PTO Wrap Up

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It’s been a month of all things PTO! Over the past four weeks, we’ve covered everything from balancing work and travel to getting back into the swing of things post-vacation. As we wrap up this series, I want to bring it all together into one ultimate guide.

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Here’s a quick recap of the series so far in case you missed any of the series (or you need a refresher):

Week 1: Balancing Work and Travel

• Adjust your work schedule to manage meetings and free up exploration time.

• Communicate boundaries with your team to manage expectations.

• Focus on high-impact work during productive hours.

• Stay flexible by blocking time but remaining adaptable to team needs.

Week 2: Why Delegation is Critical for Taking Time Off

• Identify key responsibilities to delegate and assign them based on strengths.

• Set clear expectations, instructions, and deadlines for delegated tasks.

• Empower your team by providing resources and encouraging decision-making.

• Start delegating early to allow for adjustments and smoother handoffs.

Week 3: The Art of Truly Disconnecting

• Turn off notifications to avoid work reminders.

• Remove work apps from your phone if needed to prevent checking.

• Set clear boundaries with your team, specifying urgent-only contact.

• Use time off for personal reflection and exploring new inspirations.

Week 4: Getting Back to Work After a Vacation

• Block the first few hours of your return day for catching up.

• Limit meetings in your first week back to ease re-entry.

• Use your OOO plan to review progress and set priorities.

• Create a 1-2-3 list: one main focus, two secondary tasks, and three quick wins.

Your Ultimate PTO Checklist

To make your PTO planning even smoother, I’ve compiled a high-level checklist that covers all the essentials:

1. Pre-PTO Planning:

   • Outline key projects and tasks to complete before leaving

   • Set up an Out of Office (OOO) response

   • Delegate tasks to team members (see why this is so important?)

2. During PTO:

   • Set a 'no-check' window for emails and messages, especially if you’re someone who feels the need to know what’s going on at all times (I see you and I am you)

   • Make time for true rest and reflection

3. Post-PTO Re-entry:

   • Prioritize urgent tasks first

   • Schedule a catch-up meeting to align on next steps

Want a downloadable version of this checklist? It’s all in this month’s All Access content, plus much more.

Why Upgrade to All Access?

This week, I’m offering my complete PTO toolkit for premium subscribers. It’s packed with resources like:

• A Delegation Worksheet to hand off tasks effectively.

• A PTO Planning Guide with step-by-step instructions.

• A Re-entry Plan Template to make your first week back easier.

• And more!

Want to work with me? Here are 3 ways I can help you:

1. Upgrade to paid membership: You’ll get access to the archive of all free Tuesday posts, as well as monthly deep dives, downloads, and tools. This includes scripts and templates you can put to use immediately.

2. Sign up for a future session of my course: I’ll help you learn how to identify and coach team members, manage conflict up and down the chain of command, and give and receive effective feedback. I’m running one final course session this year on November 9.

3. Sign up for 1-on-1 coaching: If you prefer to learn alone, I offer one-on-one coaching to aspiring and new tech leaders.