Summer Check-In: Are You Making the Most of the Season?

As we move through the heart of summer, it is a good time to pause and ask a simple question: Are you making the most of the season?

In my recent blog, Making the Most of Summer, I reflected on how the traditional “dog days of summer” seem to have disappeared. What was once a predictable slowdown has been replaced by a year-round pace of work, particularly in local government, where operational demands, strategic planning, staffing challenges, and election preparation continue regardless of the season.

For municipal leaders and administrators, summer can feel like a contradiction. While council meetings may become less frequent, the workload rarely decreases. Instead, the focus often shifts toward budget preparation, organizational improvements, long-term planning, and setting priorities for the months ahead. In election years, the pace can be even more intense as both councils and administration prepare for a busy fall season.

That reality makes my central message especially important: rest and renewal must be intentional. They do not simply happen because the calendar says it is summer.

Over the past several months, many of our Strategic Steps blog posts and magazine articles have explored themes of leadership, sustainability, governance, and organizational effectiveness. A common thread has emerged throughout those conversations: strong leadership requires balance. Whether discussing council-administration relationships, strategic decision-making, organizational culture, or leadership development, the underlying principle remains the same; people perform at their best when they create space to think, reflect, and recharge.

So, as summer continues, consider a few practical check-in questions:

• Have you scheduled time away from work, and are you truly disconnecting when you do?

• Are you using quieter moments to focus on strategic priorities rather than simply reacting to immediate demands?

• Have you created opportunities for professional reflection and learning?

• Are you spending time with family, friends, and community activities that bring energy and perspective?

• What can you do now that will position your community for a successful fall?

As I noted last month, rest does not necessarily mean stepping completely away. For some, renewal comes through travel; for others, it may be time outdoors, community involvement, reading, or simply creating a different routine for a few days. The important thing is recognizing that renewal is not a luxury; it is an essential part of sustaining a long and effective career in public service.

Summer is far from over. There is still time to invest in both your organization and yourself. Use the season to look ahead, strengthen relationships, refine priorities, and recharge for the opportunities and challenges that await in the months ahead.

The fall will arrive soon enough. The question is whether you will arrive there refreshed, focused, and ready for what comes next.

Do you have any great ideas of what you do to rest, reflect, and recharge over the summer months?

You can reach me at ian@strategicsteps.ca. I look forward to the conversation.