Dear Growth Guru,
I am currently staring at a mountain of emails, a pipeline that looks like a ghost town, and a team that seems to have checked out since Thursday.
With the May Bank Holidays upon us, how do I keep the momentum going without being the “office grinch” who ruins everyone’s long weekend?
Manically Mechanical in Manchester
Dear Stressed,
Ah, the classic Bank Holiday conundrum. In the UK, we treat a three-day weekend like a sacred rite of passage. Trying to fight that cultural tide is like trying to sell ice to someone in a blizzard: pointless and a bit annoying.
The trick isn’t to fight the “blur,” but to lean into it. High-performing teams don’t ignore the holiday; they prepare for the “Tuesday Transition.” Here is how to keep the gears turning without killing the vibe:
The “Pre-Friday” Clean Sweep
Don’t wait until Monday night to worry about your inbox. Encourage your team to have a “Definition of Done” for Thursday afternoon. If the “Must-Dos” are ticked off, the psychological freedom of the weekend actually leads to better focus when they return.
Guard the Tuesday Morning
The real momentum killer isn’t the Monday off; it is the chaotic Tuesday return. Block out the first two hours of Tuesday for “Deep Work” only. No internal meetings, no “How was your weekend?” huddles until 11:00. Let the team tackle their “mountain of emails” in peace.
Use the “Off” Time for Strategy
If you are the leader, use a slice of your own downtime, not for grunt work, but for “big picture” thinking. Sometimes the best breakthroughs happen when you aren’t staring at a CRM.
Respect the Boundary
Finally, do not be the person sending “Just checking in” emails on Sunday. If you send a message, use the “Schedule Send” feature for Tuesday morning. Respecting the break builds the trust and energy your team needs to sprint through the rest of the week.
Enjoy your bank holiday, Sheffield. The mountain will still be there on Tuesday. And, it’s much easier to climb when you’re well-rested.
