Skip to content Engagement requires disengagement.
Yet when done with intention, it becomes a powerful strategy that renews focus and energy.
We often think disengagement is the enemy of performance. Yet when done with intention, it
becomes a powerful strategy . Research from the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance
Institute shows that top performers , whether athletes or executives , reach peak performance
not by going all out all the time, but by oscillating between energy expenditure and energy
renewal (Experience Life , The Power of Full Engagement, 2011 ).
For managers, this means modeling the discipline of unplugging by intentionally disengaging .
When you step away, you return with clearer focus and show your people you trust them to
carry forward , building their confidence and ownership.
Everyday Moves
Step away fully. Use vacations and time off as true disengagement from work so you can return
recharged.
Schedule white space. Block time on your calendar with no agenda to think, reflect, or reset
perspective.
Switch contexts. Engage in activities unrelated to work (volunteering, hobbies, creative outlets )
to refresh your energy and broaden your thinking.
Set clear boundaries. Protect evenings or weekends from work interruptions and encourage
your people to do the same.
Disengagement isn’t about doing less. It’s about coming back with more clarity and
capacity. When managers step away with intention, they make better decisions, avoid fatigue –
driven mistakes, and create space for their people to grow in autonomy. Stepping away doesn’t
lessen your impact. It strengthens it and gives your people permission to do the same.
What’s one way you’ll build renewal into your week , and how will you help your people do
the same?
Alt text for graphic: Disengagement is the # 6 way to better engagement.
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