- Announce your time off: Let everyone you usually work with know that you will be away. If necessary, let them know that they should adjust their workflow accordingly.
- Annouce your limits: While you're letting people know that you'll be away, you should also make it known if you can be contacted. You are stepping away from the office, so make sure your coworkers and staff know your boundaries. If you don't want to be or are unable to be contacted, they should be aware of that fact. If you have certain things that you just can't ignore, let me people know the best way to contact you.
- Emergency contact: If the worst case scenario occurs, someone should be able to get in touch with you. Leave your emergency contact information with a colleague you trust.
- Delegate: If certain projects/events need to be handled while you're away, let people know. Your coworkers and staff should not be left guessing who needs to handle what. Let them know what your expectations are before you head out.
- Water me: Let someone know if they need to water your plants or feed your office pet.
- Check you calendar: Make sure that you don't have any meeting, events, etc. occurring during your time off. If you do, reschedule or make alternative arrangements. Take care of this as far in advance as you can, you may want to schedule some meetings before you leave.
- Mail call: If you receive a lot of mail, figure out what to do with it in advance. Designate someone else to take care of it, or tell the mail room to hold onto everything until you get back.
- Finish lingering projects: If you've had a few "things" sitting on your desk, take care of them before you leave (if you can). You'll feel better knowing you've accomplished something before you leave, and they won't be staring you in the face when you return.
- Do your part: If someone's project depends on you, get your part done. Don't leave your coworkers hanging; make sure you deliver your end of the job. If you forget to do so before you leave, it's likely that you'll be getting phone calls during your vacation.
- Organize your space: Clean your desk area, empty your inbox, wash that coffee cup, etc. If necessary, designate an area for people to drop off mail, memos, projects, etc. while you're away. Do whatever it is you need to do to make sure you come back to a clean space.
- Set reminders: If you have e-mail and/or voicemail, make sure to set your "Out of Office" reminders. If you can, let people know how they can reach someone who is in the office.
Now that you're ready to leave - turn off your computer, pack your bag, and switch off the lights. Enjoy your vacation!
Next week, I'll discuss ways to tackle the first day back to the office.
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