I want to go on holiday but I'm worried about the effect it will have on my business...

It's easy to think everything will fall apart if you're away from your business for more than a few days. But, if you take a few simple steps, things are unlikely to come to a standstill (or worse) just because you're not there for a week or two.

The key to having a stress-free holiday is to plan, plan and plan some more. Make sure all your employees have plenty of notice about your taking time off and let them know they need to prepare accordingly.

If you're worried about employees' performances slipping while you're away, set some targets for them. Staff members need to know what you expect of them. If necessary, set aside time to speak to each one individually.

Think about which of your tasks need to be carried out while you're away and delegate them accordingly. Be sure to delegate only to those you can trust to get the job done; otherwise you could create big problems for yourself when you come back. Remember, too, others have their own workload to get through, so don't try to pile too much onto someone else's plate.

Writing a comprehensive 'handover note' before you go, detailing who will be responsible for what and where you are up to with certain tasks, gives others something useful to refer to.

If possible, delegate ultimate responsibility to a trusted senior team member. Give them the power to make important decisions. Make them the person others go to if they are experiencing problems.

Make sure key suppliers and customers know you're going to be on holiday and tell them when you'll be back. Provide contact details of someone within your business to whom they can speak while you're away. Don't forget to set up an appropriate email auto-response and voicemail message, either.

Before you leave, aim to tie up as many loose ends as possible. The more things you get through, the less you'll have to worry about (but that doesn't mean trying to do more than is possible).

If it makes you feel better, make sure a senior member of your team knows how to contact you wherever you're going, but only in the event of an emergency. The last thing you need is people interrupting you with basic enquiries.

Having a complete break is important for your wellbeing and that of your business. You should aim to come back feeling relaxed, reinvigorated and ready to deal with the demands of running your own business. Most of all - enjoy the time off!