Marcia’s Leadership Q&A

Marcia answers leaders’ questions. Send your questions to md@mdaszko.com.

A. Embrace this opportunity! The more you mentally and physically prepare, the deeper your emotional experience can be. A sabbatical is a dedicated time (generally 2 to 12 months) to pivot. Go in a new direction where you focus your energy, time, interests and create a new purpose. It’s time to enrich yourself, achieve new goals, learn new skills, travel, volunteer in a foreign country, write a book, or hundreds of other pursuits.

The choice is yours. It’s a time to focus and create a new opportunity. Examine a deep passion you have. Logistically to prepare, plan where you will take your sabbatical—in the den or across the world. Preparing your living arrangements, finances, family and friends’ interaction, all need to be considered and addressed. Think about how your work will get done while you are gone and how you will re-enter with your team. Think about the end of the sabbatical: what is your vision? If you begin with a few ideas and also leave some open space for new possibilities, you’ll get more out of your time away.

A. Some companies are scrambling to keep their businesses open, doing deliveries, pivoting the way they do business. Every moment is reacting, responding, and following their processes. They may take little time to plan, improve, learn, or develop new skills.

It’s challenging, but the organizations that navigate through crises do take the time to plan, strategize, communicate with each other, listen to customers, and invest in some new training or learning—even if it is only one hour a week. People need to develop new skills together. They need to feel progress and forward movement. Ask periodically, “what can we improve?” Then apply those ideas. Over time, the work flows better and better.

Have a great week!