In a recent LinkedIn post, Meghan M. Biro explores the critical, often overlooked, connection between a leader’s personal downtime and the overall well-being and productivity of their team. Biro highlights how the pace of modern work, filled with events and rebranding efforts, has made intentional planning for rest a necessity rather than an assumption.
Biro shares her own experience, noting the rapid passage of time and the need to actively schedule breaks. She states:
“I’ve noticed I actually have to plan for downtime now instead of assuming it’ll happen on its own 🥱”
This personal reflection leads Biro to a broader point about leadership and its impact on team culture. She emphasizes that leaders who prioritize and model taking time off implicitly give their teams permission to do the same.
The Ripple Effect of Leader Behavior
Meghan M. Biro argues that a leader’s actions regarding rest and personal time set a powerful precedent for their entire organization. In her post, she elaborates on this dynamic:
“If you’re leading a team right now, this matters even more than you’d think. Whatever you actually do with your own time is the permission everyone underneath you quietly takes for themselves.”
According to Biro, this isn’t just about individual well-being; it’s a strategic leadership imperative. By consciously blocking out time for personal pursuits and treating these periods as important, leaders can foster a healthier, more sustainable work environment. This, in turn, can lead to reduced burnout and increased engagement among team members.
Leading by Example: The Power of Disconnecting
Biro’s message underscores the idea that true leadership involves not only driving results but also cultivating a culture that supports employee health. She advocates for treating personal downtime with the same seriousness as professional commitments.
Intentionality in Scheduling Rest
The core of Biro’s advice centers on intentionality. She points out that in today’s fast-paced professional landscape, downtime doesn’t just ‘happen.’ It must be actively planned and protected. Biro’s commitment to this principle is evident in her own weekend plans:
“This weekend I’m making a point of getting outside for real, no laptop, no half-checking email.”
This deliberate act of disconnecting, even for a short period, is presented as a small but significant step toward better leadership. Biro concludes by reinforcing the ultimate benefit:
“It’s how we become better leaders 🫶”
Meghan M. Biro’s insights on LinkedIn offer a timely reminder for leaders to consider the powerful, often unspoken, messages their own work habits send to their teams, advocating for a more balanced and sustainable approach to professional life.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Meghan M. Biro on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on July 31, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →