Plan for a mental rest

If you plan accordingly, taking a vacation can be beneficial for the owner and the employees.

There is nothing better than the smell of the warm ocean air or the feel of sand between your toes while the warm sun beats down on your face. For just a short time, you are completely free.

And then you enter reality.

Finding a balance between work and life is a difficult task for many working professionals. For those professionals who have chosen a life in the snow and ice industry, finding this balance may seem insurmountable.

For years, I allowed myself to be chained down by the pressure of the impending weather that the winter months bring.

If I caught wind of a snow or ice event, I would consume myself with checking the weather incessantly via every news outlet and reliable Internet weather source I could find.

I would pace back and forth looking out the windows, waiting for the snow to fall while talking on the phone trying to proactively plan for the tentative storm. The weather became my prison, which I could not escape. I truly believed my company could not operate without me during a major snow or ice event. Boy was I wrong. This was one of the biggest hurdles I have ever had to overcome.

Get away.

I knew I had to make a change if I wanted to survive and thrive. So, I planned to escape to my paradise. For the last several years, I have made it a priority to take at least one extended vacation per year with my family.

In addition, I sneak in a few long weekends of travel during the winter to indulge in attending a few NHL games. I learned early on that the only way to actually enjoy these trips is to truly let go of the daily grind by disconnecting from my phone. I have found that this travel is the best way to mentally reset. In fact, it has allowed me to return more focused on growing a business that does not revolve around me.

It’s simple to travel during the winter months if you consider taking these three steps: train your managers using scenario based decision making; hire/line up enough subcontractors to help cover every possible scenario; and finally, compensate your key managers who run operations while you are away.

Training.

In order to go, you must have the peace of mind that your team is prepared to proactively manage all situations that may arise during a snow and ice event. I have found that the best way to prepare managers is to role play these possible critical situations prior to the snow season and again mid-season. These training sessions must also be followed up with a storm recap meeting after the flakes settle.

During these training sessions, I outline every possible scenario that we have seen during previous winters, give the team time to determine how they would react, and discuss the pros and cons of their decision making. We discuss prioritization of properties, and best practices when dealing with labor and equipment adversity.

The role playing allows me to coach the team through my thought process and mentor them through their own learning curves when dealing with resource allocation, communication, and handling the surprising situations that will likely arise.

Find support.

Next, be sure you have lined up a core group of subcontractors that will be there to back up your team in case mother nature shows her furry while you are away. This core group of subcontractors will insure you against no-show employees and breakdowns that could otherwise paralyze a company during a snow and ice event.

We maintain a trusted group of subcontractors that serve in an on-call manner when I leave town and for major snow and ice events. This core group allows me to trust that great service will be delivered when I am not around.

Invest in a No. 2.

Leaving for paradise is much easier when you have a trusted, veteran manager and team that will act on your behalf while you are away.

Without my dedicated core group of managers, especially Rick Stockton, an 18-year veteran, seasonal manager, it would be impossible for me to leave during the winter months. Rick single-handedly takes over and ensures that things run as well, if not better, than when I am around.

When you have this type of trusted employee you must compensate them well, without question. Allow this group to take over in your absence, pay them well, disconnect, enjoy paradise, and mentally reset so when you return, you can focus on continued growth for your business.

The author is owner of Callahan Lawn Care and Property Maintenance in New York. He has been in the snow business for 20 years. He can be reached at mcallahan@giemedia.com.