Everyone's back. Now what?

READ TIME - 4 MINUTES

"Welcome back! Can we catch up this week? Need to discuss some changes we're thinking about..."

Tegan stared at her inbox, watching similar meeting requests pile up. After three blissful weeks of not thinking about the transformation program, her calendar was rapidly filling with stakeholders wanting to "grab a coffee and catch up."

She glanced at her notebook from December, trying to decipher her pre-holiday handwriting. Something about a steering committee decision? And what was that arrow pointing to?

"Right," she sighed, reaching for her third coffee of the morning. "Time to pretend I remember where we were up to."

If you're facing the back-to-work blur (and wondering how to get your change program moving again without overwhelming everyone), here are three ways to make your first week back actually productive:

1. The "Summer Highlights Reel"

Because no one remembers what happened in December, and that's okay.

How to do it:

  • Create a punchy one-pager of where the program landed in 2024

  • Keep it visual and light (think Instagram story, not annual report)

  • Include three categories:

    • "What we nailed" (wins to celebrate)

    • "What's cooking" (work in progress)

    • "Coming attractions" (what's next)

  • Share it before your catch-ups so people can pretend they remembered

Pro tip: Add a "What's Changed?" section if there were any decisions or shifts over the break. Better they hear it from you than through the grapevine.

2. The "Project Pit Stop"

Transform this week’s "quick coffee catch-ups" into actual progress.

How to do it:

  • Book a meeting room for a morning

  • Set up as a casual drop-in space

  • Create three 'stations':

    • Project timeline wall for quick updates

    • Priority board for burning issues

    • Action corner for quick decisions

  • Invite stakeholders to drop by when suits them between 9 am - 12 noon

  • Keep it casual - provide coffee and snacks

Pro tip: People are more likely to come if you make it optional and flexible. "Drop in anytime between 9 and 12 - stay for 5 minutes or 50.”

Another pro tip: Call it something fun. People are WAY more likely to come if you call it a "Back to Work Breeze Through" rather than a "Project Re-engagement Session."

3. The "Smart Start Strategy"

The first week back isn't the time for heroics. Small, strategic steps work better than a big splash.

How to do it:

  • Pick ONE easy win to target in your first week back

  • Choose something visible but achievable (like updating the project dashboard or refreshing stakeholder personas)

  • Break it into small chunks

  • Schedule two focused 30-min sessions with your core team to get it done

  • Add it to your Progress Wall as your first 2025 win

Pro tip: Go for something impactful and useful, but keep it light and achievable. Your team is still remembering their login passwords - this isn't the week for heavy lifting.

Look, getting back into work mode is hard enough without trying to remember every project detail from six weeks ago.

The secret isn't to pretend everyone's brain isn't still partly at the beach - it's to work with it.

Think of it like getting back into exercise after the holidays. Start gentle, build slowly, and remember - everyone else is feeling just as fuzzy as you are.

That’s it from us for now.

Next Tuesday we’re talking all things dealing with scope creep. Don't miss it!

See you then,

Team EVER

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Kate Byrne