Who do you need on sabbatical with you?
While serving as a pastor I was gifted a sabbatical. It wasn’t for anything I had done; the staff and elders were simply extending a gift from God to me. I was excited for this gift, but unsure of what to actually do. I had young kids, a tired wife and a lot of dreams to fulfill in ten weeks.
This sabbatical season was a beautiful time of replenishment, making family memories and slowing down amidst a demanding schedule. The books I read on sabbatical only got me so far. I didn’t know how to prepare for, navigate and return from this unique season. I did the very best I could to steward this, but I graded my sabbatical a C —.
When I was gifted a second sabbatical I was a bit wiser. I knew myself more and knew some of the emotions I should expect. I planned and conversed with my wife. It was another beautiful and replenishing time full of family memories and rest. I graded my second sabbatical a C+.
The missing piece of most sabbaticals; the right people.
Both sabbaticals were good, but they weren’t great. The missing pieces of my sabbaticals were not related to what I did but who I was with (or not with).
I have now had the privilege of coaching dozens of leaders through sabbatical. I get to help them steward this gift from planning to return. Now Sabbatical Coaching is one of the greatest ways we serve kingdom leaders. We’ve discovered that a sabbatical is often a hinge point that shapes a leader’s maturity, family and leadership for decades to come. As a sabbatical coach I recommend certain actions they should take along the way, but I now stress various people leaders need along the sabbatical journey.
The prepare phase; a trip planner and travelers
During the phase where a leader prepares their heart, mind, schedule, family and organization for their sabbatical (ideally 3-12 months in advance) leaders need a trip planner. The trip planner helps them walk through their schedule based on their season of life, desires and needs to plan the arc and details of their sabbatical without leaving anyone in their organization in a lurch. They also need other travelers who have been experienced a sabbatical to chat with and learn from. These two people give necessary perspective so they have the confidence to know they have prepared for sabbatical as wisely as they possibly can.
The experience phase; a guide and travel buddies
During the phase where leaders are on sabbatical they are experiencing a range of emotions, but disorientation is usually the leader. There is no season in life like sabbatical. To navigate through this phase in a healthy way leaders need a guide. Similar to a mountain guide a sabbatical guide is with them through the challenges and joys of this journey. They are acclimating to a new season and way of life and the guide can normalize their feelings for them. They also need travel buddies. The spouse is a travel buddy who should help shape the process, but travel buddies are also friends to enjoy the journey with. Sabbatical can be lonely without friends to process and enjoy a few adventures with. These should be people who give the leader life, and they are often people from their past they have lost touch with.
The reorient phase; a coach and an artist
During the phase where leaders return to work, which is most crucial to creating healthy, sustainable rhythms, they need a coach. The sabbatical coach has likely functioned as the trip planner and the guide, and now they must help them reorient back to work and rest in a healthy and realistic way.
On sabbatical the leader experienced new desires, dreams and imagination, but without a coach they are tempted to believe it was just a nice vacation and they destined to going back to working the exact way they were before sabbatical. Or, on the other hand, they are tempted to believe the sabbatical should continue and work is evil. The coach helps them in very practical ways to redesign their lives in a functional and beautiful way that better serves their wiring, their family and their organization.
They also need an artist to help them dream about what life after sabbatical could look like. They suggest crazy ideas and help them view their life as canvas for creating that they once did.
The Sabbatical Coach; a trip planner, guide and coach
The best sabbatical coaches function as a trip planner during preparation phase, a guide during the experience phase and a coach during the reorient phase. They listen to what God has imparted in the leader and, in light of those revelations, they help them redesign new rhythms of work, rest and relational engagement. A seasoned sabbatical coach helps leaders navigate all three seasons with holy
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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.
