Regardless of the business you run or the industry you work in, there are peaks and troughs throughout the year in terms of how busy you are. For many business owners, summer is when things slow down slightly. There’s fewer sales, staff are on holiday, kids are off school, meetings are less of a priority and there’s a more relaxed feeling amongst the team. People take time to step back and take a breath. But, that doesn’t mean your energy as a business leader needs to wind down.
You might be in the midst of a slower season, but that doesn’t mean switching off completely. Slower seasons are the ideal way to level up and lead with purpose, being more present, optimistic and energetic than ever.
Why Energy Slows in the Summer
There’s an undeniable slowdown for many businesses in the summer. It’s not a reflection on your skills, offerings or customers, it’s a natural part of running a business during months where people are on holiday, staff are more focused on having a good time, and everyone’s keen to ditch work in favour of enjoying the sunshine.
With employees and clients taking time off, workflows slow down. You might have a smaller team, making it harder to maintain momentum. Plus, there’s a common belief that nothing big gets done in the summer, with many people choosing to reconnect once things go back to normal in September. Longer days, sunshine and warmer weather grab people’s attention. After months of indoor work and winter stress, summer is the ideal time for a break from routine.
Why Leading With Energy Matters
When you’re experiencing a slower workload and a period of downtime, your team will look to you for guidance. They want to see if you’re engaged and focused, not checked out and focused on something else. They want to know if you’re working just as hard, or if you’re waiting for the busy season to return. They follow your lead and, if you want your team to remain productive and focused even when the office slows down, you need to lead with energy. When your team sees that you’re present and engaged, they gain confidence in your leadership style and want to do the same.
If you show up with drive and direction, your team will feel it – even if they feel it subconsciously – and follow your lead. Plus, it keeps progress moving. Not everything has to wait until September, and it’s important to make the most of the time you have when things slow down. Summer can be a perfect time to make real progress without the distraction of busier months.
6 Ways to Lead With Energy During Slower Periods
Change the Narrative – As a business leader, you have the power to change the narrative. Instead of trying to pretend its business as normal, acknowledge slower seasons and highlight the benefits. Let employees know it’s the perfect time to improve skills, innovate and become more aligned. It’s not a period you have to endure, hoping to get through it, but a time to breathe and refocus.
Reconnect With Your Business – With less to do, you’ll have time to reconnect with your business. This means taking a look at your mission and values, aligning teams, highlighting client wins and reflecting on how the year has been so far. Remember why you do what you do, what your business’ aims are and what you want to achieve for the rest of the year. Share all of this with your team, helping them to reconnect with the business too.
Use Slower Months for Strategic Focus – Finding the time for strategic focus isn’t easy, especially when you’re busy keeping up with clients, launching products, innovation and handling the day-to-day of running a business. With things slowing down in the summer, you have more time for strategic planning, product or service innovation, improving efficiency and audits.
Share Healthy Workplace Habits – You’re the business leader, and you’re the one people look to for workplace habits. When things slow down, it’s the ideal time to prioritise taking time off, balancing wellbeing and energising yourself. If you prioritise healthy workplace habits, your team will do the same. Make sure to share how rest improves your focus.
Recognise and Celebrate Wins – Even small progress deserves celebrating, especially during slower months when there’s less going on. During a slower season, recognition becomes even more meaningful. Consider sending a weekly note highlighting how much you appreciate someone’s contribution to a project, and celebrate internal milestones or breakthroughs. You could even go one step further and publicly thank someone on social media for their extra effort. Being recognised and celebrated is often enough to drive teams forward during slower months, when taking a step back is tempting.
Set the Stage for a Strong September – Use the slower summer months to prepare for what’s to come in September. A few strategic conversations now can create clarity and readiness for September, ensuring everyone is on the same page going forward. Review your goals, ensuring you’re on track and everyone is clear on what they’re doing. Take a look at your priorities and ensure they’re still relevant. If anything has changed, convey that to your team. Let everyone know what you’re working towards once things start to pick up again, and encourage them to prepare now to hit the ground running in September.
Regardless of the business you run or the industry you work in, there are peaks and troughs throughout the year in terms of how busy you are. For many business owners, summer is when things slow down slightly. There’s fewer sales, staff are on holiday, kids are off school, meetings are less of a priority and there’s a more relaxed feeling amongst the team. People take time to step back and take a breath. But, that doesn’t mean your energy as a business leader needs to wind down.
You might be in the midst of a slower season, but that doesn’t mean switching off completely. Slower seasons are the ideal way to level up and lead with purpose, being more present, optimistic and energetic than ever.
