It’s that time of year again. Shared calendars are starting to fill back up, the out-of-office replies are becoming scarcer, and inboxes are quietly groaning under the weight of unread newsletters and unanswered emails.
The end of the summer holidays is approaching, and it tends to bring a mix of emotions. Some people return feeling recharged, full of holiday stories and a fresh set of ideas. While others tend to come back at a slightly slower pace, wondering how they’ve blinked the summer away.
Technically the team is back, but not quite back together.
Start with people, not projects
Before diving straight into upcoming deadlines, take a quick moment to check in with each other. Consider starting off your first team meeting post-summer with an agenda item that isn’t work related. Ask about people’s holidays, discuss the heatwave, or talk about their upcoming plans for the autumn.
A quick five minutes of shared conversation can remind people that they’re part of a team and help to bridge the gaps between those who were away and those who held down the fort.
Soft reset
A low-pressure meeting can be a great way to get everybody back on track without the risk of overwhelm. The goal isn’t to produce a detailed strategy plan, but to surface what’s on everyone’s radar and determine priorities.
Use prompts to help to assess everyone’s workload and unearth any potential issues. Consider potential blockers and bottlenecks that may need clearing, or if there’s anything left on somebody’s to-do list that they need a hand with.
What’s changed?
The summer period often brings shifts in plans and priorities, even if it’s only subtle. An unexpected opportunity may have cropped up, new guidance may’ve been released, or member feedback may have prompted some changes.
Take time to bring everyone up to speed on what’s evolved over the break. This will help to avoid any miscommunication or duplicated efforts, giving returning team members a sense of where everyone is at. Equally, highlighting what’s stayed the same offers a reassuring sense of continuity and stability.
Celebrate wins
Small bits of progress, like a cleared inbox or a setting a meeting date everyone can agree on, will help people feel like they’re back in control. Consider using your comms channels or meetings to share quick wins and steps in the right direction. It serves as a reminder to everyone that you don’t have to tackle everything at once.
Reflect
The end of summer can also be a natural time to pause and ask big picture questions:
Are we still working in the best way?
What have we learnt in our quieter periods?
Is there anything we can do differently this quarter?
Not every question needs to be acted upon straight away, but space for reflection can help teams feel seen and supported.
How we can help
Coming back to your organisation following a summer break can feel quite daunting, especially when you remember the amount of time-consuming admin tasks that need completing.
At Cygnul we work in partnership with our clients and are seen as trusted advisors to the Board. We can undertake the full range of membership, secretarial and bookkeeping services as well as offering advice and support to associations around the UK. If you want to explore how these services could help your organisation, please get in touch with us.
