When sabbatical work partners – those left behind to do the work while a person is away on sabbatical – are less than 48 hours of being without their valuable boss or co-worker for a block of weeks, cute remarks are apt to be made. Awww, no boss? We’re looking forward to it…..Hey, I’m finally getting my opportunity to shine.
Then, as the farewell bell tolls, some faces look downright pasty. In most cases, that person who’s getting ready to leave has been around a while and knows a lot.
And sometimes, particularly in small, fast-growth companies – that knowledge isn’t written down…..A-N-Y-W-H-E-R-E. It’s only one place – between two ears – and it’s getting ready to walk out the door.Last week, a technology glitch with the potential to make 1,000s of customers start screaming, was solved with one key stroke by the guy who wrote the software for the program. He does it all the time.
What if a similar glitch occurs sometime during the next few weeks – when he’s out on sabbatical? One of the work partners says he’s already figured out steps 2-9, “but I didn’t know that first one.” Well, that first one is important.
Still, in the final work coverage meeting prior to this individual’s sabbatical, some faces beamed, full of anticipation. It reminded of my friend, Val, who’s been taking flying lessons and feeling overly taught. She got up one morning last month ready to confront her instructor, “Look, I’ve made 72 successful take-offs and landings. I think it’s time I was on my own.” Turns out she didn’t have to say that. After five more touch-and-goes, her instructor said, “You’re good to go.” And then he hopped out of the plane. (She did great! She’s now flying solo – still learning – but at a whole different level.)
Those over-the-hump moments are exactly what’s in store when critical knowledge exits. Some individuals relish the challenge and will soar. But they’re actually can be bigger payoffs. The situation tests an entire company. How strong can a company be, if one person’s absence threatens their service to customers? How prepared are we for other instances, when smart people might choose, for whatever reason, to leave? Are we as agile and confident to respond to a crisis as we need to be?
When organizations implement sabbatical programs, they force situations for work groups and teams to test themselves.
When knowledge walks out the door, it’s wheels up for individuals and the company. We have more stories of happy landings than crash landings. But for sure, the stakes are high. Are you ready? Is your company?
2 Responses (add yours)
Congitating on sabbaticals are a useful tool, a handy foil, for highlighting possible weaknesses in talent planning and succession management. An absence might be a sabbatical, it might be winning the lottery, it might be “the coke truck incident”. In otherwords, if you cannot lose someone for a few weeks or months, then the organization has a succession management opportunity.
Pull the team in a room, tell them that a key team member is taking a sabbatical for 4 months. Unreachable. Gauge response and impact. if the key person has been back-filling the position well, then you will see an aggitated (but not crazy) reaction. If not, it will be apparent very quickly. Weave this lesson into determining the talent pool that is backfilling your key leadership positions, and what you are doing as an organization to strengthen and deepend that pool.
Additionally, for a sabbatical or long vacation. If there is a critical need (aren’t they all?!?!?). Encourage the person to leave a little early, but to have a day somewhere in the beginning to middle to step out and take care of critical tasks. I say this with caution because the potential downside (the whole purpose of the sabbatical is jeapardized!!!) …..
AAARRRGGGHHHHHHH!!! I have a couple of clients who can benefit from your “testing for strength in talent.” Good idea. And while many sabbatical takers in my mind can find benefits in leaving a little early, I do have to tell you, Dirk, there’s a rather awful DISTASTE for that idea about returning for a day in the middle. (Hence my opening moan which I even shortened.) So you are two-fer-three and have won the pail of green gummy bears. It’s a positive thing. Thanks for your response.