being completely out of business for weeks don’t work for me. Here is what does the trick for me. This is how I get a decent amount of relaxation and find some work/life-balance in my vacation time:

• Pursuing some sports activity each day, that takes my full attention, like surfing, beach volleyball, a bicyle tour, etc.
• Playing with my children and having them make the rules
• Indulging in a good meal and/or Italian icecream and/or a good bottle of wine
• Good and intense conversations with my wife
• Checking emails each day and answering the most important ones, but limited to some distinct times of the day (usually early morning or at some down times of the day)
• Calling my assistant every other day to get the latest news and give instructions to important matters
• Never interrupting for any important client meeting or proposal, simply re-schedule
• Most important: Not trying to force relaxation. It is like forcing myself to sleep now. It never works like this

How about you? What works for you?

Wishing you a good summertime relaxation

Malte

Thursday Night Flight is brought to you by Malte Müller Professionals. Sharing best practices for top management consultants on topics like communication, client handling, problem solving, appearance, and fitness. Check out www.mm-professionals.com for more material and free resources!