How to Disengage

Good leaders are engaged with the people and projects they lead. This is vital and in my mind common sense. Good leaders know and practice this principle.

However, at times, whether a minute, a moment, or a month, effective leaders need to also disengage from the people and projects they lead. Doing so provides rest, renewal, the opportunity to better invest in vital relationships, to regain perspective, to unleash some creative juice, and to create great experiences that build lasting memories. The above list is not exhaustive, but you get the idea... it keeps the passionate, sold-out leader from becoming a worn-out, burned-out, bummed-out leader.

Disengaging is hard to do, but not impossible. Although I am still learning how, I have zeroed in on the following keys:

1. Admit the need to disengage. This is not weakness, it's wisdom.
2. Trust the people you lead. I believe the reason that so many leaders have a hard time disengaging, is that they refuse to trust their staff to handle things well in their absence. Ultimately this says more about the leader than the leader's staff.
3. Take Jesus with you. Too often when we appropriately "bail" on some of our responsibilities, we also bail on God.
4. Talk it into reality. Some of my best disengagement times started with a simple conversation. Usually starting with, "some day..."
5. Don't be fooled by disengagement's enemy - Escape! Spending countless and mindless hours in front of any type of screen, usually is escape. This could probably be a separate post all by itself.
6. Plan. Planning can create incredible disengaging opportunities that may not happen without the effort.
7. Be Spontaneous. Sunsets, starry nights, laughter, and a cute kid, all provide brief moments to disengage and refuel.
8. Engage. What? Disengage by engaging? Yep! Engage big time in something that you love outside of your normal leadership responsibilities.
9. Try something new. Try new places, new foods, a new type of book, a different type of music, and new adventures. Doing so demands greater attention and use our senses in new ways.
10. Don't allow the need for disengagement to be an excuse for laziness! Work your butt off, play your butt off! That gets to the bottom of it.

There are my ten. I would be interested in knowing how you disengage.

Comments

[Joel]

Sometimes it is as easy as a walk around the block....

If I am not careful, however, I do forget (or ignore the need) to disengage!

[Carol Ann]

Besides fabulous trips with my husband, I often disengage by engaging in complete praise and worship to God - either privately or with others, either by playing and singing, or listening to great praise music. Great way to bring back the balance needed to be stronger in the other areas of responsibility God has given to me.

[Dave]

Golf. Golf. And more golf. Unless of course I have the yips.