People Management as we Approach the Summer Months

As summer approaches, many employees begin to plan their well-earned holidays, with parents in particular needing to coordinate time off to coincide with the long school break, typically spanning six weeks across July and August. While this period offers a chance for employees to recharge and spend time with their families, it can also present significant operational challenges for organisations. For managers, the task of maintaining productivity while balancing business requirements with personal leave requests requires a delicate blend of empathy, foresight, and strong people management skills.

Successfully navigating this busy season is not just about managing absences; it is about sustaining team morale, ensuring workloads are appropriately redistributed, and maintaining business continuity. This makes competencies such as team development, performance management, coaching, and self-management more important than ever. With careful planning and the right leadership approach, managers can turn potential disruption into an opportunity for growth, development, and stronger team cohesion.

Effective Delegation

During the summer holiday period, effective delegation becomes a vital skill for managers to master. Delegating work is not simply about offloading tasks; it involves thoughtfully assigning responsibilities to the most suitable team members based on their individual skills, strengths, and current workloads. By providing clear instructions, setting clear expectations, and ensuring the necessary resources are available, managers can empower their employees to take ownership of their work. This not only helps to maintain productivity during periods of staff absence but also supports the professional development of team members by exposing them to new responsibilities and opportunities for growth. For managers, it allows focus to remain on more strategic activities, while building trust and resilience within the team.

Team Motivation

Keeping teams motivated during the holiday season can be challenging, particularly when workloads increase due to absent colleagues. Managers must foster a positive, supportive work environment where team members feel valued and recognised for their contributions. This includes acknowledging and rewarding achievements, however small, setting realistic but aspirational goals, and providing opportunities for continued learning and development. Open communication and a sense of shared purpose can help maintain high levels of engagement and morale, even when the team is under additional pressure. By focusing on what the team has achieved together, rather than solely on the challenges, managers can help individuals feel proud of their contributions and motivated to perform at their best.

Communication

Clear, consistent communication is essential during periods of change and heightened pressure, such as the summer holiday season. Managers must be able to effectively convey any adjustments to work schedules, workload expectations, and team priorities, ensuring that all employees understand their roles and responsibilities. Moreover, effective communication extends to handling more sensitive matters such as conflict resolution, attendance management, and disciplinary issues. Managers should feel confident when conducting interviews, addressing performance concerns, and navigating challenging conversations. A strong grasp of these communication skills enables managers to maintain harmony within the team, resolve potential conflicts early, and ensure that staff feel heard and supported throughout the holiday period.

How Can We Help?

At Alternative Partnership, we understand the complexities involved in managing people during the summer holiday period and beyond. Our leadership and management training programmes are specifically designed to equip managers with the essential skills and confidence required to navigate a wide range of business scenarios, including the effective management of annual leave.

Our comprehensive training solutions cater to managers at all levels, from emerging team leaders and first-line managers to experienced departmental heads. We offer accredited qualifications through respected institutions such as the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) and NCFE, ensuring our programmes meet nationally recognised standards of excellence.

Through our tailored programmes, managers develop key leadership and decision-making skills, alongside an in-depth understanding of different management styles. Our training focuses on setting and upholding clear standards, establishing individual and team targets, and breaking down complex managerial responsibilities into practical, manageable areas. Key topics include conflict resolution, effective delegation, and conducting disciplinary interviews with confidence and professionalism.

Whether you are facing challenges with absenteeism, managing difficult behaviour, or simply seeking to enhance the overall people management capabilities of your leadership team, our experienced training consultants are here to help. We bring a wealth of industry experience, combined with modern, practical approaches to leadership development, ensuring that your managers are fully prepared to meet both present and future challenges.

Facing the Challenges of Leadership and Management

While managing the summer holiday period can be a testing time for managers, it also presents an excellent opportunity to strengthen leadership capabilities, develop team resilience, and foster a positive workplace culture. With the right training and support, managers can confidently balance business needs with the personal commitments of their staff, creating an environment where both employees and organisations can thrive. If you believe your managers could benefit from additional support in navigating these challenges, we invite you to contact us at Alternative Partnership. Together, we can help you build a stronger, more capable leadership team, ready to face the unique demands of every season.

Developing Decisive Leaders

As a manager or leader, there’s always something new to learn or a skill you can improve and develop. Organisations need to support managers and leaders in this development, but you also need to invest in yourself.

Getting formal leadership and management training will not only help you build your leadership skills, but it will also help you grow in confidence, and increase your chances of career progression.

Alternative Partnership delivers ILM-accredited Leadership and Management training programmes to support you and your teams in gaining formal, nationally recognised qualifications.

Find out more about our current ILM courses here or get in touch to discuss how our services could benefit you.

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