Step away from the office.....

The beautiful Lotus Fields near Siem Reap, Cambodia. Families make a day trip of this destination, spending time away from the day-to-day grind of life, sharing time and space with their families.

Bookkeepers come in many variations – not size or shape, but business structure and the way they operate. There are sole traders, companies, partnerships, trusts. The principal may work alone, or with staff or subcontractors, locally or overseas.

One key challenge many owners of bookkeeping practices face is their inability to step away from the desk for more than a few hours at a time.

A recent article by MindHealthConnect, stated that "there is a tendency for work to have a negative impact on other areas of life" and "that certain groups are more affected than others by work-life interference".

Included in the list of groups were:

• Women (who generally have worse work-life outcomes than men, and do around twice as much caring and domestic work)
• Parents (particularly mothers and more so single mothers)
• People who care for others
• The "sandwich" generation (people who are caring for both the elderly and the young)
• People in certain occupations, including managers, professionals and those in the mining industry

Women, parents, professionals – the holy trinity of what many bookkeepers look like today.

I often hear bookkeepers say of their clients, "I feel like I'm their b*&$@%y mother". That sense of caring and nurturing the extended family!

There’s often a perception that we’re indispensable – and that stepping away for a long weekend, to care for family, or go on that 2-month overseas trip just isn’t possible.

If we don’t prioritise ourselves, the stress and burnout from poor work/life balance will impact our health, our businesses, and our relationships.

It is easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission

You’re a business owner – you make the decisions. Your doctor doesn’t ask their patients if they can take a holiday. Your clients don’t always tell you when they’re away either!

So schedule it in. Buy the tickets. Then (maybe) let your clients know. With planning, this can absolutely become a reality.

Plan ahead

You need to plan your exit strategy. Clients will understand if there’s continuity of service. Start the conversation early, even in your engagement letters.

Australian Bookkeepers Network has great templates – as do other professional bodies.

Collaborate

Even sole traders can leave – with the right support network. I've supported two bookkeeping practices while they were away, both very different setups. Trust, communication, and formal agreements made it easy for all parties involved.

Systems and processes

Document your processes – it’ll help others step in, and it’ll help you grow. Great systems support efficient work and delegation.

Empower your people

Empower your staff or trusted industry peer to make decisions while you’re away. Don’t wait until the last minute – build their confidence now.

Use technology

Unless you’re off-grid, technology is your friend. Use it to check in briefly, delegate, and manage messages.

On my trip to Cambodia (with better internet than Australia!), I checked Teams messages once a day. I did no work. None. And I slept soundly (well, apart from the 1am rooster).

I’ve managed travel to Dubai, Bali, Japan, Vanuatu, Cambodia... with more on the way. Work should enable, not prevent, these experiences.

If a client gets upset that you’re taking a break – it’s worth asking if they’re the right client for you.

It will be daunting the first time. But worth it.

(Originally published on LinkedIn – 18 May 2017)