Empowered Leaders: Do you role model taking vacation time?

Welcome back to the?Empowered LeadersTM?newsletter

I'm so glad you're here!

As the month of May keeps us on our toes in terms of weather (Spring is fickle indeed!), so does the ever changing corporate world for leaders. With many companies experiencing layoffs or reorganizations, our workforce is under stress & fear of it happening to them or their loved ones next.

Let's continue looking into how we, as Leaders, can help our teams - and ourselves - in the area of Mental Health Awareness.

Continuing Mental Health Awareness in May

Out of Office

In the last edition of this newsletter, we discussed how "busy does?not?= good", and the importance of taking?small, meaningful breaks to recharge (or reboot).

With Summer almost here, many people are looking at?longer?breaks - family vacations!

Question #1:?Do you quickly approve any out-of-office requests, as long as the?entire?team hasn't requested the same day/week? Or do you ask questions and evaluate some "seemingly" important criteria before approving their requests?

I've heard horror stories from others who have had terrible experiences with leadership hoops just to get 1 week of vacation approved... and, sometimes after being approved, later declined! I'm hoping those are about company policies and not a leader exerting control and insecurity issues.

Do you have your own (non-company?policy) reason for having to know more to decide if you will approve a day off? Reply and enlighten me on this reasoning. This both fascinates & befuddles my mind. Doesn't everyone deserve time off if they have earned it??...including you?

Question #2:?Do you take?your?vacation time? You've heard the saying "do as I say, not as I do" - right? Well this is one topic that?no matter how often you say it, your team notices. I have heard stories from so many people... like "my boss says it's okay if I take 1 week of vacation, but s/he doesn't even take 2 days at a time."

You can say it many times, but?they don't believe you?unless you?role model?the behavior yourself. If you never take a vacation day, they may feel guilty taking theirs. PLUS -?you deserve time off, too!

I Wish I Had This When I Started My Journey...

I've always believed that together we are stronger...?don't you??If you agree, you'll be as excited as I am about what is coming NEXT!

In a Leadership Community:

• It’s amazing the energy & synergy that exists when you are around people who?“get it”
• Exposure to people in other industries helps us to draw our own parallels and adapt best practices
• We support each other and overcome challenges as a community
• Together we solve a problem that our companies?are not… learning how to become true leaders!

I'm building?that?COMMUNITY...?the one I wish I had when I first started out as a new leader.?A community of newer leaders - just like you - so you can?THRIVE?in your role!

Coming this Fall...?apply?NOW !

Don't wait!?Because...?after the 1st cohort year,?new?member prices will increase (while prices for?founding?members will stay the same.)

You don't have to do this alone...you just have to?take the 1st step !

Want to Know More of?My Story?

What kind of?coach ?am I? Don't worry, I'm not going to try to turn you into me. (The world doesn't need more "me's" running around..?it needs YOU!)

Also, I've been in too many programs that were cookie cutter, one-size-fits-all, to know that I?never?want to do that again...?and neither should you!

If you ever want to have a?quick chat , I'm happy to do so. I would never take on a client without first making sure we both agreed that we were a good fit.

Love to Read?

In the previous newsletter, I recommended to you the book "The Gift of Influence" by Tommy Spaulding. Later, I posted the book recommendation on LinkedIn as well... AND... none other than Tommy Spaulding himself replied!?How cool is that?!?!

This week, I wanted to share with you one of my newest, absolute favorite books!

"Permission to Speak" by Samara Bay will be one I definitely re-read time and again. As she states, she "helps women and other folks with fire in their belly find their public voice and use it well in the moments that matter."

I found myself taking voracious notes in every chapter... notes I wanted to revisit and to remember. This book came at a?perfect?time for me - as I was starting to play with idea of utilizing short-form video, or "reels", in my business. I found myself motivated and more confident to use my voice in that medium... and in general.

I hope that you find her words as captivating and motivating in your life as well - enjoy!

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Wishing You Success,

Stephanie Weiss

Your Empowered LeadersTM?Coach

P.S. I welcome your feedback and your ideas for future topics.