Posts in category: Careers

Starting a new job can be intimidating. You are faced with new coworkers, new responsibilities, new facilities, and new technologies—it can be a lot. Today we want to offer some helpful tips for making your transition into a new workplace as smooth as possible.

If you are struggling with new job jitters—or if you simply want to make sure to make the best impression possible—consider the following tips:

1. Introduce Yourself to the Office – Before arriving at the office, mentally prepare yourself to make a lot of introductions. While your new teammates will likely not expect you to remember everyone’s names and roles right off the bat, you should make an effort to learn them as quickly as possible. Be sure to pay particular attention to two groups: company key players and the colleagues with whom you will be working closely.
2. Establish New Relationships – This tip applies particularly to the teammates in your area or department. Try to learn a few things about each of the people you will work most closely with. This will help you to relate to them more quickly, to remember them more easily, and to build a rapport with them more rapidly. At the same time, getting to know the people around you will help you develop a sense of the company culture and community at your new organization.
3. Update Your LinkedIn Page – Do not be shy about letting your professional network know about your new position! Update your profile and start to connect with your new colleagues. This will help you immensely with the task of learning everyone’s names and roles.
4. Ask Questions – Especially during your first day and week, people will expect you to have a lot of questions and, for the most part, will be eager to be helpful. Try to prepare some questions in advance of your first day, then carry a notepad and pen with you to jot down anything questions that come up while in the office.
5. Learn the Lay of the Land – Ask for a tour of the office building where you will be working. Make sure you learn the location of key areas, such as bathrooms, coffee and water sources, stairs and elevators, the break room or lunchroom, and any other amenities.
6. Complete Any Paperwork – Lastly, strive to complete any employment paperwork as soon as possible. On your first day, bring your ID and any other key documents with you. Be sure to review all onboarding materials you are given, such as the employee handbook, list of company policies, benefits packet, and employment contract.

Starting a new job or internship can feel overwhelming. Having a plan in place and an idea of what to expect and what you need to learn can go a long way in smoothing the path before you. 

As a professional, it is very likely that at some point in your career you have had to—or will have to—work with a difficult colleague. For the sake of your job, you need to be able to handle maintaining a workable relationship in spite of any tension between yourself and your coworker. Read on for some helpful tips on handling tricky teammates. 

Tips for Handling Coworker Conflict

When you find yourself clashing with another member of your team, it can be difficult to approach the situation with a calm and clear head. Follow these steps to successfully work your way through the conflict:

1. Check Yourself – The first step is to take the time to do a self-evaluation of your role in the situation. If you are worked up or angry, calm yourself down. Consider the things that you know that push your buttons and whether or not they might play a role in what is happening. What might you have done to contribute to the difficult situation at hand?
2. Consider Your Colleague’s Situation – Take some time to consider and evaluate exactly what seems to be happening between yourself and your colleague. Try to see things from their perspective and understand their intentions. Think about what exactly it is that makes working with them or interacting with them difficult.
3. Get Some Perspective – Once you have spent some time mulling over how both your colleague and yourself might be contributing to the difficult situation, reach out to a trusted friend or colleague to get some perspective. If they are already familiar with the situation and/or your troublesome teammate, they might already have some thoughts about what is happening. If they are outside of your organization and are unfamiliar with what has been going on and the people involved, strive to be as accurate and unbiased in describing the situation in order to paint as clear a picture as possible.
4. Connect With the Tricky Colleague – This is one of the hardest steps: confronting the issues head on. If possible, talk with your teammate directly. Calmly explain where you are coming from and describe your perception of the situation. Allow them the space to do the same. A couple more helpful tips in this area include:
   • Ask a neutral moderator to observe or guide the conversation
   • Strive to build a better rapport with the tricky colleague outside of the direct confrontation: learn more about them personally, find something humorous to share, etc.
   • Try your best to always remain respectful during any interactions that you have

If this process does not work for you, or if the situation escalates, there are some alternative steps to consider. If the troublesome coworker’s behavior is irritating but not serious, consider simply ignoring it and saving your fight for issues that matter more. If you take this tack, you can still strive to build a good rapport with your colleague and hope that the issue resolves in the future. Alternatively, if the situation is more serious than you feel comfortable handling alone, consider whether it is time to escalate to a higher authority within your organization. 

Have you ever heard somebody talk about their “failure resume?” Doesn’t sound like a very appealing topic, right? Wrong. This person likely had a very healthy view of failure—they understood the key to turning failures into successes. 

When you fail, the worst way you can respond is by trying to forget about what happened. Instead, the best move is to put the failure to use by analyzing it and learning from it. 

Learning From Failure

Here are some tips for how you can turn your failures into success:

1. Take Some Space – Whether you need some space—and how much you require—will depend on both your unique personality and the scope of your failure. If you are the type of person who can easily brush things off, you may not need much time to process what happened. However, if you tend to take failures hard, you might need more time and space before addressing what happened. Just be sure that you return to analyze your failure after taking however much time you need away from it.
2. Analyze What Happened – Once you are ready, take a long, hard look at your failure. Develop a clear idea of what happened, how it happened, and what mistakes you made. Develop some concrete lessons that you can take away from what happened. Acknowledging the failure and the role you played in it will allow you to learn from your mistakes.
3. Be Kind to Yourself – While owning your failures is important, you need to learn how to do so without damaging your confidence. Throughout this process, pay attention to how you talk to yourself. Keep in mind that you are analyzing the problem in order to learn from it and avoid repeating it in the future. Remember that the fact that you failed in a particular circumstance does not speak to your character or your worth—it doesn’t define you.
4. Start Fresh – After you have evaluated and analyzed your failure, take the lessons you learned with you, but leave the rest in the past. Do not dwell on your failure except to remember the lessons that you learned from it. 

Mistakes to Avoid

Learning from your failures is no easy task. Consistent results require consistent practice. Additionally, there are a few common mistakes that you should learn to guard against. Keep in mind that you should avoid:

• Letting your mistakes define you ‚Äì You are not your failure. Rather, you are someone who has failed at something. Not only that, but you are not alone in your failure‚Äîeveryone fails sometimes.
• Letting the fear of failure lead to inaction ‚Äì It is difficult to rebound from failure. Fear of taking action is a common result. To counter the tendency towards inaction, remind yourself that doing nothing is as much a choice as doing something‚Äîeither road presents some level of risk. Oftentimes, it is better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing at all.
• Losing confidence in yourself – Just because you have failed in the past does not mean you will continue to fail in the future (especially if you have taken the time to learn from your previous failure). If you find that you are focusing on your failure and losing confidence, try this trick: force yourself to spend at least as much time dwelling on ‚ÄúWhat if I am successful?‚Äù as you do pondering ‚ÄúWhat if I fail?‚Äù

Congratulations, you have earned your CPA certification! At this point you are well established as a professional in the accounting sphere. While earning one’s CPA license is a big deal, it is not necessarily the last certification that you should aim for. Beyond a CPA, there are many accounting credentials to consider pursuing to advance your career and develop your specialty. Some even require that you hold a CPA certification just to qualify to pursue the credential! 

Today we want to explore some of your options when it comes to advanced accounting certifications. But first, we want to take a moment to explain why pursuing these types of certifications is important. Earning advanced accounting certifications is helpful because they: 

• Can lead to salary increases
• Add value to your resume
• Communicate your specialized knowledge, skills, and competencies
• Help you develop credibility and trust
• Differentiate you from your peers
• Enhance your marketability and job security
• Further the credibility of the organization for which you work

Read on to learn about some of the many accounting credentials that you might consider in order to reap the benefits listed above.

 Enrolled Agent (EA)

Enrolled Agents represent taxpayers before the IRS. To earn this credential, you must pass a three-part, comprehensive test that covers both individual and business tax returns. Alternatively, you can earn the certification by being a former IRS employee. The EA credential is the highest one that the IRS awards. To maintain your EA, you are required to complete 72 hours of continuing education every three years. Click here to learn more.

 

Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)

The CGMA credential was launched in 2012 as a partnership between the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). The AICPA describes it as “the premier management accounting credential—distinguishing accounting professionals who have advanced proficiency in finance, operations, strategy and management.” To become a CGMA you must complete the CGMA Finance Leadership Program, pass the CGMA Exam, and attain three years of relevant experience.  Click here to learn more about earning the CGMA.

 

Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF)

The CFF credential has been offered to members of the AICPA since 2018. It is a certification designed for accounting professionals who specialize in forensic accounting. To earn the designation, you must pass the CFF Exam, meet the minimum business experience and education requirements, and pay a credential fee. Recipients must regularly complete recertification to maintain their CFF. Click here to learn more.

Certified Value Analyst (CVA)

Awarded by the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA), CVA is the most widely recognized business valuation credential. Those who earn the designation are skilled in aiding clients with many types of business moves, including selling or merging an entity, transitioning ownership to family members or other partners, expanding, and more. To earn the designation, you must pass an exam and meet an experience threshold. The credential requires payment of an annual fee and tri-annual recertification. Click here to learn more.

 

Master Analyst in Financial Forensics (MAFF)

According to NACVA, those who earn the MAFF designation develop “an understanding of the professional responsibilities and legal underpinnings necessary to providing credible financial forensics services along with an overview of the highest growth areas of financial forensic practice.” Requirements include meeting experience prerequisites, becoming a member of NACVA, attending a foundational workshop, and passing the MAFF exam. The credential requires payment of an annual fee and tri-annual recertification. Click here to learn more.

 

Accredited in Business Appraisal Review (ABAR)

The ABAR credential is offered by NACVA to candidates who desire to develop advanced competency in the review of business appraisal reports. Requirements include NACVA membership, a four-year college degree, a professional valuation designation, completion of the ABAR workshop, professional references, successful completion of the ABAR exam, and successful completion of one business appraisal review report. This program is currently being evaluated for redesign but may be available again in the future. Click here to learn more.

 

Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

CMAs are experts in strategic financial management and financial planning, performance, and analytics. To earn the certification, you must hold an active membership with the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, have two years of work experience, and pass a two-part exam. To learn more, click here.

 

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

Issued by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), the CIA credential is a professional certification for internal auditing around the globe. To earn the designation, you must pass an exam. IIA members receive a 20% discount on application and registration fees. Click here to learn more about the CIA designation.

 

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

The CISA designation is overseen and issued by ISACA (the Information Systems Audit and Control Association). It communicates a holder’s expertise in information systems process, governance and management of IT, information systems acquisition development and implementation, information systems operations and business resilience, and the protection of information assets. For certification, you must pass the CISA exam, have relevant fulltime work experience in the CISA practice areas, and pay an application processing fee. Click here to learn more about the CISA certification.

 

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

 CFEs are knowledgeable in the four primary areas of fraud examination: financial transactions and fraud schemes, law, investigation, and fraud prevention and deterrence. To earn the designation, you must join the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and the pass the CFE exam. Maintaining one’s CFE requires 20 hours of CPE each year and payment of annual membership dues. Click here to learn more.

 

Credit Business Associate (CBA)

Issued by the National Association of Credit Management (NCM), the CBA is for professionals who are well versed in basic financial accounting, financial statement analysis, and business credit principles. To qualify, candidates must submit an application, including a copy of their resume and their official college transcripts. Upon qualification, the candidate may sit for the CBA exam. NACM offers a discount on registration and application fees for members. Click here to learn more about the CBA credential.

Generally, when people consider skills in fields like accounting, they think primarily of technical prowess. And while hard skills are certainly very important, the need for soft skills in the accounting sector should not be written off. Today we examine various types of soft skills and offer some advice for developing and improving in this area.

What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills are personal attributes, character traits, and other non-technical proficiencies that enable a person to interact effectively with those around them. They are harder to define and measure than technical skills, but they are very important in the workplace. Here are some examples of soft skills:

• Public speaking
• Communication
• Leadership aptitude
• Adaptability
• Critical thinking
• Delegation
• Time management
• Teamwork
• Ability to perform under pressure
• Innovation
• Listening
• Creativity
• Work ethic
• Problem solving
• Emotional intelligence
• Confidence
• Resilience
• Punctuality

You can probably see why soft skills can be helpful in the workplace. Professionals who have cultivated and developed their soft skills find it easier to create relationships and advance in their careers. When you work in an environment where soft skills are abundant, it can have a big positive impact on company culture.

Resources for Developing Soft Skills

So how can you cultivate soft skills? We suggest you start off by doing some self-reflection and self-assessment. Consider which soft skills you have an aptitude for already and which ones do not come easily to you. Once you have a better understanding of your own soft skills, pick a few that you would like to work on.

When it comes to developing your soft skills, there are a variety of options available. Consider trying out on or more of the following:

Ask for feedback from a peer – While self-evaluation is helpful, it is also beneficial to get an outsider’s perspective of your soft skills set. Consider reaching out to someone you work closely and frequently with for some feedback. Make sure to choose someone who will be honest and open with you, particularly about the areas in which you are weakest. And make sure that you prepare yourself mentally beforehand to accept their feedback with getting angry or hurt.

Join a networking group or professional organization – Practice makes perfect—or progress, at least. Groups such as these offer myriad opportunities for practicing your soft skills. You will certainly have the chance to network and likely gain access to opportunities for public speaking, leadership, and more.

Sign up for an online class – There are many online resources for learning about and polishing your soft skills. Here are some websites to get you started:

• edx.org ‚Äì ‚ÄúLearn effective soft skills with free online courses in leadership, communication, management and more. Build the soft skills you need to stand out and take your career to the next level.‚Äù
• Udemy ‚Äì Check out their bestselling class, ‚ÄúSoft Skills: The 11 Essential Career Soft Skills‚Äù
• Lynda.com ‚Äì The LinkedIn Learning website offers a wide variety of video courses, including a learning path for mastering professional soft skills.

Form a practice group – Consider reaching out to a few of your peers, either at work or within your circle of professional contacts, to establish some regular soft skills practice. Try meeting weekly or monthly, with each meeting focused on improving a different soft skill.

Hire a skills coach – As an alternative to forming a practice group, consider hiring a soft skills trainer to help you out. The Image Consulting Business Institute is a great resource for getting linked up with a professional trainer.

Read a book on the topic – There are a ton of books available to help you learn more about soft skills and develop your aptitude. Here are a few best sellers to consider:

• The Hard Truth About Soft Skills: Workplace Lessons Smart People Wish They‚Äôd Learned Sooner by Peggy Klaus
• 10 Things Employers Expect Their Employees to Know: A Soft Skills Training Workbook by Frederick Wentz
• How NASA Builds Teams: Mission Critical Soft Skills for Scientists, Engineers, and Project Teams by Charles Pellerin
• Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio

As a fledgling accounting professional, you know a lot, but you still have a ton to learn. One struggle for many young accountants is establishing relationships where they are considered trusted and valued in a professional capacity. Today we want to offer you some tips for positioning yourself as a valued advisor in your field.

Get to Know Your Clients’ Industries

Think about who you turn to when you need advice. If your sink backs up, you call an experienced plumber. Parenting issues? You consult someone who you consider to be a good parent. It is the same when a client requires advice about the issues that they face. They want to talk to someone who knows them, knows their business, and knows their industry.

In order to become this person in your clients’ eyes, you need to get to know their industry—and then communicate your knowledge to them. The first part is easy because the internet contains a wealth of free information. We suggest that you regularly read newsletters, blogs, and websites focused on your clients’ industries. Once you are fully immersed in their industry, you need to let your clients know that you are paying attention. Consider these methods:

• Bring up recent industry happenings in a conversation with your client
• Share a relevant article with them via email, along with your take on the issue
• List any industry association memberships in your website bio and on your LinkedIn page
• Attend industry events, especially ones that your clients attend too
• Pick out clients who have struggled to maintain a solid cash flow position. Reach out to them to offer business coaching sessions.
• Make a list of firm clients who are business owners nearing retirement age. Connect with them an ask if they would like to schedule a facilitated buy-out discussion.

Identify New Service Opportunities

As you seek to position yourself as an advisor who adds significant value for your clients, presenting them with new service offerings is a great method. The best part is, you already have all of the information you need to identify these opportunities. You know who your clients are—how long they have been in business, how much profit they made last year, what goals they are working towards. Drawing on this information, sort your clients into categories based on similar circumstance. Next, choose an area in which to pursue further services. For example:

Seek Out Advice from an Experienced Professional

Within your accounting firm, you are surrounded by experienced professionals. It is in their interest to support your career growth, because your success is the success of the firm as a whole. Consider reaching out to an individual who you respect and want to emulate, such as your manager, boss, or another experienced colleague on the career path that you are seeking. Ask them questions that are professional but also demonstrate personal interest. The goal is to convey your sincere interest—and adding in a touch of flattery never hurts. Try one or more of the following:

• What is something you wish you already knew or were taught early on in your career?
• If you could start over, what would you do differently?
• What are your big-picture career goals?
• What are your strategies for building confidence in new client relationships?
• Can you offer me some advice on how to serve clients well and leave them pleased?

Not only will questions like this result in some great career advice for you, but they will get you noticed within your firm for your desire to learn and excel in your career.

When it comes down to it, determined and consistent effort is what will help you transform into a valued advisor in the eyes of both your clients and your colleagues. It is a slow process, but certainly a worthwhile one. We hope that these tips will inspire you to spend some time focusing on building your professional reputation. 

Networking Tips for Accountants

For many professionals in the accounting field, networking is a scary word. Oftentimes, accountants go into the field because they prefer numbers over people. If this sounds like you, don’t worry. Today we want to offer some tips for making networking easier for you. 

1. Generate great conversations.

One key to good networking is creating interesting and memorable conversations. In order to do this, when you find yourself in a networking situation, remember to bring your OARS:

• Observe ‚Äì Pay attention to what is going on around you.
• Ask ‚Äì Asking questions is a great way to keep conversations moving.
• Relate and/or Reveal ‚Äì Empathize with the people around you. Be willing to share how you have encountered the same issues or situations as them.
• Sustain with Stories ‚Äì Have one or two good stories in the back of your mind to bring up if the conversation dries up.

2. Stand out from the crowd.

The best networkers know how to shine. Try these tips:

• Focus on the people around you, rather than getting distracted by what is happening outside of your conversation. Others will appreciate it when you stop doing other things, make eye contact, and listen attentively.
• Pay attention to names‚Äîit helps everyone feel comfortable and appreciated. Introduce yourself and others with enthusiasm and, as often as possible, use people‚Äôs names. If you have trouble remembering names and other information given during introductions, develop some association tricks to help you pick up names, roles, affiliations, etc. more easily.
• Have a ‚Äúbag of tricks‚Äù‚Äîthree to five planned topics or pieces of conversation‚Äîthat you can pull out in the event of an awkward silence. The best way to develop these is to read often, share knowledge freely, and be aware of your world.¬†

3. Prepare your entrance and exit lines in advance.

Smoothly entering and exiting conversations is something of an art form. Luckily, it is a skill that anybody can develop. All it takes is a bit of planning and practice. Try these tips:

• When you see a crowd of three or more people, try walking up and asking, ‚ÄúMay I join you?‚Äù It is a simple and effective way of entering a conversation.
• When you are ready to disembark, try one of the following moves:
  • Wait for a lull in conversation then excuse yourself
  • Wish the party well and depart
  • Invite the group to join you in another location or activity
  • Offer a next meeting time

4. Keep an ample supply of business cards on hand.

Many people struggle to remember names, faces, and conversations, especially during networking events where they meet a lot of new people. Sharing your business card with people you meet is a great way to help them remember who you are and what you do. It can even be a helpful touchpoint when you reach out to them in the future. For example, in a follow-up email you can remind them, “My name is John Doe, we met at such-and-such event—I gave you my business card.”

5. Practice your handshake.

Nobody likes a limp handshake. Luckily, if you struggle in this regard, it is an easy skill to master. Consider asking a friend, a colleague, or your spouse to practice with you. Have them evaluate your handshake and general demeanor as you pretend to meet for the first time. As you work to develop a firm, confident handshake, be sure that is accompanied with eye contact and a smile. 

6. Keep your volume in mind—speak loudly enough to be heard, but do not yell.

Remember the last time you were in a conversation with somebody who spoke so quietly that you constantly had to ask them to repeat themselves? Nobody likes to be in that situation. Make a better impression while networking by speaking at a volume that is easy for others to hear and understand. That said, don’t take it too far—you don’t need to yell. Pay attention to indicators that your speaking volume is not at a good level and adjust accordingly. 

Networking can be an intimidating task. The best way to get more comfortable is to practice—put yourself out there and give it a try. Make sure to review these tips prior to attending your next networking event, and pay attention to how they help!

Have you ever felt like a bundle of nerves at the start of a new job? You are not alone. Most people feel some level of anxiety as they prepare to work somewhere new. While it is okay to be anxious, it is also good to make some effort to calm your nerves. Read on for some tips for dealing with new-job anxiety.

Relax 
Step one is to simply remember that new job stress is normal and okay. It can even be helpful because it causes you to remain focused and engaged. When you are feeling particularly anxious about your new job, simply stop and remind yourself of this, and try to relax.

Talk Yourself Through It
As you feel stress creeping in, take a few minutes to try to talk yourself down. Remind yourself why you are there—that of all the candidates who applied and interviewed for the job, you were the one they chose. Think about the things that make you excited about your new job. Focusing on the positive can do wonders in relieving your anxiety.

Pay Attention to Your Physiology
Fear and stress often manifest physically. Knowing this, you can learn to recognize when this is happening, and even control it to some extent. When you feel your stress impacting you physically, try doing some deep breathing exercises in order to control and reduce your anxiety.

Establish New Routines
Oftentimes, one of the big sources of anxiety is deviating from your normal routines. One good way to counter this is to focus on creating and implementing new routines. Think about what you liked most about your old routines, then consider how you can incorporate those aspects into your new daily life. Keep in mind that establishing new routines is hard. Try setting short-term goals, such as sticking to your new routine for a week or ten days, to try to set yourself on the road to success.

Personalize Your Workspace
To make yourself feel at home more quickly, try to do something to make your new workspace feel more comfortable. Bring a picture or two from home, choose a desktop background that you are used to, or liven things up with a plant or scented candle.

Make a Connection
Try to walk away from your first day at the new job having made a connection with one of your new colleagues. Don’t feel like you need to have become best friends with someone. The goal is to find someone that can act as an anchor of sorts in the first few days or weeks at your new workplace.

—

Like we said, if you are feeling anxious about a new job, that is completely normal. You are feeling stressed because you are in a stressful situation. Remember, though, to keep in mind that this is not a forever feeling. As you spend more time on the job, and if you follow the suggestions outlined above, you will start to feel more at ease in your new environment.

It’s January, so if you are reading this article, you probably recently returned to work from the holidays. How well would you say your transition back to the office went? Was it smooth? Or did you struggle to find your way back to your normal routines? If you answered the latter, you are not alone.

Don’t get us wrong, it is certainly a privilege to get to take time off work for vacation. That said, the post-holidays adjustment can be a difficult one. When you disrupt your physical and mental routines, it can be hard to transition back into them. Today we want to offer some tips for successfully transitioning between vacation mode and office mode.

Before You Leave on Vacation
In order to make your post-holidays return to work as smooth as possible, you should start preparing before you even leave on vacation.

• Make a list of things to check in on when you get back to work. This should include your bigger projects, as well as anything that you think might slip your mind easily.
• Tidy up your workspace. If you clean up before you leave, you will get to return to a neat desk or office when you come back. This will help ease some of the chaos you might feel upon transitioning back to work.
• Put up an away message on both your email and your voicemail. Let the people who try to contact you know for how long you will be out. Consider giving them a timeframe for when you expect to be able to return their call or email.
• Work ahead, if possible. Try to do whatever will make your return to work easier.
• Prepare mentally. This will likely look different for everyone, but take some time to think about your transition back to work. Maybe this looks like spending some time alone to recharge emotional energy. Perhaps it looks like scheduling one last night out with your friends‚Äîa last hurrah of your vacation.
• Ease back into your normal sleep schedule a few days in advance of returning to work. This will make your transition smoother and easier.
• Make a prioritized to-do list to help guide your day and week. Take your time with it so that you can be sure it is thorough and well organized.
• Check your list‚Äîthe one you made before leaving on vacation‚Äîto see what important items you need to make sure to address now that you‚Äôre back in the office.
• Clean out your inbox and voicemail. Budget plenty of time specifically for this task. Be sure to return calls and emails within the timeframe you specified in your away message. Speaking of which‚Ķ
• Undo your away messages. Perhaps you set these up to turn off automatically at the end of your time out of the office. If not, make sure to disable your away messages manually.

Before You Return To Work
As your time off from work starts to come to a close, take these steps to prepare for your transition back to the office:

• Prepare mentally. This will likely look different for everyone, but take some time to think about your transition back to work. Maybe this looks like spending some time alone to recharge emotional energy. Perhaps it looks like scheduling one last night out with your friends‚Äîa last hurrah of your vacation.
• Ease back into your normal sleep schedule a few days in advance of returning to work. This will make your transition smoother and easier.¬†

Once You’re Back At Work
Finally, on your first day or two back to work after vacation, take care of the following:

• Make a prioritized to-do list to help guide your day and week. Take your time with it so that you can be sure it is thorough and well organized.
• Check your list‚Äîthe one you made before leaving on vacation‚Äîto see what important items you need to make sure to address now that you‚Äôre back in the office.
• Clean out your inbox and voicemail. Budget plenty of time specifically for this task. Be sure to return calls and emails within the timeframe you specified in your away message. Speaking of which‚Ķ
• Undo your away messages. Perhaps you set these up to turn off automatically at the end of your time out of the office. If not, make sure to disable your away messages manually.

Last of all, don’t forget to take things slowly. Like we mentioned above, the transition back to the office after the holidays or a long vacation can be very jarring. By following the tips outlined here, you can make the process easier. However, that does not mean that it will be entirely pain free. The best you can do is be mentally prepared and flexible as you exit vacation mode and head back to the office.