Introduction
Even the most compelling performances include intermissions—moments to pause, reflect, and recharge before the next act. In leadership, rest and resilience are equally critical. Without them, the demands of leadership can lead to burnout, diminished creativity, and lost momentum. By intentionally incorporating rest and resilience into your routine, you can sustain long-term growth for yourself and your team.
In this post, we’ll explore why rest matters, how to build resilience, and actionable strategies for integrating “intermissions” into leadership practices.
Why Rest Fuels Leadership Success
Rest isn’t a luxury; it’s a strategic advantage. It allows leaders to recharge, gain perspective, and make better decisions. Resilience, on the other hand, enables you to bounce back from challenges and maintain focus on your Mission, Core Values, and Vision (M3).
Key Insight: Rest provides the energy to lead effectively, while resilience equips you to navigate adversity without losing sight of your goals.
Step 1: Recognize the Signs of Overload
The first step to building resilience is acknowledging when rest is needed. Leaders and teams often push through stress without realizing the cost to performance and well-being.
Signs You Need Rest:
- Declining creativity or problem-solving ability.
- Increased irritability or tension within the team.
- Difficulty staying focused or making decisions.
Reflection Prompt: What are the signs that you or your team might be overdue for a break?
Step 2: Build Rest into Leadership Practices
Strategic rest isn’t about stepping away indefinitely; it’s about incorporating regular, intentional pauses into your routine.
Strategies for Leaders:
- Daily Micro-Breaks: Take 5-10 minutes every couple of hours to reset your focus.
- Weekly Reflections: Dedicate time at the end of the week to review progress, celebrate wins, and recalibrate for the week ahead.
- Team “Unplug Days”: Schedule a day where everyone disconnects from work to recharge.
Tip: Use rest as a tool for alignment. Reflect on how your actions and decisions connect to your M3 during breaks.
Step 3: Foster Resilience Through Support
Resilience doesn’t happen in isolation. Leaders can cultivate it by creating a supportive environment that encourages growth and adaptability.
Resilience-Building Practices:
- Encourage Growth Mindsets: Frame challenges as opportunities to learn and improve.
- Promote Healthy Boundaries: Model work-life balance and ensure team members feel empowered to set their own.
- Provide Resources: Offer access to coaching, training, or wellness programs.
Example: A healthcare organization implemented regular resilience training for staff during a period of high stress. This included mindfulness exercises and peer support groups, significantly improving morale and reducing burnout.
Step 4: Celebrate the Power of Intermissions
In theatre, intermissions provide a chance to refocus before delivering the second act. In leadership, strategic pauses can have the same impact, creating space to reflect on past progress and prepare for future challenges.
How to Celebrate Rest:
- Recognize the value of taking breaks by sharing success stories from periods of intentional rest.
- Encourage teams to share how they’ve benefited from downtime.
- Align intermissions with key milestones to reinforce their purpose.
Reflection Prompt: What’s one way you can integrate a meaningful intermission into your leadership practice this month?
Real-World Spotlight: A Leader Who Embraced Rest
A software company CEO noticed declining creativity in their product development team. They implemented monthly “Innovation Days,” where work paused, and the team focused on brainstorming and skill-building activities. The result? A rejuvenated team that consistently delivered innovative solutions, proving that rest fuels growth.
Reflection Questions
To incorporate rest and resilience into your leadership, consider:
- What’s one area of your life or work that feels stretched too thin?
- How can you model the importance of rest for your team?
- What small change can you make today to foster resilience in yourself or others?
Call to Action
Rest isn’t a pause in productivity; it’s a foundation for sustainable growth. By building resilience and embracing strategic intermissions, you can lead with clarity, energy, and purpose.
Ready to recharge and strengthen your leadership? Download our Rest and Resilience Toolkit to explore strategies for integrating intentional rest into your daily practices. The stage is yours—take a moment to prepare for your next great act.