203. Where did everyone go? How to manage your team during the summer slowdown

Truth, Lies & Work is the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network — hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott. This week, we’re tackling the dreaded summer slowdown. You know the one: client comms go quiet, team motivation nosedives, and you start to wonder if it’s just your business that's hit a wall. It’s not. But it can cost you — if you’re not prepared. In this episode, we answer the eight biggest questions leaders face every June, including how to keep people engaged, prevent burnout, support working parents, and still get things done when half the team is on holiday. This one’s for every founder, manager or team lead who’s ever felt like summer is quietly wrecking their roadmap. It doesn’t have to. 💡 Key Takeaways – The slowdown is real — and measurable: Harvard and HBR both confirm that heat, holidays and longer daylight hours all reduce focus, energy and output. Some businesses see up to a 20% productivity dip. – Engagement problems start long before July: Summer exposes issues, it doesn’t cause them. If people feel disconnected, holidays give them time to reflect — and potentially resign. – Burnout risk spikes for those left behind: If workloads go up but support doesn’t, motivation and wellbeing will crash. Plan handovers and give people fewer balls to juggle. – Support working parents like adults: Flexibility, open comms, and trust go further than token gestures. The mental load is real — and if you don’t acknowledge it, they’ll take it elsewhere. – Remote workers need context and connection: Summer’s a great time to build async rituals, reset norms, and prevent ‘out of sight, out of mind’ thinking. – Positive psychology works in summer too: Recognition, flow, learning and micro-wins boost motivation and protect energy — even during quieter weeks. – Now is the time for strategy: Summer can be your planning superpower. But only if you block the time and protect the space. 🔗 Resources & Links Harvard Study: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/heat-impairs-student-learning/ HBR: https://hbr.org/2022/07/make-the-most-of-the-summer-slowdown Xero Insights: https://www.xero.com/blog/2023/06/summer-slowdown-small-business/ Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk Working Families: https://workingfamilies.org.uk 📲 Connect with Us Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Show page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Email: [email protected] Book a chat with Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat 🔗 Support With Mental Health and Well-being – Mind UK: ⁠https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/⁠ – Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email ⁠[email protected]⁠ – Mental Health at Work: ⁠https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/