Written by: Marguerite Thibodeaux, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Hate to break it to you, but you’re not a machine. Neither are your teammates. You’re a human, and humans are built for lulls. When left to our natural devices, we work in cycles.
We are made to sprint and then celebrate and recover. Your team is, too. In this day and age, there is always another meeting on the calendar and task on the to-do list.
No matter what you and your team’s backlog looks like, unplugging is essential to your long-term health and your team’s success. Intentional rest helps you and your team:
Avoid burnout The effects of rest and relaxation on one's performance at work can be impactful. Giving you and your team a break can help reset your mind and re-energize your bodies.
Heal the body Resting and reducing the stress on the mind and body means better sleep, improved health, and a more positive outlook in life.
Boost creativity and productivity When you and your team are well-rested and less pressured, you have more energy to spend on your deliverables and brainstorming sessions. Additionally, the mood boost that comes with rest is correlated with innovation.
Improves decision-making With a rested, open mind, you and your team will be able to make better long-term decisions, rather than simply reacting to the urgent.
How do you create space for the natural human swing between prints and rests?
There are two ways humans are most comfortable enjoying rest (rather than stressing about all the work piling up while they're sipping beer at this randomly schedule happy hour):
At the end of a big project. This is great for a team that works in unison on the same project all at once. This could also work for celebrating major team milestones, such as the close of a quarterly project increment.
At a regular cadence, as a small break from the daily grind. This is great for teams that juggle multiple projects simultaneously and may not all end and start projects in unison.
The research recommends a combination of both usually works best. For example:
60-minute weekly team meeting that includes a standing agenda item for celebrations and shoutouts
Annual team event to wrap up the year, celebrate wins, and shed old baggage before moving into the new year
Conclusion
While we can’t take responsibility for our teammates as whole people, as a leader, the physical and mental well-being of our team should be one of our priorities. One simple thing we can do to empower our teams to bring their full, engaged selves to work is inject intentional rest throughout our work schedules.
Consider those few minutes for shout-outs in team meetings and the occasional team celebratory event investments. They’ll pay dividends with increased engagement, innovation, and retention.
Need help in creating a team rhythm for sprints and rests? Snag a free consultation here, and I’d be glad to help you get started.
About the Author: Marguerite Thibodeaux is an executive coach and talent management consultant dedicated to changing our relationship with work. Work should be a place where each of us gets to enjoy the challenge of contributing to something bigger than one self. She focuses on helping leaders at all levels create habits, skills, and environments that empower teams to thrive.
Every leader deserves support.
Follow her on LinkedIn for leadership tips and discussions.
Check out her website for free leadership resources like a Professional Development Roadmapping Worksheet and Attrition Risk Matrix.
Want one-on-one adapting these strategies to your team? Book a complimentary call with Marguerite. Every leader deserves support.
Marguerite Thibodeaux, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Marguerite Thibodeaux, a leadership coach, and talent management consultant, helps leaders and organizations bring the best out of people with courage, compassion, and clarity. After building development programs and leading a talent transformation at a Fortune 100, she became increasingly aware that not all leaders had access to a Fortune 100 Learning & Development team. To do something about that, she started Magnanimous Leadership, a leadership coaching and consulting firm that's on a mission to make resources and support available to every leader.
