Why Leaders Need to Get Away Once in a While

It’s vital to get away as a leader! I believe this should be a consistent rhythm we have as leaders because it helps more than we know.

There’s something about getting away that invigorates us with vision and it helps us relax. As leaders, we’re always on and the pull from us is constant. This is part of being a leader but if we’re not careful, we can be depleted and when that happens, we can’t lead at our best.

What’s cool about getting away is that it doesn’t have to be much. It can be close to your city, a long drive, a night away, or more. However it’s done, the impact is needed for any leader. 

Sadly, too many leaders don’t do this and their results can cause being overwhelmed, exhausted, and limited in perspective. The truth is, when the leader is stuck, those they lead will be stuck too. However the leader goes, so goes the people he leads.

So, here are two reasons why it’s good to get away as a leader. 

First, a new place gives a new perspective. 

“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”

2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:7‬

Getting away helps us see things from a new perspective. It helps us see what we haven’t seen before and gain an enlarged view of what can happen. When we lead as a Christ follower, we have an opportunity for an enlarged potential and opportunity through our lives. Our part is to see it and move toward it. 

When we take time to get away, we’re giving ourselves a chance to re-calibrate what we’re doing and what we’re seeing. This is where we can glean new things and have new ideas that spark greater productivity and fresh leadership strategies. 

Notice in our verse, we live by believing and not by seeing. This means there are things for us to receive that we can’t see with sight. We see them through faith.

Getting away helps us do this as leaders and I encourage you to do this and receive a new perspective. 

There’s something about a new place that helps us with this so I encourage you to get away and let new things come your way.

What do you see right now?

If it’s all doom and gloom with no hope, you need to get away. If you’re limited by what it’s in front of you, you need to get away. If you’re frustrated and agitated, you need to get away. 

Take time for yourself and let a new place give you a new perspective.

Second, you work on it versus working in it.

“From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.”

1 Chronicles‬ ‭12:32‬

Notice in this verse, these men knew what to do by understanding the times they were in.

This speaks of strategy, wisdom, insight, and skill to work efficiently and effectively. There’s no doubt this happens when we’re able to work on it versus working in it.

What does that mean?

When we’re leading day to day, it’s easy to get in the rhythm of putting out fires, having meetings, and working the plan that’s been set. However, this pattern can cause us to work in it so we’re stuck in what we’re doing and not potentially thinking outside of the box.

Too many times, organizations are going through the motions as they’ve lost the why or the creativity in how they do the vision. Leaders must resist this and move forward by knowing the why and being willing to change how they’re doing it. 

This is tricky because working in it is needed and must be done for any success to happen. But, if we always stay in it, we are limiting ourselves to see it from another angle. 

Working on it sees ourselves, our team, and the overall organization in a different way. It elevates what we’re doing and gives clarity to why we’re doing it.

Furthermore, we must be willing to know the signs of the times and be willing to adapt as needed.

This doesn’t just happen because we tend to stay with what we’re doing and not change. But this is a dead end. Just think about Kodak and Blockbuster. 

The reality is, times change and methods change. What we’re doing now won’t work in the future. Therefore, what will we do? If we don’t work on it, being in it may end because we didn’t adjust with the times.

God is not stuck and his wisdom will enlighten us to lead in creative ways with every step we take. God knows what to do next and when we get away we can work on it versus working in it.

Are you knee-deep in it?

Nothing wrong with that and much respect for what you’ve done. 

My encouragement would be, to choose to get away and work on it. Let God help you with a method and a strategy that will help you adjust and adapt to the times.

Remember God’s plan for you as a leader.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  

Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11

So get away and let the greater happen in you and through you!

The best is yet to come,

PD