As business sabbaticals garner more interest and experience steady growth, the benefits touted are largely on the back end – after the individual returns. Almost uniformly, employees return to their jobs feeling renewed, committed, more engaged and provides plenty of cross-training opportunities for the employees who pick up the slack. The freedom to explore life beyond the usual routines – coupled with the security of being able to return to a career – gives individuals a chance to gain perspecitives they may not otherwise obtain, according to human resource consultants.
As my business partner, Elizabeth Pagano, and I interview executives who have had a sabbatical experience (or two or three), we’re often totally blown away with what they choose to do. We’re also accustomed to people espousing their increase in focus, productivity and often, happiness with themselves, careers and their lives when they return.
What shouldn’t be overlooked nor underestimated is the big boost in productivity and focus prior to leaving. Ask Jamie White what he’s feeling about his upcoming four-week paid sabbatical when he’ll study German at the Goethe Institut and live with his family in the beautiful town of Bamberg. Excited? Absolutely! Feeling some heat? You betcha!
There’s a good bit of pressure to get things in order and done. “This is not like a vacation,” said Jamie White, senior developer, ‘ this is a work stoppage. I have to make things happen NOW.”
Like all of us, Jamie’s list of things to do is never ending – get another person up to speed, hire that person you know you needed (after all, it’s all been approved!), focus and prioritize work projects and get a lingering “to do” DONE or off the list.
Going on vacation for a week, you might decide to move a folder to the side of your desk and decide it can wait, take work with you or anticipate completing a project when you log in (as you usually do on vacation) late some night in Lima. Getting ready to go sabbatical is way different.
Prior to leaving on sabbatical people not only get mentally ready for being away from work for much more than a week, they infuse vibrancy into their work. “I’m leaving for eight weeks, my work must keep moving, and oh yeah, I am NOT going to be available.”
Consequently sabbatical takers, like Jamie and his three other colleagues at AppRiver, one of the largest email security managed service providers worldwide, who are getting ready for their sabbaticals in the next three months, push themselves harder than ever – prioritizing and finishing off things, achieving higher levels of performance and productivity long before their email accounts are deactivated.
Imagine getting your work ready to turn over to someone else so your department and company keeps moving while you are away. If you were leaving in September on a four-week paid sabbatical, how would you be doing your work differently right now?
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