2 MINUTE READ

The importance of getting the balance right between your professionalism and taking a break!

Ignoring your professional standards as a business founder or employee while on holiday can cause reputational damage, negatively affect company image, stop career progression in its tracks, and ruin relationship trust by those invested in or who can make a difference to your company.

Off-duty vacations create blurred lines between personal and professional life, and inappropriate behaviour, including irrelevant and misguided social media posts, can repel customers and other stakeholders.

Reading recently that eight police officers were sacked due to their behaviour contravening professional standards made me think about how we balance the private and professional world. Negative behaviour, particularly that which has legal implications, can be linked back to a business, create brand damage, and public backlash.

Business-to-client content for holiday social media may not work for business-to-business credibility. This can even include extravagance, insensitivity, or hypocrisy of brand values that can alienate customers. It is crucial to be mindful of professional standards, both publicly and privately, to protect reputation.

So what can be done to prepare us for maintaining professional standards of vocational communications?

A reminder of brand values, and assessment of its parameters before leaving, during and after the holiday.A consideration of the social, cultural and economic climate, to limit tone-deaf or unintentionally offensive content. An appreciation that personal social media accounts aren’t private, and can still lead back to representing your company. To have a deep understanding of your audience and what they relate to, especially concerning boundaries of personal and professional standards.

Taking a personal break as a business founder or employee is essential for mind, body, and soul, but remember on vacation to behave within the guidelines of your professional standards and policies to come back refreshed, rather than return to find yourself in a reputational crisis.