Vacation Reflections: Finding Pause

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I’m just returning from a family vacation in San Nazzaro, Switzerland, a generous invitation from the parents of one of my daughter’s middle school classmates who reunited ten of them in their home on this gorgeous lakeside town, along with a few straggling parents, before our teenagers head off to separate high schools in the fall.??

Before I left, I shared with my team that I was aiming to up my OOO (Out of Office) game by only responding to time sensitive matters or emergencies during my holiday. The leaders on my team, all highly capable and experienced, generously offered to protect my time off by being my proxy on time sensitive matters. I'm proud to count on a leadership team that reflects a diverse set of lived experiences and nurtures an inclusive approach to decision-making. They know their stuff and make decisions in deep collaboration with each other. But sometimes it helps to be reminded, and for there to be clear signals from leadership, of how much they’re trusted and counted on for their judgment and expertise. So, I let the team know who would sub for me in key matters, and bid them adieu. When team members at every level see themselves reflected in leadership and experience balanced delegation practices, they learn how to manage and collaborate with confidence.

?With that done, I sought to secure for myself, my husband and my daughter, the time, energy and space we craved following several long Covid bouts. And we did. I upped my gelato, pizza and Aperol spritz game. We went on long hikes, swims, and boat rides. We enjoyed decadent meals, read books and took pleasure being surrounded by the gorgeous Swiss Alps. My daughter and her friends loved on each other as they explored new places and adventures. My husband and I even managed a short getaway to Milan. When in Europe…

But of course, living and leading in a world that’s changing with bewildering speed means that literally any day can bring about an unexpected disruption. I answered time-sensitive work emails, made a few phone and video calls, and remained loosely connected for matters that needed prompt attention or clarification. Being willing to take 10-15 minutes of my downtime to ease the way for someone is not a sacrifice - it’s how I model leadership and care.? It’s a practice, not a disturbance. And as with all practices, it’s helpful to be intentional and reflective in the choices one makes.

?My intent was to apply my energy and offer perspective where it was most needed, not draining. I can’t claim to have always felt Zen when reading or responding to some emails, but taking a moment to reflect on how I wanted to respond, versus mindlessly responding to every item in my inbox, helped me be far more generous and clear-headed in my thinking and approach.

Being in the front line of organizations now, whether you are onsite or on vacation, means being hyper aware about modeling inclusive leadership and self-care.? Amidst a swirl of uncertainty in the economy, employers are cutting their workforces, reducing hiring, rethinking their remote and hybrid policies, and scaling back on the DEI initiatives that just months ago they stated were must haves for a competitive workforce.? Remaining an observer through the unpredictable enables you to discern what each moment calls for. This moment, for me, called for calm.

Calm and wellness are vital to my role in setting and overseeing the execution of Vice Media Group's people and culture strategy.? Burnout, dissatisfaction and disengagement in our personal and professional lives, comes from deep imbalance and depletion. Resting allows our minds to restore our balance and to find our grounding even in moments of deep turbulence. As my rhythms slowed down during our holiday, my curiosity and creativity loosened up and my patience expanded - all critical competencies for high quality, inclusive leadership.? I engaged with the world around me and the people that I love with a clearer energy, grounding and purpose. I was operating in a “signature me” mode.

When we can hit pause, even for a moment, it often pays off in unexpected ways.? Our vacation brought a new sparkle to our days. As I gazed at the breathtaking Lake Maggiore and Swiss mountains from our terrace, I gave myself permission to be inspired, fulfilled and happy, embracing rest while allowing myself to support my team and to encourage inclusive collaboration.?

How are you embracing moments of pause, disruptions and growth?

For Managers: Do you have a process in place to debrief and model for your team how you preserve your energy, boundary set and show care? Please share!

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