I admit it – even though I’m currently not on vacation, I’m in a “summer vacation state of mind.” There’s just something about this time of year that makes us this way. And with both bosses out of the office, that “vacation state of mind” is even harder to resist. Especially since, with them away, the phones are quiet and the emails have slowed.
That, however, doesn’t mean I haven’t been productive (I am writing this posting after all). It just means that the usual tasks that keep me busy throughout the rest of the year are not on the top of my list. Instead, I’m focusing on housekeeping tasks: cleaning out messy drawers, getting rid of unneeded papers, rotating files, straightening the office, revisiting procedures to see which need to be updated and which need to be thrown out, and just generally clearing away the cobwebs (both literally and figuratively) that have accumulated in the last year. All this gives me a chance to regroup and recharge – a mini-vacation of sorts.
It would be great of our associations would get into this “summer vacation state of mind” as well and do some “clearing away the cobwebs” of their own. While dusting, I came up with a few tips of my own for association leaders …
- Reevaluate your priorities and goals. Have you stayed on track? Or did you find your association mired in inefficiency or stagnancy?
- Think about what has worked and what hasn’t. Do an assessment of each item to determine where you got it right and where you got it wrong.
- Check in with all your volunteers (leaders and committee members) to see how they are doing. Do they need something from you? Have you left them dangling with little concept of what you expect from them? Are they still around?
- Start planning for next year now! Do you know who your leadership for next year will be? If so, get them involved. If not, find them. Do you know what types of programs you want to offer? Start putting together your calendar. Don’t wait until the end of the year when you’re feeling pressured and rushed. Head into the new year with a clear view of what’s to come.
My bosses come back next week and my mini-vacation will come to an end, but at least I’ll be refreshed and ready to take on the coming fall.
Will your association be ready when things get swinging again?