The Next Frontier In Healthy workplace Culture

Originally released on Johnny Levy’s Workplace Delight podcast, this episode was too good not to share with our Stay Forth audience! Alan Briggs—leadership & sabbatical coach, “mountain guide for the leadership journey,” and co-host of the Stay Forth Leadership Podcast—joins Johnny to explore why intentional sabbaticals are the next frontier in workplace culture.

Whether you’re in HR, the C-suite, or you’ve built a startup from scratch, you’ll learn:

• How a sabbatical can release outdated mindsets and reset your priorities

• Why “get-tos” vs. “have-tos” reignite creativity, trust, and long-term retention

• The Harvard Business Review research proving sabbaticals drive innovation

• Practical “stress-test” pilots to evolve your policy without upheaval

• The two phases every leader experiences after sabbatical: Release & Reset

Press play for a healthy dose of adventure, abundance mindset, and people-first strategy—then return tomorrow for Episode 3 of our H2 Leader Summer Series!

Key Topics Covered

• Defining Sabbatical: From academic “research leave” to genuine life-giving renewal

• Personal Story: Alan’s first 10-week gift sabbatical—what he released & how he reset

• Abundance Mindset: “Get-tos” vs. “Have-tos,” and why rest is a human right

• Business Case: HBR findings, Big Tech sabbaticals, and the real ROI on renewal

• Implementation: Evolving vs. revolutionizing your policy—stress tests, pilots & partnerships

• Outcomes: Release old habits → Reset priorities → Reinvigorate individual & organizational performance

Reflect & Apply

1. Inventory Your “Get-Tos”: What creative or restorative activities have you shelved for “someday”?

2. Identify Roadblocks: Which of Fear, Pride, or Permission is blocking sabbatical at your company?

3. Pilot a Pilot: What small “stress-test” could you run this quarter—for example, extend someone’s vacation by one week?

Links & Resources

Watch the Full Interview on YouTube https://youtu.be/EfHh61p0hPE?si=J3FHcHJR5wE5Opdp

Workplace Delight Substack (Johnny’s full show notes & takeaways) https://workplacedelight.substack.com/