Leaders, This One’s for You
Healthy teams are productive teams—and summer is the perfect time to show it.
It’s easy to say “take care of yourself.” It’s harder to live it—especially when you’re leading the charge. But guess what? Teams mirror what leadership models. If you rest, they rest. If you protect boundaries, so will they.
Lead with PTO Permission and Modeling
- Encourage—and take—vacation: A survey by Elvtr found that 46% of workers struggle to switch off even when they take PTO, and 68% admitted to working during time off. Leaders who truly disconnect change that norm. (combinedinsurance.com, Recruiting Resources)
- Better outcomes follow: Encourage PTO use and people are 56% less likely to experience work stress and 62% more likely to report high job satisfaction. (Outback Team Building)
- Reduce turnover: Teams with adequate PTO policies see 35% lower voluntary turnover—even if job satisfaction stays the same. (HR Dive)
Make Space for Flexibility
- Flexible scheduling is powerful: Giving employees control over their schedules significantly reduces stress, improves sleep, and boosts overall well-being. One national study found flexibility decreased psychological distress by 25% and anxiety by 13%. (Boston University)
- Summer hours work: Offering early-release Fridays or compressed workweeks can lift morale and reduce burnout—especially when it’s modeled from the top. Smaller teams have seen real success with these models. (AP News)
Model Balance from the Top
- Actions over announcements: If leadership sends emails on PTO or skips lunch breaks, guess what your team feels pressured to do. But when leaders actually log off and honor boundaries, the entire team’s wellness culture shifts. (Recruiting Resources, Outback Team Building)
- Pause and reset: Simple habits like walking meetings, taking lunch outdoors, or holding phones off during parts of the day signal that recharging is valued.
Stay In Tune, Not Just Task-Focused
- Check in—not just check up: Ask how folks are doing—not just what they’re working on. Real listening helps people feel seen and supported.
- Watch for warning signs: Burnout often hides. High stress, disengagement, or missing PTO? Those are clues leaders can act on early.
- Build psychological safety: Companies with high scores on “psychosocial safety climate” see up to 4% lower burnout, 8% higher engagement, and 72% fewer days lost to presenteeism. Leaders set that norm. (Outback Team Building, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, en.wikipedia.org)
This Week’s Leader’s Nudge
Pick one small action to prioritize wellness in your team this week:
- Share your PTO out‑of‑office reply with your team
- Block buffer time between your meetings
- Encourage a walking check-in or lunch outside
Set the tone that balance isn’t optional—it’s essential.
