Yes, summer is the time for relaxing, vacations and family. Many of us take time off work and we at Powers Resource Center fully support that!

But for the days when you are at work – and your colleagues are taking much-needed vacation – use your time wisely. When things slow down (slightly) during the dog days of summer, it’s a great time to take stock of your goals and make a plan to achieve them. Here are a few ideas to consider on the days when your calendar is not booked.

• Soul Searching. Start at the start. Look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself a few key questions:
  • What do I want to do? — not, What should I do?
  • What do I truly desire? — not, What do I want to move away from or get rid of?
  • Overall, is work enjoyable? Does it provide enough money to enjoy life AND save for the future?
• Clean Sweep. A cluttered workspace is a creativity and productivity killer. Clear space equals clear thinking. It also saves time finding things and makes a good impression on clients, colleagues, customers and the boss. You’ll be surprised how fast and beneficial this step is.
• Mind the Gap. Take an honest assessment of the skills you lack and the areas you need to shore up. Do you need to become more proficient in social media marketing? Or is it interpersonal skills or communications skills? Perhaps negotiating skills or writing skills? Chance are, you already know where you need to focus. Summer is the time to clearly identify it, write it down and make a plan to address it.

So yes, enjoy your summer. Go to the beach. Plan a road trip. Relax with your family. But don’t forget to take a few minutes to think about your leadership goals. Taking stock and making a plan of action is important for you and the teams you lead. The first step is to understand what matters most and where you want to go. You can do this and we can help at www.powersresourcecenter.com/contact/