I am sitting in my office a day before I am getting help to install my window air conditioner, and it is over 80 degrees outside. So, I am a bit uncomfortable. I am also thrilled that the nice weather is here and that my whole world seems to open up with new opportunities.

My biggest challenge? Making sure that it isn’t suddenly October, and I am lamenting the fact that I didn’t ride my bicycle, didn’t go to festivals, didn’t go to my family cottage - in other words, I let (another) short summer go by without prioritizing my enjoyment of it.

I don’t think that I am alone in that. And there are many things organizations can do to help facilitate good “use” of the summer season. Below are some ideas for consideration, and I hope that you will share your organization’s (or your own) practices with me as well.

1. Implement Summer Hours. If you are able to adjust hours to close the office for a half day (or even a full day) on Fridays and give the gift of a three day weekend, that will go a long way toward building loyalty and showing appreciation to your workforce. If you provide services to others and closing is not an option, can you limit the number of appointments on that day or rotate staff?

2. Go light on optional work. There is always so much to do, but not all of it is required during a set period of time. Summer is a great time to limit “extra” work and to enable people to more easily use their vacation days.

3. Sponsor weekly luncheons on your property outside. You can either order food or have a potluck. It not only gives people fresh air and time outside, it can also build the team in a more natural way.

4. Have walking meetings. If it is just you and one or two other people that need to meet, put on your walking shoes and go discuss the topic on a walk. Encourage staff to do so. Work gets done, and it is healthy. Maybe even have water in a fridge reserved for those walks.

5. If you provide services to the community, plan events and gatherings outside. It will be good for those you serve and for the staff assigned to serve them.

6. If you supervise others, be generous with approving time off or flex time. Summers can be difficult for parents with younger children who don’t have the structure of school. It is softball, baseball, soccer, and kickball season! Create as much opportunity as possible for your staff to engage in those treasured activities.

7. Many workplaces are more casual now - but some with more formal attire will sometimes loosen up the dress code for the summer.

8. Create a place in a common area where staff can share information about summer time opportunities (festivals, art shows, outside concerts). (This is something you can do all year long.) It is a way for staff to invite others to activities they might have a role in.

9. Encourage staff volunteer hours at community events or other nonprofits, especially if they are summer/outdoor events. You strengthen your support of the community and provide a meaningful opportunity for staff to enjoy the summer months.

If your organization doesn’t seem to notice this special time of the year, be proactive and submit time off requests for vacation this summer - perhaps even every Friday so you can do those long weekends! And, consider delaying home projects or other personal commitments in order to enjoy the summer months. 

And if you work remotely or hybrid, consider making an outside “office” for yourself. I spend most of the summer working from my front porch. 

This blog post is being shared from my website and on my social media. Chime in on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn and add your ideas. Everyone will benefit. Including me. 

It’s time to get my bicycle out of the shed.