I locked up my laptop for a week. Here’s what happened.

When was the last time you went on a vacation and completely unplugged? And I mean “put-your-computer-in-the-hotel-room-safe” level of unplugged.

If you’re thinking, “there’s no way I could ever do that in my role,” keep reading. 

Because if everything has to go through you, if your team can’t function in your absence, or if you don’t have the proper procedures in place for your business or organization to be successful when you’re not available, that’s a problem. 

Earlier this month my wife and I flew down to Mexico for a one-week vacation. It was the first time since 2022 that I was able to totally disconnect from work and truly be present in the moment on holidays. 

It’s not an easy thing to do, particularly as the leader of a large organization. But, as I settle back into routine feeling fully rested and restored, I’m reflecting on just how critical it is to take that space and treat it as sacrosanct—not only for my wellbeing but for my team’s as well. 

I've learned how important it is to establish and stick to boundaries. It's the only way I can feel good about leaving, and my team can feel prepared to do great work without me around.

I was confident that the team would be fine. After all, if I can’t trust my team, then I’ve hired the wrong people. I established an acting CEO who had full authority to act in my absence. I ensured everyone knew that I would be unreachable, and if a team member still felt they needed to get in contact with me, they had to go through my executive assistant, who herself was empowered to determine what, if anything, ended up making it to me. 

When I arrived in Mexico, I turned off my phone and put my laptop in the hotel safe. Both my wife and I committed to completely disconnecting from work and gave ourselves permission to call each other out if one of us was reaching for our phones or starting to drift back into work mode.  

And during that time, the team thrived. The building stayed standing. The board of directors wasn’t waiting anxiously for me on the tarmac when I arrived home. 

There were some rub points—stressful situations that the team had to navigate without knowing all the answers. But giving them the opportunity to manage those situations independently is how we build resilient, confident people. 

This experience has changed my perspective on how I can best support my team to solve problems. I’m actually doing a disservice if I always have the answer. Instead, I can provide guidance as they find the answers themselves. 

I know I’ve done something right as a leader if my team can thrive without me.

Can yours?