Silent Night: A Leader's Reflection on Rest and Renewal

As I sit in my home office, looking at the soft glow of my Christmas tree, I'm reminded of a profound truth: even in our always-on digital world, we must find moments of stillness. After two decades in leadership roles, I've learned that rest isn't just a nice-to-have—it's a divine prescription.

The Sacred Rhythm of Rest

"And on the seventh day God rested from all his work" (Genesis 2:2). Isn't it fascinating that our Creator, who certainly didn't need to rest, chose to model this behavior? As leaders, we sometimes wear our perpetual busyness like a badge of honor. Yet, when I reflect on this biblical principle, I'm reminded that rest isn't a sign of weakness—it's a sign of wisdom.

During my time overseeing clinical operations at various organizations, I noticed something remarkable: teams that honored their rest periods consistently outperformed those running on empty. It's like that old saying about putting on your own oxygen mask first—except, in this case, it's about putting on your own Christmas pajamas and actually using them!

Creating Pockets of Peace in a Virtual World

In our data-driven world of analytics and performance metrics, peace can seem elusive. But just as the shepherds found moments of awe amid their night shift, we too can create spaces for renewal.

Practical Steps for Peace

Drawing from my experience managing remote teams, here are some tested strategies:

Lead by example: When you log off for the day, actually log off. Those Slack messages will still be there tomorrow (Trust me, like the Christmas story, they tend to multiply!)

Create boundaries: Just as the inn had its limits, we need to set clear boundaries. I encourage my teams to establish "no meeting zones" for focused work or rest.

Celebrate small victories: In business, we're always pushing toward better outcomes. But sometimes, like the shepherds, we need to pause and simply celebrate the wonder of what we do.

The Gift of Grace

Remember, the first Christmas wasn't perfect—it was real. There was probably dust in the manger and noise from nearby animals. Yet in that imperfect setting, perfect peace arrived.

Similarly, we don't need perfect conditions to find moments of rest.

As we navigate this holiday season, I challenge my fellow leaders to embrace what I call "holy pause moments." Whether it's taking five minutes for prayer before a Zoom meeting or ensuring your team gets proper breaks between calls, these moments of rest multiply our effectiveness.

A Christmas Prayer for Leaders

"Lord, grant us the wisdom to lead like shepherds—alert to needs but attuned to Your presence. Help us create spaces of peace in our workplaces, remembering that even as we guide others, we must care for ourselves and our teams. Amen."

As we close another year, remember that even the star of Bethlehem knew when to stop and hover over its destination. May we all find our moments to pause, reflect, and renew.

(And yes, I did write part of this blog during my scheduled "no meeting zone" time slot—practiced what I preached!)

About the Author:

Sarah Roberts, DNP, MSN, MBA, RN, NE-BC, OMC, is a dynamic healthcare executive with extensive experience in clinical operations, telehealth, and healthcare analytics. Currently serving as Senior Vice President of Clinic Practice Operations at HealthCatalyst, she brings a wealth of experience in leading large-scale healthcare initiatives and fostering innovation in patient care. Sarah combines her clinical expertise with business acumen to drive organizational success while maintaining a focus on compassionate, patient-centered care. When she's not transforming healthcare operations, you might find her mentoring the next generation of nurse leaders or contributing to various nursing advisory boards. She firmly believes that effective healthcare leadership requires both data-driven decision-making and a heart for service.