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:
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How a sabbatical can release outdated mindsets and reset your priorities
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Why “get-tos” vs. “have-tos” reignite creativity, trust, and long-term retention
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The Harvard Business Review research proving sabbaticals drive innovation
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Practical “stress-test” pilots to evolve your policy without upheaval
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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
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Personal Story: Alan’s first 10-week gift sabbatical—what he released & how he reset
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Abundance Mindset: “Get-tos” vs. “Have-tos,” and why rest is a human right
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Business Case: HBR findings, Big Tech sabbaticals, and the real ROI on renewal
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Implementation: Evolving vs. revolutionizing your policy—stress tests, pilots & partnerships
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Outcomes: Release old habits → Reset priorities → Reinvigorate individual & organizational performance
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Inventory Your “Get-Tos”: What creative or restorative activities have you shelved for “someday”?
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Identify Roadblocks: Which of Fear, Pride, or Permission is blocking sabbatical at your company?
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Pilot a Pilot: What small “stress-test” could you run this quarter—for example, extend someone’s vacation by one week?
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/
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