In today’s Managing Your Career column in the Wall Street Journal, Joann Lublin writes about how taking a sabbatical can help your career. 

Joann quoted me in the article, based on our conversation about my recent work coaching an executive on transitioning from the end of a sabbatical to finding a new position that meets her refreshed personal and career goals.  For those of you considering a sabbatical, the article provides an insightful case study.  Here are some additional thoughts:

Why are more professionals thinking about and requesting sabbaticals? 
The increased appeal of sabbaticals reflects a trend towards managing one’s career to attain more pride, satisfaction and fulfillment.  Perhaps as corporations become more used to women taking and returning from maternity leaves, and as Baby Boomers retire – making retention of experienced employees a higher value to corporations – the perceived and real risk of taking a sabbatical decreases.

How can a sabbatical advance your career?
A sabbatical is an opportunity to re-assess who you are, what you want from your job, your colleagues, and your work environment.  When you refresh and clarify your objectives, you have an opportunity to adjust your career path in line with your real aspirations.

I advise clients that if they setting personal and professional goals, and accomplish at least some of them, a sabbatical is career advancing because it is both confidence and competence enhancing.  
A sabbatical is different than a vacation, or simply “taking a break”.  The point is to invest in your future.  In the classic case, a professor took semester off to acquire new experiences and skills which would later enliven his or her classes. 

An executive who fulfills a dream of taking a rock climbing course in the Dolomites will return to the office more than refreshed – he or she will bring back experiences about challenge that translate to leadership style and open new dimensions of personality and insight.

In the office, we tend to use right brain thinking.  Some sabbatical activities such as art, music, athletics, travel stimulate creative thinking and visualization – skills which enhance effectiveness of any role.

Other sabbatical activities relate more directly to professional skills.  If you volunteer to manage a community service project whether in Africa or in your own city, you become a more experienced leader.  If you help a college friend grow her bakery business you sharpen your financial and marketing skills.

How can a sabbatical be life enhancing?
You'll never regret taking time off if you use part of it to realize a goal, or realize a dream.  Think about that in advance, so you hit the ground running...towards a positive and empowering event or achievement.
 
A sabbatical can and should include exploring new skills and gaining new experiences.  This may include taking a class or workshop, learning a new language or computer program, or performing pro bono work you find meaningful and expansive.

What about the risks?
Yes, there is risk.  Yes, it is a courageous move.  But for the rest of your career, you can be seen as a courageous risk-taker who returned stronger than ever - and that’s not bad. 

For businesspeople, thinking in terms of risk-return increases the intellectual and emotional comfort with taking a risk.  If you are going to take a sabbatical without pay, some financial analysis is in order.  Be comfortable with the risk, as long as you evaluate the return. 

The greatest professional risk with a sabbatical is actually coming away feeling “out of the loop” or less in touch with your strengths and abilities.  Work with a coach or mentor at the beginning, end, or throughout to ensure you build your self-awareness and pride, in addition to enjoying your unstructured time off.

How can I plan for a successful return?

1. Prepare for your return before your sabbatical is over.  Work with a coach or colleague to collect your thoughts about the challenges and rewards so you walk in strong and positive.   You don’t want to show up back at the office like Robinson Crusoe.  Keep up to date on your industry, company, and department. 
   
2. Communicate about your sabbatical to engender admiration and camaraderie, not jealousy.  You may have different scripts for different audiences.  Reflect on how they will receive and react to your stories.  At work, focus on what you did that will enable you to contribute more to the team now – whether new skills gained during that volunteer project in Africa or new perspectives gained during a trek through the Amazon rainforest.  Gushing that you took private singing lessons three times a week would be better saved for friends and family - unless you intend to perform at the next corporate event.
   
3. Be ready to articulate your immediate and a 1-3 year professional development goals with an underlying message of why it will be good for the employer.  Clarity will send a strong signal that you know what you want, you know what they need, and you are ready to hit the ground running.

If you have comments or questions, please contact me, Stefanie Smith, Executive Consultant and Coach.