This leadership lesson on professional pauses is re-shared from CUES, an international membership association for credit unions that is focused 100% on talent development. Watch the video or read the lesson below to learn more about taking professional pauses to be a better leader.
I recently took a one-month sabbatical with my family and spent that time in Italy so that my children could experience where their grandparents grew up. This was the longest vacation I've ever taken, and I learned that there are many benefits to completely disconnecting and really being present in the moment.
Like most leaders, most of my vacations are one week, and there's barely time to relax and reduce anxiety before it's time to go back to work.
There are many ways that pausing in life, whether it's for a vacation or short break in the day, or even in daily interactions, can benefit our leadership.
Here are three ways that professional pauses can make you a better leader:
- Create boundaries for work
Creating boundaries can increase well-being and fulfillment both personally and professionally.
- Ending by a specific time each day will give you the mental break to recharge and be fully present at work.
When we don't have a specific end time for our day and we're constantly checking emails and going beyond a typical schedule of a day, it creates anxiety when we're constantly connected.
- Compressing your workday creates focus
Parkinson's Law tells us that work tends to fill up the time that we allot it, so we get into this cycle of never finishing work and always trying to catch up. Research shows that knowledge workers, professionals who are using their brains all day, can only be creative and focus for about four hours every day.
Studies also show that working more than 50 hours a week dramatically diminishes our productivity so compressing your workday encourages you to be more focused with your time and increases your productivity.
- Take vacation time that’s available
You also want to encourage your employees to take their vacation. More than half of American workers don't use all their allotted vacation each year. And many cite they don't take a vacation for fear of not being able to keep up or putting more of a burden on their coworkers.
- Take breaks during the workday
Studies show that 70% of employees report eating lunch at their desk at least once a week. Taking short breaks, especially in nature, even for five to 10 minutes, increases our creativity, boosts our productivity and decreases stress.
Modeling this simple professional pause and work boundary of taking breaks is not only good for our own well-being, but it also demonstrates to our employees that we care about their health and their well-being.
- Take a pause before interacting or responding
Pausing before responding allows you to be more intentional as a leader.
Pause and reflect on the energy or intention you want to bring to each interaction and each meeting. For example, if you're about to meet with an employee for a coaching session, pausing and removing distractions and making an intention to listen and be present in that moment will make the interaction much more meaningful.
Pause before responding, whether it's an email or during a difficult interaction, allows us to be reflective and intentional as leaders so that we can bring our best focus and energy to work each day and in each of our interactions with our team members.
Which of these "professional pauses" do you think will make the biggest impact in your work day as a leader?
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Whenever I have a work project that I keep putting off - I think about delegating that project to someone else - which accomplishes 2 things- it gets the project done and frees us my brain space thinking about it.
Good morning. I loved this read. Thank you so much for sharing. Sincerely, Melissa :)
Thank you for this blog Laurie. I liked most part and specially "As organizations have become more complex, there is a tendency to require employees to do more with less. This is a slippery slope, and often can result in employees feeling overwhelmed and burnt out. One of the biggest contributors to this is not evaluating resources during the strategic planning process." I will use this practice "A best practice is to do what I call Priority Planning—putting important practices on your calendar ahead of time so they become a priority in your day. Examples of activities to Priority Plan include scheduling recurring coaching sessions with each team member, time for strategic thinking and planning, vacations, doctor appointments, important children’s events, and blocks of time for focused work on projects." To be more effective, I will get a good rest so I can have enough energy in the morning. I will read the blog again along with the other links on employee evaluation. Thank you so much Laurie. Best wishes to you and your family.
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I love the feedback on the more than 50 hours of work. AND filling time. So true. Unfortunately, showing that you work longer hours is still seen as being a "hard worker" - not sure how to change that though.
I enjoyed the read. I concur that transitioning from technical skills to delegating results was a task within itself. I did not realize I was almost trying to do the same thing from my previous position, and it was not working. However, I am seeing the results of how delegating daily tasks makes my job and workload easier. Thank you, Laurie.
Thank you for sharing information about your trip Laurie! All 3 things resonate with me - probably #1 being the biggest. I know when I'm gone for a week, I'm still thinking about work and need a vacation when I get back because I did not relax enough. I think your idea of a longer vacation is definitely in my future!!
Hey Laurie, My take on your list - 1 - everyone has a story - listen 2- social media causes interpersonal problems 5- generational differences create hurdles / earn it you aren't entitled / we should help them get there not give it to them 6 AMEN some leaders I would have followed thru Hell, some I wish - well, you know 7- true BUT be as good as your word and 14- Hopefully we leave some good from our efforts, I know the good leaders I have had have. Seen a lot in my career but it really comes down to treat others the way you want to be treated, fair, honest, and straight forward. Good read. Take care
I love this so much and thank you so much for sharing! I really just love realizing that enjoying the simple things sometimes is the best! Also recognizing that what is important and fun to you may not be everyone else's fun on the on the trip. “Do we get to keep these toiletries?” was my favorite!!!! :):) Glad you had a great time and got to spend it with your family!
I very much resonate with lesson no 3! Thank you Laurie
I think the part that you might have missed in their top 5 things, some of which were not "Italian" or even different from home, all of them happened with you, both of you. And i think that is what they will remember too. And you've got tons of photos that will remind them of what the Sistine Chapel looked like - then they might remember what it sounded like or smelled like. Oh- and i agree with you 100% about sleep!
LOTS of great take-aways from this post! Thank you for posting! I especially love "slow down to speed up". That's a keeper!
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the not getting enough rest to be at my best. definitely need to get more quality sleep and make that a priority
It really is hard to narrow down the 3 lessons into one because they are all so interconnected. You need to give your mind and body THE TIME to relax SO THAT you can enjoy the SIMPLE THINGS, including REST. I enjoyed that lesson as a whole. I will take that lesson with me on my next vacation (or staycation). As always, thank you Laurie for your candor and for sharing your own lessons with others so that we too can benefit.
Great information and reminders
Laurie, Thank you for sharing your trip and these nuggets. The lessons that resonate most with me are it does take time to relax and getting proper rest. When you devote 15 plus hours of your day for work, taking care of home and others; the 6-7 hours you lay down does not cut it! For me during this time I'm trying to unwind and find myself thinking fighting not to think about what I have to do tomorrow. Even after I create a to do list for the next day...I find things I need to add. Taking a day off here and there doesn't cut it as well because of all the plans you have for that day. I try to make sure my Mental Health Days remains just that.... time for me to laugh, cry, scream.... whatever I need to release the cares and stress!
Really enjoyed the article... and all very true!
Since I was already well aware of #1 (I'm in the same boat with taking a long time to relax), I think I'm resonating most with #3. I'm learning to prioritize sleep / rest and it's been wonderful. Love that you said "I love sleep.". :)
Welcome back from vacation. Well deserve! Action is the key to success. Shoulder to shoulder, coaching and delegating task to help other employees grow are very important. It is a sacrifice that one must do. Forget about yourself and be with your team day in and out to help them grow, is not always easy. On the long run, your team is stronger, and you can depend on them for the success of the organization. Thank you so much!
So many great tips here, thank you!
I am so impressed you're able to disconnect and these are great tips I'll be sure to try on my next trip!
Such a great post - so inspiring!