Leadership View: Taking Time Off

People are feeling less secure than they have in the past. 

Why is this? 2020 and 2021 have been tough mentally, emotionally and sometimes physically for people. Naturally the human tendency is to do more. 

As we enter the last few days of 2021, I would remind you of the importance of taking time off. 

Leaders that have the best influence, take time off and encourage others to take time off. 

Not only do vacations help with mental clarity but it gives your team space between work and life. With people working at home, that separation of work/home is a little more difficult right now just based on the terrain of the world.

Travel is less available to everyone than it has been. Some people are traveling still but as a society, the travel industry is down overall.

When working from home, encourage your employees to consider “vacations” as tools for focused family time, caregiving, and self-care. Down time is likely to be devoted to supporting good mental health rather than recreation or travel. Don’t expect them at meetings or to be checking email. Time off should be that, time off.

As a leader, you need to model behavior that you want. You will need to demonstrate through your own actions that you’re serious about time off. Most people think it is important to take time off, but they are also personally reluctant to unplug. What you say is less important than what you do.  

So how as a leader can you encourage your team to really be off and communicate their security at that same time?

This is where the communication skills of today’s leaders must be dialed in. Know what your people are doing, where they are excelling and communicate to them early and often if you see gaps in performance. Encourage time off to stop burn out and ensure they know how valuable they are to the team (even if improvements can be made).

As you lean into the last few days of 2021, rest, renew, restore connection and be present with those you love most. You doing this will allow your team to do it too.

Happy Holidays!

Best, 

Manal

What Happens When You Can’t Be Present?

As a leader, you can not be physically present all the time. Sometimes you have to be elsewhere or you want to take time off. It is important to take the steps to prepare for a leadership absence. 

In order to avoid unmet expectations, it is important to outline availability.  If not you, you can outline who they can talk to in your absence. 

Every great leader knows they are only as good as their team. This is a great time to share responsibility with your team. This lets you know that you trust them. Learning to let go and trust in your team is key to being able to run your business. This is a great opportunity to document your process and make sure they are up to date. 

This does a few things, it grows trust and you can build a leadership team. Leaders who develop a leadership team are adding value in three ways. They are sustaining their effectiveness, for the team will continue advancing shared goals despite their absence. They are diversifying their strengths by tapping diverse perspectives and experiences, and they are scaling their impact by developing leaders and achieving more with and through others than they could achieve alone.

Effective leaders empower others to make decisions. Otherwise, power is centralized and scaling your leadership is impossible. To empower others, help them understand how you make decisions. Is there a framework you use? What values drive your consideration? Teach them what you do. 

Letting go of perfectionism will help you and your team grow faster. Effective leaders empower others to make decisions. Otherwise, power is centralized and scaling your leadership is impossible. To empower others, help them understand how you make decisions. Is there a framework you use? What values drive your consideration?

Be absent in your absence. When you are not really gone, the team can not step in and do their best. Trust them to do a good job. This will allow you to be physically present where you are at.

Enjoy your time away.

Best,

Manal