Holding on Through the Holidays

With the holidays on the approach, it's time to begin planning for what doesn't need to be a slow season. The Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune offers several ideas about how to remain productive in the thick of vacations and office parties.

• Know who's going to be in when
• Assign proxies. Where will calls and emails be forwarded?
• Cross-train as necessary
• Define crises clearly so people don't overreact
• Delegate troubleshooting; who's next in line?
• Give people the support they need to solve problems with the resources at hand

How do you prepare for holiday absences?