When the Leader Comes Back Different
Randy Wolken, President & CEO

I just returned from a wonderful experience with Denise and our three adult children in Italy.

One of the great challenges of any meaningful journey isn’t the trip itself — it’s the return.

I can be inspired while standing before remarkable works of art, walking through centuries of history, exploring places of extraordinary beauty, or stepping away from the demands of everyday life. The true test for me comes when the luggage is unpacked, the email inbox is overflowing, the meetings begin, and ordinary life resumes.

Today is that day. I have a full schedule.

My temptation is to believe the journey is over. But in reality, the most important part is just beginning.

The purpose of stepping away isn’t to escape. The purpose is perspective.

Whether I call it a pilgrimage, a vacation, a retreat, or simply time away, these experiences create something we leaders often struggle to find in the midst of daily responsibilities: space. Space to think. Space to observe. Space to reconnect with what matters most.

During my time away, three themes often become clearer than they do in the normal rhythm of my life: purpose, relationships, and service. Purpose reminds me why I do what I do. Relationships remind me who I do it for. Service reminds me that leadership is ultimately about helping others succeed.

The challenge upon returning is deciding what to do with those insights. The question isn’t whether the experience was meaningful. The question is whether it will be transformational.

What will be different because I went?

I, like many leaders, can spend my days moving from one challenge to the next. Problems demand attention. Opportunities require action. Decisions must be made. The pace can become so relentless that reflection feels like a luxury rather than a necessity.

Yet history consistently teaches us something different. The most effective leaders are rarely those who simply work harder. They’re the ones who periodically step back, gain perspective, and return with greater clarity.

Clarity changes everything.

It improves decision-making. It sharpens priorities. It strengthens relationships. It reminds leaders of what deserves their attention and what does not.

Perhaps the greatest gift of time away isn’t rest itself, but remembrance. We remember what truly matters. We remember the people who make our lives meaningful. We remember the values we want to embody. We remember that our organizations, communities, and families need more than our activity — they need our best thinking, our best judgment, and our best selves.

The greatest threat to growth isn’t opposition.

It’s forgetfulness.

Without intention, the lessons gained during a journey can quickly disappear beneath the weight of urgent tasks and crowded calendars. The perspective that felt so clear a week ago can be replaced by old habits, old assumptions, and old patterns.

That’s why returning matters so much. The goal isn’t to recreate the experience.

The goal is to preserve its lessons.

Perhaps that means protecting time for reflection. Perhaps it means spending more intentional time with family. Perhaps it means leading with greater patience. Perhaps it means focusing on the few priorities that matter most rather than chasing every opportunity that appears. Whatever the lesson may be, it deserves protection.

As leaders, we often believe our greatest responsibility is to be present for others. This is true. However, we also have a responsibility to renew ourselves so that we have something meaningful to offer when we return.

The best leaders understand a simple truth:

You cannot continuously pour out without routinely filling the well.

The strongest leaders aren’t those who never step away. They’re the ones who step away intentionally, gain perspective, and come back ready to serve.

As I return from this journey, I’m reminded that leadership isn’t measured solely by what we accomplish. It’s measured by the quality of our presence, the wisdom of our decisions, the strength of our relationships, and the impact we have on those we serve. Those qualities are often strengthened not during the busiest seasons of work, but during the moments when we intentionally create space to reflect.

My encouragement to every leader is simple: Take the trip. Schedule the retreat. Go on the vacation. Spend a few days away from the demands of your role.

You don’t need weeks. Sometimes a few days are enough.

Step back so you can see more clearly. Disconnect so you can reconnect. Leave so you can return.

Because the leaders who periodically create space for reflection, renewal, and perspective often come back not merely rested — but ready.

Ready to lead. Ready to serve. Ready to make a greater difference than before they left.