Why Sabbaticals Are Essential for Leadership Longevity

The Power of Sabbaticals: A Proven Strategy for Leadership Renewal

At Sabbatical Coaching Group, we’ve helped over 90 leaders take strategic sabbaticals—guiding them through the process of stepping away, finding renewal, and returning with greater clarity, creativity, health, and leadership effectiveness.

Our founder, Alan Briggs, is an expert in culture coaching, leadership development, and anti-burnout training. As a sought-after speaker and the author of five books—including AntiBurnout: A Lighter Way to Live and Lead—he has spent years helping leaders integrate sustainable rhythms that fuel both personal and professional success.

This whitepaper, The Power of Sabbaticals, is built on real-world coaching experience and backed by research—proving that taking time away is one of the most effective ways to improve leadership, avoid burnout, and build healthier organizations.

The Research Speaks for Itself

Leaders across industries are waking up to the power of sabbaticals—not just as time off, but as a strategic investment in long-term success. Harvard researcher DJ Didonna spent seven years studying leaders who took sabbaticals, and his findings confirm what we’ve seen in our coaching work:

• Sabbaticals lead to transformational personal and professional growth. Didonna found that leaders who took sabbaticals consistently reported feeling more engaged, creative, and energized in their work.

• Sabbaticals create a ripple effect. His research revealed that the strongest predictor of whether someone will take a sabbatical is knowing someone who has taken one—meaning your decision to step away normalizes it for your team and organization.

• Sabbaticals aren’t just for burnout recovery. While many assume sabbaticals are only for those on the edge of burnout, Didonna’s study—and our coaching experience—proves that proactive sabbaticals result in stronger, more visionary leadership.

What This Whitepaper Covers:

• Why sabbaticals are gaining momentum across industries—from ministry and nonprofit work to business leadership.

• The biggest misconceptions about sabbaticals and why they are more than just an extended vacation.

• The personal and organizational benefits of taking a sabbatical—sharpened priorities, fresh creativity, and increased leadership capacity.

• A roadmap for planning a successful sabbatical tailored to your leadership style and goals.

• How sabbatical coaching ensures lasting impact by helping leaders transition in and out of their sabbatical smoothly.