Rest is the hidden key to successful leadership

Purpose – The article aims to describe the reasons that rest is an important part of leadership. Design/methodology/approach – The benefits of rest to the organization and to the individual are explained. The article advances practical strategies that leaders can implement in their teams to replenish the energy levels within them. Findings – The article details the importance of creating mandatory “no smart‐phone” times with teams; ensuring and enforcing a mandatory “no contact” practice between employees and the office while they are on vacation; finding ways to creatively praise employees who ask for time off for special family events, rather than praising those who sacrifice family events for the sake of work projects; and finding reasons, when possible, to send employees home early at random times with the mandate to relax at home. Practical implications – It is explained that rest is essential to success as leaders. Leaders cannot perform at maximum efficiency 100 percent of the time. Social implications – It is argued that society reveres leaders for their work ethic, but rarely for their “rest ethic”, and that a better balance between the two is needed. Originality/value – The article focuses on how leaders regenerate energy after expending it.