Off season – the rest and refocus your business requires
An enormous part of what makes professional athletes so successful is how they utilise their ‘off season.’ This is time outside of the competitive calendar, where they rest and prepare for upcoming events. I would suggest that businesses and their leaders would also profit from similar periods of recuperation and preparation.
Outside the competitive calendar
Coaches and players use the off season in two ways:
The first is to recover from the exertions of the competitive timetable that has just gone. This involves going on holiday, spending time with their families, and even indulging in some of the treats their strict dietary regime would not normally allow. Although people might assume the physical recovery would be most important for them, playing any sport at a high level takes a huge toll on their mental health too. This break presents the opportunity to reset and reconnect with the people and interests outside their career.
The second part of the off season usually consists of preparation for the competitions ahead. During this time, new people might be onboarded, whether this is coaching staff, or new players and fresh tactics are implemented. The focus is on improvement, where the hectic rotation of games, matches and events are not taking place, leaving sufficient time to dedicate. Whilst they may be fixated on self-betterment and trying to impress for a place in the squad, the mental strain of competing in front of a crowd is not there. This is what allows the offseason to be so effective.
Rest up to go again
So, let’s consider this situation in a business context.
Taking time away from your organisation can be difficult. This could be because of the demand you, as leader, are under, or perhaps because you simply can’t tear yourself away. For this initial scenario, I would argue that if your company cannot afford to let you take a holiday, then there is something inherently wrong with its structure and allocation of responsibility. For the latter, I can sympathise. As a business leader, you are ambitious and diligent; taking time off can feel wrong, but is vital for your productivity over the rest of the year.
With the ever-increasing influence of technology, it is more challenging than before to leave your work life behind. You might find yourself surreptitiously checking your emails, or even phoning in to check on how things are going. Whilst you may be physically absent from your place of work, this does not count as a holiday. If your mind is still on the job, then you are not getting the sufficient rest you require. Beyond simply enjoying yourself, this is about your health; it is unhealthy and unsustainable to keep on keeping on.
Burn-out
A hot topic within modern football is fixture congestion. Some of the coaches, particularly from the top teams, who must compete for more cups and prizes, have raised concerns that the frantic merry-go-round of fixtures does not allow their players to recover enough. The upcoming World Cup in Qatar, has been criticised for being scheduled slap bang in the middle of the domestic season. Managers fear their players will burn-out and this is a concern that business leaders should have too.
Without give yourself time to rest and recover and you risk detrimentally affecting the rest of your work calendar. Try and enjoy yourself; you’ve earned it.
Utilise calmer periods
Once you have had the time and space to clear your head and refresh yourself, you can start to think about the second important phase of the off season. This may not come directly after your holiday, but will take place during a calmer period of your business year. Summertime can often represent this, where some, but not all, companies must work around more than usual absences for breaks, decreased demand and care for children.
It makes sense to utilise these less busy periods to improve your current systems, people and processes, so they are ready for the next phase of progression. This might include identifying aspects that are lagging behind, such as concise reporting or establishing a leadership team. In terms of personnel, this is a great chance to boost the confidence of your staff, through training and broadening their skillsets. Like a professional football team, if you feel like you have a piece of the puzzle missing, look at bringing someone in.
My main message here is that constant progression is not possible. If you’re giving 100% all of the time, this will lead to burn-out, whether this is personal or amongst your colleagues. You must demonstrate as leader that you recognise the importance of taking time off, as well as the value of proper preparation.
Don’t see taking a breather as treading water, striving for unlimited productivity will leave you floundering.
Give yourself permission to enjoy yourself and I guarantee your work will benefit.
If you would like to discuss any of the topics covered in this article, please book a FREE, no-commitment discovery call with me.