In today’s world of constant connectivity, many leaders feel the pull to always be “on.” Email after dinner. Checking messages on the weekend. A nagging voice in the mind: “What if something falls through the cracks?” If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone – and letting go of that compulsion can make you a better leader, not a worse one.
Why We Struggle to Disconnect
- A strong sense of loyalty and responsibility can make us feel we must always be available.
- Technology amplifies this: it’s too easy to respond now rather than wait.
- Without clear boundaries, work bleeds into family time, rest, creativity, and health.
What We Lose When We Stay Always On
- Increased risk of burnout: exhaustion, reduced focus, mental overload.
- Strained relationships and personal life sacrificed.
- Declining creativity and long-term leadership capacity.
- Modeling unsustainable norms for the team which can cascade.
Reframing What Leadership Looks Like
- True loyalty & responsibility include protecting your capacity to perform over the long haul.
- Leaders who model healthy boundaries often build stronger, more resilient teams.
- Trust + systems + clear boundaries mean things still work when you unplug.
Practical Steps You Can Put Into Practice
- Establish a shut-down ritual at the end of each workday (e.g., final check-ins, setting tomorrow’s priorities).
- Use technology to your advantage: delay-send emails, set “Do Not Disturb” windows.
- Experiment with small “off hours” (one evening, one weekend) to see how it feels.
- Reflect: What do your actions say about what you value: constant availability or sustainable impact?
Further Reading