By the time you listen to this episode, I’ll officially be on maternity leave - perhaps with a baby, perhaps not - who knows? But I am very excited to share this final episode with you before we dive into a series that I have coined “Biz Insights from the Inside”. Over the next approximately 10 weeks, I’ll have my clients take you through the tools, tips, strategies, wins and incredible examples of what they've created and achieved in their business.But before that, today we’ll be exploring the top three essential steps I’ve taken over the past several months to ensure my business remains functional and thriving, even in my three-month absence.Team ManagementThe first vital component of preparing your business for an extended absence is ensuring you have a reliable team. For my lean business model, having one key person I can trust to manage the backend is crucial. I talk about who and what I’ve set up to support my business manager, and explain the different approach I took in hiring a new team member to support our upcoming season. I also discuss the importance of clear communication and expectations, ensuring the team knows their priorities during my absence.System SetupIf you are preparing your business so it can run without you, you need to have great systems in place. This includes a clear handover and processes for everyone to be able to succeed. For my business, we use a lot of automation with different project management and scheduling tools. This means things like emails going out automatically and payments being followed up on. So, what can you automate in your business? How can you make it really simple? Once you’ve figured out what to automate, pop that into an automation in your project management software and rinse and repeat again and again. This will give you so much peace of mind and support your team to thrive in their roles while you’re away.Cashflow ManagementOne of the most critical aspects of preparing your business for your absence is cashflow management. Knowing your revenue streams and understanding your financials allows you to maintain business operations fluidly. I planned for cashflow management long before my maternity leave, ensuring that even with reduced revenue, the business can support its team and operations. By focusing on forecasting and front-loading revenues, we avoided the necessity of drastic changes during my absence. If you’re planning an extended leave or just want your business to function smoothly without your constant oversight, this episode is for you. Implementing these strategies has given me the peace of mind that my business will run efficiently during my leave.Now these strategies are yours to take away, should you find yourself in a season where you need to step away for a moment or two. Happy planning!LINKSConnect with Ellie: Website:         https://www.ellieswift.com/Instagram:     @elliehswiftFacebook Group:     www.facebook.com/groups/shineonsocialellieswift/