Sabbaticals aren't just for university professors

My husband and I love to travel. James and I have been together for 23 years and every 5 years we take 3 months unpaid leave to travel, reconnect and do a sense check that we’re living the lives we want. We have 2 kids who are 10 and 8, who now get to experience these trips too.

Many people in similar corporate jobs to mine are surprised when they hear what James and I do. Several senior leaders have confided in me that they would love to do something similar, but worry about the impact it would have on their career. As a leader who is passionate about promoting flexibility and delivering outcomes instead of focusing on hours in the office, I know that I’m a much better leader and employee because I take these sabbaticals.

It’s not just millennials who want great careers, flexibility AND meaning in their corporate lives.  

So if you’re over 40 (like I am) and thinking “I’d love to do something similar but couldn’t because ... [insert your reason here]”, take baby steps. Eighteen months out from each sabbatical, I plant the seed with my boss. I share with them that I want to take a 3 month sabbatical in 18 months’ time. This gives us time to work out who will step up while I’m on leave and what I need to get done before I go. It also gets me in the headspace to start saving for it! Once I have my boss’ approval, about 6 months out I readily mention it to the key people I work with so it’s not a surprise to them. I’ve now had of these 4 sabbaticals over the past 20 years and have had incredibly strong support from my bosses, colleagues and teams every time.

To leaders reading this, if you’re thinking “that would be such a hassle for me if someone in my team was away for 3 months”, I’d say you’re right. It does mean more work for you thinking through the logistics and reassigning work. However, it gives you 2 massive longer-term benefits: the opportunity to give an emerging leader a step-up opportunity to grow, as well as creating intense gratitude in the person on the sabbatical. A committed and loyal employee is so much more productive than one who is going through the motions.

I’ve just come back from my 4th sabbatical, having travelled for 3 months with my family around Costa Rica, the US and Canada. I am well and truly back in the swing of things in the office - in some ways it feels like I never left! My team did an amazing job while I was away and I’m so proud of my team member who stepped up into my role and did a superb job.  Yes, my boss also had to do extra work as a result and has massive “credits in the bank” with me now that I’m back.

I don’t believe careers have to follow the same path as those who went before us. Although I usually prefer to share these sorts of stories just with my team, I share it publicly here in the hope that it challenges you to think about shaping your career in a way that includes whatever else is important in your life.  Even - and especially - if that doesn’t follow the “typical path”.