{"id":92809,"date":"2026-04-17T11:13:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T16:13:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/?p=92809"},"modified":"2026-04-17T11:13:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T16:13:36","slug":"communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html","title":{"rendered":"Communication pitfalls to avoid when taking time off"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/garage\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-taking-time-off\/\" title=\"Communication pitfalls to avoid when taking time off\" rel=\"follow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Taking time away from work, whether you&#8217;re vacationing in an exotic destination or just chilling out at home for a few days, is vital to stay healthy and maximize your career potential.<\/p>\n<p>But while you are perfectly entitled to take time off, it&#8217;s important to communicate with your employees, bosses, and clients effectively \u2013 both in the weeks leading up to your vacation and during the vacation itself.<\/p>\n<p>Below, we\u2019ll discuss some of the communication pitfalls to avoid when taking time off work and why it matters.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#Why_taking_time_off_is_so_important\" >Why taking time off is so important<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#Stress_relief\" >Stress relief<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#New_perspectives\" >New perspectives<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#Opportunities_for_learning_and_growth\" >Opportunities for learning and growth<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#Reducing_dependencies\" >Reducing dependencies<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#Long-term_career_benefits\" >Long-term career benefits<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#7_communication_pitfalls_to_avoid_when_taking_time_off\" >7 communication pitfalls to avoid when taking time off<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#1_Plan_your_vacation_wisely\" >1. Plan your vacation wisely<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#2_Communicate_your_upcoming_absence_early\" >2. Communicate your upcoming absence early<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#3_Set_proactive_expectations_for_your_employees\" >3. Set proactive expectations for your employees<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#4_Train_educate_and_document\" >4. Train, educate and document<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#5_Provide_alternate_contact_information\" >5. Provide alternate contact information<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#6_Set_up_an_away_message\" >6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Set up an away message<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#7_Foster_a_culture_that_sees_vacation_in_a_healthy_light\" >7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Foster a culture that sees vacation in a healthy light<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#The_importance_of_being_mostly_unreachable\" >The importance of being (mostly) unreachable<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#How_to_keep_an_emergency_line_open\" >How to keep an emergency line open<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#Define_what_constitutes_an_%E2%80%9Cemergency%E2%80%9D\" >Define what constitutes an \u201cemergency\u201d<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#Use_the_right_tools\" >Use the right tools<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-taking-time-off.html\/#Check_in_on_your_terms\" >Check in on your terms<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_taking_time_off_is_so_important\"><\/span>Why taking time off is so important<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>Before diving into common communication pitfalls to avoid, you should first learn why taking time off is helpful in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>Ambitious entrepreneurs and career-minded professionals often see vacations as a kind of liability. They might think:<\/p>\n<p>If I spend too much time away from work, I\u2019m being unproductive.<\/p>\n<p>I worry that someone else may take over some of my responsibilities, ones I may never get back<\/p>\n<p>People who take vacations are lazy, meaning they&#8217;re less likely to get raises and promotions.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, in the United States, our aggressive work culture makes us biased when it comes to perceiving the value of vacations. Every year, we waste hundreds of millions of vacation days collectively, representing an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ustravel.org\/press\/study-record-768-million-us-vacation-days-went-unused-18-opportunity-cost-billions\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">opportunity cost of $65.5 billion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The truth is, taking time off is highly beneficial \u2013 both to you and your organization. Consider the following benefits of taking time off.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Stress_relief\"><\/span>Stress relief<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The most obvious benefit, and the one you likely thought of first, is stress relief. Putting in full-time hours, week after week, with no interruption between your responsibilities can be mentally and emotionally draining.<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout\"> Even if you love your work, it&#8217;s going to take its toll on you over time. <\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Taking a vacation is a great way to relieve stress and return to your job with a fresh mind. In fact, taking time off is the only practical way to prevent burnout.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"New_perspectives\"><\/span>New perspectives<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Taking time off also gives you an opportunity to develop new perspectives. Vacationing to different areas gives you exposure to different cultures.<\/p>\n<p>But even staying home and spending time with family lets you see the world in a different way.<\/p>\n<p>When your life isn&#8217;t consumed with work, you can figure out what&#8217;s important and what&#8217;s holding you back.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Opportunities_for_learning_and_growth\"><\/span>Opportunities for learning and growth<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Similarly, time off can be a great opportunity for learning and growth. Depending on your priorities, you could use your time to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Meet new people<\/li>\n<li>Visit new places<\/li>\n<li>Develop new skills<\/li>\n<li>Learn something entirely novel<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Ultimately, that could help you advance your career further or figure out that you want to start a new career.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reducing_dependencies\"><\/span>Reducing dependencies<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you&#8217;re an entrepreneur or a leader in your organization, you might scoff at the idea of taking a step back \u2014 especially when remembering you have an entire team depending on you.<\/p>\n<p>But that dependency isn&#8217;t necessarily a good thing.<\/p>\n<p>If your team members are too reliant on your direction or your leadership, your organization isn\u2019t going to run as effectively as it could.<\/p>\n<p>Taking time off and allowing other people to take over your responsibilities, or deal with your absence, can reduce those dependencies and encourage your business to run more efficiently.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Long-term_career_benefits\"><\/span>Long-term career benefits<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It may feel like stepping away from work is a bad thing for your productivity and reputation, but the opposite appears to be true.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>According to Harvard Business Review, employees who take regular vacation days tend to be <a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2015\/06\/are-the-people-who-take-vacations-the-ones-who-get-promoted\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">31 percent more productive when they return to work<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>They\u2019re also 6.5 percent more likely to get a raise or promotion than their non-vacationing counterparts. Thanks to the above benefits and others, taking time off work almost always results in positive career momentum.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_communication_pitfalls_to_avoid_when_taking_time_off\"><\/span>7 communication pitfalls to avoid when taking time off<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Of course, if you\u2019re going to realize the full benefits of taking time off work, you need to know the common communication pitfalls to avoid. That means:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Clearly articulating when you&#8217;re going to take a vacation<\/li>\n<li>Setting expectations for how that vacation is going to go<\/li>\n<li>Communicating effectively (or not at all) while you&#8217;re away from work<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Keep reading to learn some tips on how to help you do it.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Plan_your_vacation_wisely\"><\/span>1. Plan your vacation wisely<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Take your time when planning your vacation is one of the first communication pitfalls to avoid. Taking the right amount of vacation days during the right time is key. For example, many employees in the United States take time off at the end of the year, during the holiday season.<\/p>\n<p>If you also plan a vacation during this time, you might be able to take advantage of a slow time. This means scheduling time off when people won&#8217;t be working as much \u2014 thus reducing the number of times people reach out to you.<\/p>\n<p>The flip side is, with fewer people running things, there may be more issues that need to be resolved. Make sure you consider your business\u2019 busy periods, common vacation times, and other variables before you finalize vacation plans.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Communicate_your_upcoming_absence_early\"><\/span>2. Communicate your upcoming absence early<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you have a role that requires you to communicate with people frequently, it&#8217;s important to start communicating your upcoming absence as early as possible.<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout\"> Don&#8217;t spontaneously take off next week and expect things to go smoothly. <\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Instead, let your employees, clients, and other professional contacts know that you&#8217;re going to take a vacation several weeks in advance.<\/p>\n<p>As the time gets closer to your actual vacation, you could even send reminder messages.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Set_proactive_expectations_for_your_employees\"><\/span>3. Set proactive expectations for your employees<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you&#8217;re in a position of authority, spend some time before your vacation setting expectations for you team. Everyone is going to have different personal preferences and different outlooks on what \u201cvacation\u201d truly means.<\/p>\n<p>So, you&#8217;re going to need to define your expectation in concrete terms if possible. You can ask yourself the following questions to establish your own set of boundaries:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How often do you plan on checking your email? Do you even plan on checking it at all?<\/li>\n<li>During what hours are you going to be available for phone calls?<\/li>\n<li>Who is going to be in charge of making decisions while you&#8217;re away?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Remember, communication is key. You\u2019ll want to ensure your employees understand what to do in your absence.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Train_educate_and_document\"><\/span>4. Train, educate and document<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you have some responsibilities that can&#8217;t be handled by other people, or aren&#8217;t currently handled by other people, you could consider delegating your work. Another option is to distribute the work to a different team working in tandem with you.<\/p>\n<p>Otherwise, you may need to invest in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Training<\/li>\n<li>Education<\/li>\n<li>Documentation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Again, your goal is to make the organization run as smoothly as possible while you&#8217;re away.<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout\"> Make sure your responsibilities are handled by the people you trust. <\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Spend some time working with the people who are going to step in and cover your responsibilities while you\u2019re away. You\u2019ll want to make sure they understand how to execute those responsibilities ahead of time to ensure everything runs smoothly.<\/p>\n<p>As a layer of added security, you can write up standard operating procedures (SOPs). This will prepare your team with resources they can consult if they run into any issues.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Provide_alternate_contact_information\"><\/span>5. Provide alternate contact information<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It&#8217;s also important to provide alternative contact information to anybody who might need to reach you while you&#8217;re away. This is especially important for clients who may have questions about your services or the projects you&#8217;re currently working on.<\/p>\n<p>Consider the following questions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Who should your clients reach out to you on your team while you\u2019re away?<\/li>\n<li>Is there a leader within your organization who can field questions from your employees and team members?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Make sure to equip your team with all the right tools before you depart.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Set_up_an_away_message\"><\/span>6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Set up an away message<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Most employees understand the importance of setting up an away message in their email platform of choice. The idea here is simple: provide a concise, yet clear message informing email senders that you&#8217;re currently away. It also explains why they shouldn\u2019t expect a response from you until you return.<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/emailanalytics.com\/9-perfect-out-of-office-message-examples-you-can-use\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Good out of office messages<\/a> tend to be brief, professional, and to the point. <\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A simple statement like this works perfectly fine:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>\u201cHello! Thanks for reaching out to me, but I&#8217;m currently on vacation and am not responding to emails. I will return on _____. If you need anything in the meantime, please reach out to _____.\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Do make sure you list the contact information of an alternative source that people can reach. You can set up an automatic vacation reply with these instructions from <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/mail\/answer\/25922?hl=en&amp;co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Gmail<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/office\/set-up-auto-reply-out-of-office-cc0e480f-973e-4412-a27b-8a52108d6d51\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Outlook<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Foster_a_culture_that_sees_vacation_in_a_healthy_light\"><\/span>7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Foster a culture that sees vacation in a healthy light<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Finally, take steps to help shape your organizational culture to see vacation in a healthy light. Taking a vacation doesn\u2019t make you lazy or selfish. It\u2019s an important part of a healthy work culture that can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Reduce your stress<\/li>\n<li>Improve your physical and mental health<\/li>\n<li>Make the entire organization stronger<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Feel confident in your decision to take time off and set your team up for success by reviewing the common communication pitfalls to avoid on this list.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_importance_of_being_mostly_unreachable\"><\/span>The importance of being (mostly) unreachable<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Sometimes, the best way to communicate on vacation is to not communicate at all. The whole point of taking time off work is to get away from work. Can you really say that you&#8217;re on vacation if you\u2019re:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Continuing to answer emails<\/li>\n<li>Picking up the phone when people call you<\/li>\n<li>Sorting out other people\u2019s problems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These days, <a href=\"https:\/\/internova.com\" link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">62 percent of vacationing professionals<\/a> in the United States regularly \u201ccheck in\u201d with work during their time off, negating at least some of the benefits of their vacation.<\/p>\n<p>If you don&#8217;t completely detach your mind from your workplace environment, you&#8217;re going to benefit far less mentally from your vacation.<\/p>\n<p>Try to remain totally disconnected. It&#8217;s okay to check your email or place a phone call to see how things are going, as long as they happen on your terms. Otherwise, people should only expect to reach you if it&#8217;s a true emergency.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_keep_an_emergency_line_open\"><\/span>How to keep an emergency line open<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So what about those emergencies?<\/p>\n<p>While most of your workplace communication should be set to the side while you&#8217;re vacationing, it can be a good idea to keep an emergency line open.<\/p>\n<p>This way, if there&#8217;s a total catastrophe while you&#8217;re gone, or if there\u2019s a problem that no one else can solve, you can step in to try and resolve things.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look at some of the best ways to do it.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Define_what_constitutes_an_%E2%80%9Cemergency%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>Define what constitutes an \u201cemergency\u201d<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Before you leave, make sure you define what constitutes an emergency. You don&#8217;t want a panicked employee calling you every 10 minutes because they don&#8217;t know what else to do or because they know you&#8217;re going to give them a convenient and quick answer to a question they have.<\/p>\n<p>How bad do things have to be before someone picks up the phone and tries to reach you?<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_the_right_tools\"><\/span>Use the right tools<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Next, consider using a tool to help you facilitate better emergency communication.<\/p>\n<p>For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/smartline\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow noopener\">GoDaddy\u2019s SmartLine app<\/a> allows you to set up an entirely separate phone number, complete with its own operating business hours.<\/p>\n<p>You can even set up \u201cDo Not Disturb\u201d hours so the number is only reachable when you make the decision. This way, your employees will still have a line where they can reach you, but you remain in total control of how that line is used.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Check_in_on_your_terms\"><\/span>Check in on your terms<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Definitely feel free to check in with your employees and coworkers periodically throughout your vacation, as long as you&#8217;re doing it on your terms.<\/p>\n<p>If you have some extra time in the morning and you haven&#8217;t heard anything for a few days, make a phone call and see what&#8217;s going on \u2013 especially if it makes you feel better about the situation. As long as your check-ins don\u2019t come to dominate your time away from the office, you&#8217;ll be in good shape.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Don&#8217;t let a fear of miscommunication or missed opportunities get in the way of you taking a vacation.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>On a personal level, you probably deserve it. Even if you doubt that, research suggests that both you and your organization are going to benefit if you take regular days off.<\/p>\n<p>And if you follow the strategies in this article, you won&#8217;t have to compromise the value of your vacation. Simply refer to this list of communication pitfalls to avoid whenever you need to prep.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"follow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/garage\/communication-pitfalls-to-avoid-taking-time-off\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\">Communication pitfalls to avoid when taking time off<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"follow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/garage\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\">GoDaddy Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Source: Go Daddy Garage<\/p>\n<p id=\"kc_opp\"><small>Republished by  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.blogtrafficexchange.com\/\">Blog Post Promoter<\/a><\/small><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Taking time away from work, whether you&#8217;re vacationing in an exotic destination or just chilling out at home for a few days, is &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":92810,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23511],"tags":[126],"class_list":["post-92809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ebusiness-emarketing","tag-information"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/hello-on-phone-1-300x169-1.jpg?fit=300%2C169&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3k0YU-o8V","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":92080,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/05\/5-pitfalls-of-using-micro-frontends-and-how-to-avoid-them.html","url_meta":{"origin":92809,"position":0},"title":"5 Pitfalls of Using Micro Frontends and How to Avoid Them","author":"admin","date":"May 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"I recently wrote about five reasons why it\u2019s worth adopting a micro frontend Architecture. Of course, there are pros and cons to everything. Micro frontends are a fresh architectural approach, and are likely to represent the future of web development. At the same time, they come with a few pitfalls,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/1643674637micro-frontend-pitfalls.jpg?fit=1200%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/1643674637micro-frontend-pitfalls.jpg?fit=1200%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/1643674637micro-frontend-pitfalls.jpg?fit=1200%2C680&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/1643674637micro-frontend-pitfalls.jpg?fit=1200%2C680&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/1643674637micro-frontend-pitfalls.jpg?fit=1200%2C680&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":93312,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/05\/how-to-write-an-effective-out-of-office-message-13-ooo-examples.html","url_meta":{"origin":92809,"position":1},"title":"How to write an effective out-of-office message: 13 OOO examples","author":"admin","date":"May 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Figuring out how to write an effective out-of-office message can be a cringe-worthy experience for any small business owner. Oftentimes, the business operations rely on the activity within your inbox. As you think about taking a summer vacation, separating from an email inbox can produce real anxiety. What happens if\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":93065,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/05\/communications-strategies-to-connect-with-customers-in-h2.html","url_meta":{"origin":92809,"position":2},"title":"Communications strategies to connect with customers in H2","author":"admin","date":"May 16, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Communication with your customers is everything for your business. It\u2019s how you form connections and strengthen relationships. It\u2019s how you present your brand and market your products and services. And it\u2019s the best way to resolve conflicts and address potential threats to your business. As we approach the second half\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":92871,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-avoid-being-overwhelmed-by-your-side-projects.html","url_meta":{"origin":92809,"position":3},"title":"How to Avoid Being Overwhelmed by Your Side Projects","author":"admin","date":"April 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Side projects are a natural fit for web designers. They offer a chance to do something out of the ordinary and sharpen your skills. It can be a great way to further your career. And they are often a lot of fun to work on. At least, in the beginning.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Affiliate Marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Affiliate Marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/affiliate-marketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/side-project-tips-01.jpg?fit=900%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/side-project-tips-01.jpg?fit=900%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/side-project-tips-01.jpg?fit=900%2C400&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/side-project-tips-01.jpg?fit=900%2C400&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":93430,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/6-automation-tools-entrepreneurs-should-use-for-vacation-prep.html","url_meta":{"origin":92809,"position":4},"title":"6 automation tools entrepreneurs should use for vacation prep","author":"admin","date":"April 16, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Why add automation tools for vacation readiness to your to-do list? Well, when you\u2019re an entrepreneur, planning for (and taking) a vacation can feel next to impossible. There\u2019s simply so much planning you have to do that it ends up feeling impossible and perhaps not even worth the trouble in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":93422,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/05\/12-ways-to-catch-up-on-work-after-vacation.html","url_meta":{"origin":92809,"position":5},"title":"12 ways to catch up on work after vacation","author":"admin","date":"May 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"What are the best ways to catch up on work after a vacation? To help you catch up on work after taking a vacation, we asked CEOs and business leaders this question for their best tips. From asking for help beforehand to blocking out time in your calendar, there are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92809","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92809"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92809\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":101523,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92809\/revisions\/101523"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92810"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}