What if the best thing your CEO could do… is step away for three months?
We talk a lot about burnout in the social sector, and rightly so, it’s a real thing. Encouragingly, I’m hearing more leaders embrace the idea of “white space” – intentionally blocking out diary time for reflection, blue sky thinking, planning and self care. This isn’t a luxury it’s a necessity.
Recently, I heard from an NFP CEO, ten years into their tenure, who was encouraged by their Board to take a full three-month sabbatical, with no calls, no emails, and no contact. Yikes!
For both the CEO and the Board, this wasn’t just a good idea, it was a leap of faith. Would the organisation cope? Would the wheels fall off? Would the CEO even come back?
And for the CEO, how do you suddenly sit still after a decade of constant, passion driven activity?
Fast forward three months. The CEO has returned clearer, calmer, and more intentional. With the benefit of distance, they’ve reflected deeply on their leadership style, shifting from reactive and frenetic to focused and considered. They also recognised just how close they were to burnout, and are now setting (and role modelling) healthier boundaries.
The ripple effects have been just as powerful:
• The Deputy stepped up, building capability and confidence
• The executive team stretched into new leadership territory
• The Board gained fresh perspective, identifying both gaps and opportunities.
This wasn’t just time away. It was development, succession planning, cultural reset, all in one bold move, which took courage, wisdom and trust.
But it does make you wonder if we’re unintentionally rewarding leaders for running themselves into the ground, rather than designing roles that are truly sustainable?
