Post-Summer Reset: Helping Your Team Reconnect

The summer break is brilliant for recharging our batteries, but it can also fracture the rhythm of a team. People come back at different times, projects stall, energy levels vary wildly and, before you know it, the flow you built before the holidays has drifted.

If you’re a manager, you might notice your team feels a bit “off” right now. If you’re in HR or a people leadership role, you’ll likely see managers grappling with motivation dips, scattered priorities, or a sense of disconnection. None of this is unusual – it’s just the natural fallout of summer. 

The good news? With a little intention, you can reset trust, energy and direction without piling on pressure.

Why Disconnection Happens

Our brains thrive on rhythm and predictability. When the pattern breaks, like it does during summer holidays, people can slip into the “red zone” – a stress-response state that makes us feel scattered, flat or less connected to others. 

Multiply that across a whole team, and you’ve got a cocktail of mixed energy, disrupted routines and a loss of shared momentum. It can feel like the team just isn’t gelling anymore.

Three Ways for Managers to Reset

Here are a few simple ways to help your team  settle back in after the summer:

1. Run a Summer Snapshot Check-In
Kick things off with a short session where everyone shares something about how they’re feeling – a challenge they face, a project they’re looking forward to, or one word that describes how they’re feeling this week. This helps people land, be heard, and remember they’re part of something bigger. 

2. Lead with Honesty
Be honest about how you’re feeling. If you’ve struggled to get back into work mode, say so. Normalising the wobbles shows your team it’s okay to be human, and that honesty helps rebuild trust faster than pretending everything’s fine.

3. Ramp Up Recognition
September is the perfect time to dial up gratitude and recognition. Point out where people are showing up well, celebrate the small wins, and give credit for effort, not just outcomes. This quickly re-establishes your team’s sense of belonging and makes sure everyone feels valued.

Making September Work for You

The post-summer reset isn’t about forcing people to “get back to normal” overnight. It’s about creating space for people to land, reconnect and ease back into a shared rhythm. With a few thoughtful conversations and some small, consistent rituals, you can soon get everyone pointing in the same direction again. Good luck!