Four Alternatives to Resigning after Sabbatical
“I’m afraid our leader will leave after sabbatical”.
This is the primary fear I hear from staff teams and boards around sabbatical. After years of coaching leaders through the beautiful and disorienting journey of sabbatical I’ve watched many leaders gain clarity about the role they are serving in. I’ve helped dozens of leaders make shifts to their role that didn’t require resigning. Ofter the leader and the organization are healthier and happier on the other side of these changes.
The great unknown of returning to work after sabbatical is often accompanied by fear and anxiety. Leaders have experienced much-needed rest and meaningful changes during sabbatical, and they desire to actualize them in “real life”. Fear often whispers this lie; “in order to be healthy and happy you have to resign.”
Spoiler alert; you usually don’t have to resign your role after sabbatical. Here are four alternatives to resigning after sabbatical.
Return to your role
For these leaders rest was the primary need. Sabbatical offered them replenishment, and they are ready to return to virtually the same role. They need to change to their habits to provide more rest and margin.
Leaders feeling this should ask, “How can I create restful habits on a weekly basis?"
Reframe your role
When these leaders were resting they realized their role is good, and they need to shift their mindset about their role. Their role isn’t the problem, but they need a to cultivate gratitude for their role.
Leaders feeling this should ask, “In what specific ways is my current role a gift to me and my family?”
Remodel your role
Sabbatical provided these leaders space to realize they must make some changes to their role. They envision tangible changes they can make for their role to be a better fit for their wiring, family, desires and season of life. They can stay in their role, but they need to make changes to the livability of their role.
Leaders feeling this should ask, “What specific changes might I be able to make to my role?”
Reinvent your role
During sabbatical these leaders realize they have outgrown their role. Continuing with all their tasks is unsustainable. They must make major changes for their role to work with the grain of who they are. This leader has likely become bored or worn down by the role and is ready to enter a new season. Below the surface they know they need to make major changes to their overall role to stay in it. Their fear is well founded, because these changes could impact their title, compensation, staff or the organization at large.
Leaders feeling this should ask, “In what big ways MUST my role shift in order to be sustainable? How can I wisely begin investigating making these changes?”
If leaders know there are alternatives staying stuck in their role or resigning they can make wiser decisions as they head back to work and cultivate meaningful changes. We have a tool called Redesigning your Role that helps leaders process and make these changes.
Alan Briggs is the founder of Sabbatical Coaching Group, where he guides leaders through the transformative power of sabbaticals. With deep experience in culture coaching and anti-burnout strategies, Alan is passionate about helping leaders find clarity, balance, and renewed energy in both their personal and professional lives. He’s the author of five books, including AntiBurnout, and when he’s not writing or coaching, you’ll find him exploring the Rockies with his wife and four kids. Alan also hosts the Stay Forth Leadership Podcast, where he shares insights on sustainable leadership.
