Mandatory Sabbaticals Prevent Executive Burnout

“I have always felt that it was advisable for businessmen with great responsibility to take long vacations, particularly to get away from the telephone and do exciting and stimulating things that would get one's mind completely off business problems. I probably took more time off for vacations than almost any other businessman in the country. I had to travel a lot when I was at work, and it was very difficult for me to stop thinking about business problems when I was near the office and even at home. It was most important, therefore, to take unusual vacation trips far away from the office.”

“ADVICE: I am convinced that it is most important for business executives to take at least four weeks' vacation every year. This is vital in my opinion—to get away from the telephone and any contact from the office. Ifyou can find something exciting, so much the better. It will take your mind offbusiness. To show how important this idea is, since igji , Bill Miller of Textron has re- quired every division head and every principal officer of the company to take a three-month sabbatical every five years. If a busy executive is going to be able to work at a high performance level for many years, it is most important that he take a diversionary vacation of this sort.”