I was spouting on the radio yesterday about Sabbaticals in the private sector. The notion derives from Mosaic Law, under which farmers were required to leave each acre of land fallow for a year after six consecutive harvests as a means of rejuvenating the soil. Nowadays "on sabbatical" refers to leaving behind the daily grind in order to plant new ideas and encourage growth in the mind.
In the groves of academe, sabbaticals are a familiar concept and most public and civil servants will be familiar with the perk of a formal 'career break,' but how does one go about getting a long stretch of time off in the private sector?
A bit of quiet nosing around should determine if your organisation has an unpaid leave or sabbatical policy and if precedents have been set in this regard by your colleagues. Selling the idea to your boss will be very largely dependant on the nature of the work you do, how pivotal you are in your curent role and how easy you will be to replace while you are away.
For example, if you work on a project-by-project basis (IT, Accounting, Client Services, Consulting, Creative work) you can ask to be factored out of the planning for an upcoming project or two as you intend to go bungie-jumping into live volcanoes for the next six months. Likewise, if you are in a routinised role (producing the monthly accounts for example), you can ask for a temp to be found to fill your shoes and offer to train in the individual before your departure. Better yet, identify someone who can do the fill-in for you and present him/her as part of the package when you are talking to your boss.
As ever, it's all about selling the idea to your company. What's in it for them?
You may need a month or you may need six. Think about it, see if you can afford it, determine what you want to get out of the experience and then decide if leaving your land untilled for a year is for you.
In the groves of academe, sabbaticals are a familiar concept and most public and civil servants will be familiar with the perk of a formal 'career break,' but how does one go about getting a long stretch of time off in the private sector?
A bit of quiet nosing around should determine if your organisation has an unpaid leave or sabbatical policy and if precedents have been set in this regard by your colleagues. Selling the idea to your boss will be very largely dependant on the nature of the work you do, how pivotal you are in your curent role and how easy you will be to replace while you are away.
For example, if you work on a project-by-project basis (IT, Accounting, Client Services, Consulting, Creative work) you can ask to be factored out of the planning for an upcoming project or two as you intend to go bungie-jumping into live volcanoes for the next six months. Likewise, if you are in a routinised role (producing the monthly accounts for example), you can ask for a temp to be found to fill your shoes and offer to train in the individual before your departure. Better yet, identify someone who can do the fill-in for you and present him/her as part of the package when you are talking to your boss.
As ever, it's all about selling the idea to your company. What's in it for them?
- You will be refreshed, creative and productive on your return.
- You will have an altered world view and may bring a new angle and energy to your role.
- Depending on where you intend going and what you intend doing, you will almost certainly acquire new knowledge or skills along the way.
You may need a month or you may need six. Think about it, see if you can afford it, determine what you want to get out of the experience and then decide if leaving your land untilled for a year is for you.
3 comments:
Nice idea but in practice many organizations will not want so loose a cannon. I think it all dpends on what you are looking , sales manager of the year - OK I can buy it, Trasurer of the Bank of England or of a major corporation - they may be looking for more stability and predictability. Horses for courses.
I took 8 months away from the rat race a few years ago and it made all the difference for me. I came back with a totally altered perspective on customer service, sales and follow-up and my enthusiasm and ideas were quickly spotted by senior management, resulting in a promotion. I can very much recommend the experience.
Horses for courses indeed. And in a role where continuity of approach and continuity of relationships is crucial, sabbatical is a dirty word.
But organisations can always adapt - if this 'crucial' person walked under a bus and was hospitalised for 7 months, the organisation would flex and accommodate. Because it HAD to. If you feel that a break from the treadmill would benefit you, it's up to you to find the nerve-ending to press so that the organisation WANTS to accommodate you.
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