I want to take a fully unplugged thirty day sabbatical to test if my leadership team can actually run this company without my daily involvement. How do we prepare the team and the systems so the business does not implode while I am gone?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Taking an unplugged sabbatical is the ultimate test of your leadership team and your systems. If you cannot leave for thirty days without the business collapsing, you do not own a business, you own a job. To prepare for this test, you must start six months in advance. First, ensure your Accountability Chart is completely clear and that every seat has defined, measurable metrics on the Scorecard. Your team must be running highly effective weekly Level 10 Meetings™ without you. Next, begin a gradual handoff. Three months before you leave, stop attending their weekly tactical meetings. Force them to IDS® problems on their own. One month before your departure, implement a strict rule that all decisions must go through the Integrator or the leadership team, even while you are still physically in the building. This allows you to observe where the cracks are before you actually exit. When you leave, you must commit to zero communication. No emails, no texts, and no quick phone calls. If you check in, you rob your team of the opportunity to step up and solve problems. Let them make mistakes and self-correct. When you return, conduct a thorough review of how they handled issues. This exercise will expose your operational bottlenecks and prove to potential buyers that your company can run independently of you.