Permission to Pause: Leading with More Presence, Less Pressure

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THE RUCKUS MAKER MONTHLY THEME: REST AND RELAXATION

Permission to Pause: Leading with More Presence, Less Pressure

Even when school's out, the pressure doesn't stop.

Leaders spend summers preparing, planning, and perfecting.

We often carry the same year-round pace that defines our profession.

But what if the real work of leadership began with stopping?

Pausing feels risky.

Indulgent.

Sometimes, even irresponsible.

But for leaders committed to clarity and empathy, pause isn't optional — it's essential.

The Cost of Constant Motion

When we move nonstop, we miss the deeper moments that matter most.

We make quick choices without thinking.

We show up tired.

We teach our teams that being in a hurry is more important than being there for them.

We show them that feeling stressed is something to be proud of.

We signal that leadership means always being busy.

Yet true leadership thrives on intention, reflection, and choice.

And that only happens when we have room to breathe.

The Power of Pause

A few years ago, I took a planned year off from school leadership.

(can you even imagine that?)

My wife and I mapped out the sabbatical years in advance.

When COVID canceled our original travel plans, we decided to reimagine our adventures.

We stayed local, and I learned a new language, worked part-time on an organic farm, and did more coaching.

On paper, it looked busy.

But it felt like stopping, and was a regenerative reset from the profession's relentless pace.

I returned more grounded, more aligned, and more present.

That's what pause can do: it returns your clarity.

The Global Standard for High Performance

You're not alone in recognizing this need.

Danny often reminds us that proclaiming we're "busy, busy, busy" is actually a marker of low performance.

As he puts it: "... you can't pour from an empty cup."

Our culture may idolize nonstop productivity, but even top athletes, executives, and Olympians acknowledge the importance of recovery.

Pause isn't a weakness. It's a competitive edge.

Practical Ways to Lead with Presence

Here are simple actions that embed presence into your week. No sabbatical required:

Create intentional breaks:

• Begin meetings with a moment of quiet

• Schedule white space on your calendar, chunks of unplanned time

• Take one phone-free walking meeting each week

Set clear boundaries:

• Establish a tech boundary (like no email after 6 pm)

• Say no to one non-essential task this week

• Protect time for something "unproductive": read, doodle, nap, or toss a ball with your dog

These pauses interrupt the cycle of urgency, and in those breaks, leadership grows.

Better Leaders Pause

At Better Leaders Better Schools, we believe that being present isn't extra.

It's the foundation.

Leaders who take breaks make better choices, build stronger teams, and create schools where caring and performing well coexist.

The research is clear: sustainable high performance requires recovery.

The best leaders know that stepping back isn't stepping down.

It's stepping up to lead with more purpose and impact.

If you're ready to step back -- and forward -- with intentionality, join us in the Ruckus Maker Mastermind.

It's where thoughtful, boundary-conscious leaders come together to learn how to lead with purpose.

Ready to transform your leadership through purposeful pause?

Learn more about the Ruckus Maker Mastermind and join a community of leaders committed to presence over pressure.