There’s a common problem that entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders and managers run into—working too much. It seems that there is always more work to be done and tasks that need your attention. It’s easy to fall for the myth that if you just work a little harder or a little longer that things will fall into place. And you might think that when that happens, you’ll get your well-needed break. But it doesn’t work like that. 

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You need to prioritize a PAUSE. Take regular breaks, vacations, and rests as a leader. Not Negotiable. Schedule them. You also need to help your team, your tribe,  do the same. Here are five reasons why this is so critical:

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1. Clarity 

You need to STOP to START to gain clarity. Get off the treadmill, stop, refresh, re energise and gain clarity. The best leaders stop to start every quarter without fail for this very reason. 

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2. Burnout leads to reduced creativity

Creative thinking is part of your role as a leader. You’re constantly faced with situations that you need to get creative with finding the solutions to. When you’ve been burning the candle at both ends and pushing yourself to the max, this becomes harder to do. 

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3. Improves your health

Rest and sleep play an important role in helping your immune system. If you push yourself too hard for too long, you’re going to pay for it. 

Are you one of those people when you want to go on vacation, you have had to work like crazy in the weeks leading up to the vacation to make sure that everything would be properly handled while you were away? You work so hard that when you finally stop, you either crash due to burnout or worse, get sick. Regular Pause or Stop to Start as we like to call them are a critical part of your success journey. They are non-negotiable. 

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4. Improves your relationships

Are you throwing yourself into your work while cutting back time with your family or friends? Many leaders find themselves in this position, but it’s a dangerous place to be. People and your relationships in life are far more important than your bottom line. If you’re overly focused on work and your career, you may notice that your personal relationships are starting to suffer. If you neglect them for too long, it may be difficult for them to recover when you decide to invest time in them. 

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5. Provide others a chance to learn and lead

When you take breaks, you provide the space and opportunity for others within your organisation to step up. This is a great way to see what progress you’re making on developing up-and-coming leaders. If you feel that you can’t step away because things will fall apart, it shows you that you’re not training up your employees. 

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Taking breaks and stepping away from time to time provides the chance for future leaders to test out their skills and get their feet wet. It might be hard for you to do, but it’s right for you and your team.

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Don’t miss this opportunity to Stop to Start – the time is now!

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If you are interested in attending our next Stop to Start retreat reach out and we will be in touch with more info.

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