How to lead by going on vacation ???

Welcome back to the C-Level Stories newsletter, where the goal is to leave you with practical tips and reflections that help you engage, motivate and inspire as a leader.

Here we are at the end of April 2021, staring down the second summer season of our global pandemic. While there are plenty of glimmers of hope and optimism, a full return to "normalcy" still seems a long way off.

So, what's a leader of a tired, stressed, overworked, burned out team to do to help their people right now?

One thing you can do (that may sound counter intuitive) is:

"Take a vacation!"

By "vacation," I don't mean a day on the golf course or a long weekend in the woods. I'm talking about an honest to goodness week off (or more) where the email and phone shut down, and a coverage plan goes in place. No matter where you are, you focus on whatever gives you maximum fun and relaxation. The point is to return to work feeling rested and recharged, so you can give that energy back to your team.

Granted, over the past year, it's been nearly impossible to take time away from the onslaught of crises and work. Plus, there was no where to go for most people. Now that vaccines are more readily available and traveling is getting safer and more open, it's time to take a true pause. Your people will thank you for it.

That's because not only does time off have benefits for you, but it also has very real and tangible benefits for your team. Here are a few:

?? Role modeling. Your break signals to your team that they can and should take time off to recharge too. If they don't see you go away, they're not going to feel like they have permission to do so. If you're a member of a leadership team, you can also set the example for your peers, which has the added benefit of spreading the word throughout your organization that time off is beneficial and encouraged.

?? Reduces work load for everyone. Think about it - when your boss takes a week off, don't you breathe a little freer knowing there will be no early morning or late night questions or requests? Each time someone goes on vacation on your team, that means fewer emails, messages, calls, meetings and requests that others need to respond to. Multiply that effect across an entire team for the past 13 months, and you can easily understand one of the reasons people are stressed is simply that no one has been taking a break.

?? Energizes culture. When people return from time off, they're generally better rested, recharged and happier. Consider the impact if just one person on your team returns in a better mood. Now think about the multiplier effect you as the leader - or even several leaders in your organization - take this magic drug called "vacation."

Best practices for taking time off as a leader now

When you prepare to step away from the virtual office for your break, there are ways to make it a positive experience for everyone. Here are a few tactics I've seen work in the past few months:

Before you go away

? Be honest and real. Tell your team you need a break to rest and recharge. And encourage them to do whatever they can to take time off and take care of themselves too.

? Set expectations about communication. Let them know you're putting aside devices to allow you to reconnect (with yourself, friends and family).

? Urge them not to email you anything until you get back. Remove the temptation to look at your work accounts by asking them to hold off on copying you or contacting you. This can sometimes have the added benefit of getting your team to resolve issues by the time you return.

? Ask them to call you if it's urgent. Tell them you won't be checking or responding to email, so they will need to call you if it's time-sensitive and can't be handled by someone else. You can guess the prospect of interrupting you on the beach will prompt them to think twice before calling.

While you're away

? Stick to your commitments. Don't check email. And whatever you do, don't respond. This will empower others to solve the problems that they normally bring to you. And it will demonstrate by your behavior that they too can leave their work for a week and nothing terrible will happen.

When you return

? Tell them about your vacation. You might want to share a couple of pictures or a story at your team meeting.

? Thank them! Show your appreciation for taking care of things while you were away.

? Remember this feeling. ?? Recall how everything gets better when you've had a bit of rest and feel re-energized. Schedule your next vacation!

If you found this newsletter helpful, pass it on to a friend or colleague. And become a subscriber here so you never miss future editions.

As always, I welcome your feedback and thoughts in the comments or via direct message.

Finally, special heartfelt thanks to the LinkedIn News team for resharing the last edition (a compendium of great speaking tips from my colleagues) as the "Idea of the Day" last week. ??