#108 - Reset - before you're forced to!

29 Apr 26

Most leaders understand the importance of performance. Fewer truly prioritise recovery.

The default approach is to keep going, push harder, work longer and absorb more until something eventually forces a stop. Often in the form of stress, burnout or illness.

But there is a better way...intentional resets.

Taking time out to step back, regain perspective, and re-energise is not a luxury, it is a leadership discipline. One that enables clearer thinking, better decisions and more sustainable performance over time.

The question is simple:

Do you choose to pause or wait until your body chooses for you?

What?

A reset is not just 'time off.' It’s not simply stepping away from work or clearing your calendar.

A true reset has purpose:

• Creating space to think clearly,
• Stepping out of reactive mode,
• Reflecting on what’s working and what isn’t,
• Reassessing priorities,
• Recharging mentally and physically.

Without it, leaders remain in a constant state of execution, always doing, rarely thinking and never recalibrating.

And over time, that comes at a cost.

Why?

There are three reasons why intentional resets matter:

1. Clarity only comes with distance

When you’re fully immersed in the day-to-day, everything feels urgent. But urgency is not the same as importance.

Stepping back allows you to see patterns:

• What’s actually moving the needle,
• What’s consuming time without adding value,
• Where you’re being pulled off course,
• Where your focus should really be.

You can’t see the full picture when you’re standing too close to it.

2. Your energy is a finite resource

Leaders often behave as though energy is unlimited but it isn’t. Mental fatigue builds gradually, decision quality declines subtly and stress accumulates quietly.

Until one day, performance drops or your body intervenes.

Taking time to rest and recharge isn’t indulgent, it’s preventative.

3. Reflection drives better direction

Without reflection, leaders default to momentum. You continue doing what you’ve always done, not because it’s still right but because you haven’t stopped to question it.

A reset gives you the space to ask:

• What should I stop doing?
• What should I double down on?
• What needs to change?
• Where do I need to focus next?

This is where real progress comes from, not just effort but direction.

How?

Resets don’t need to be dramatic but they do need to be deliberate.

1. Schedule them before you 'need' them

Don’t wait until exhaustion forces a break. Build resets into your rhythm:

• Quarterly thinking days,
• Regular time away from the noise,
• Protected space for reflection.

If it’s not scheduled, it won’t happen.

2. Disconnect properly

A reset only works if you step out of the system.

That means:

• No constant email checking,
• No half-engaged 'time off',
• No pretending to rest while staying mentally switched on.

You need genuine separation to regain perspective.

3. Ask better questions while you’re there

Use the time intentionally.

Reflect on:

• What’s working well right now?
• What’s draining energy unnecessarily?
• Where am I reacting instead of leading?
• What does the next phase actually require from me?

Clarity doesn’t come from time alone, it comes from how you use it.

4. Return with adjustments, not just good intentions

A reset is only valuable if something changes afterwards.

That might mean:

• Reprioritising your workload,
• Setting clearer boundaries,
• Delegating more effectively,
• Saying no to the wrong things,
• Refocusing on what matters most.

Otherwise, you simply return to the same pattern.

In Summary

Most leaders don’t stop until they have to. They wait until stress builds, or energy drops or until illness forces a reset they didn’t choose.

But the best leaders don’t wait for that moment. They step back deliberately, creating space to think and time to reflect, recalibrate and return stronger. Because sustained performance isn’t built on constant output, it’s built on cycles:

- Work,
- Reset,
- Refocus,
- Go again.

The real discipline is not pushing harder. It’s knowing when, and how, to pause!

Whenever you're ready, here's how I can help you:

1. Resources - Reading is an essential component to developing your own authentic leadership style. Check out my resources page for really inspiring books which I have found invaluable within my own leadership journey,
2. Springboard Store - Check out my store where you will find a selection of products.
3. Leadership Diagnostic - If you are an experienced Enginering leader, how do you assess if your current skillset is up to date, or if you have any gaps? Or understand if it is developed enough to equip you for the next two roles? This is where the Leadership Diagnostic comes in. Answer 30 questions spread across 10 key leadership areas to assess your current capability. It's absolutely FREE to take the assessment, and you will receive a personalised report delivered immediately into your Inbox on completion! Here's the link.