Why Rest is the Ultimate Leadership Strategy
Life Isn’t About Time—It’s About Moments
Life isn’t measured by the hours we wake, but by the intentional moments we create. A fulfilling life is simply a meaningful collection of these moments—anchored in reflection, connection, and love.
Today was special—quiet, rare, and precious. It was just me and my second son, Eann. Our bond defies simple explanation, yet profoundly shapes who I am. Eann somehow touches the deepest part of my heart, drawing forth immense patience and tenderness. Watching him sleep excitedly holding the capybara soft toy Auntie Karyn gifted him last night reminded me how fleeting and precious childhood innocence is.
Trusting Your Instinct as a Leader—and Parent
This morning, Eann woke before me and asked if he could play outside. I agreed, yet something subtly felt off. There was a gut-level hesitation—one of those quiet, unspoken signals every parent and leader learns to recognize over time.
But instead of rushing into correction, I paused. I chose trust. It was an instinctive decision—the kind leaders must make often: patience and dialogue over immediate intervention.
Later, I discovered what triggered that gut feeling.
He had quietly eaten some gummy bears and sweet drinks that morning without permission. But instead of reacting with punishment, I invited reflection. And what I saw surprised me—he had already processed the moment. He told me on his own that it wasn’t the right choice, and that next time, he’d stick to healthy food and ask first.
That moment turned out to be not a failure, but a success—not in discipline, but in development.
Because the real win wasn’t that he got caught—it was that he took ownership.
That’s leadership in its simplest form: not control, but conviction.
Not reaction, but reflection.
And that’s what we want to cultivate—in our children, in our teams, and in ourselves.
Each Child, Each Person is a Unique Journey
Eann spent part of the morning drawing—a capybara surrounded by fruits, exactly what Auntie Karyn had requested earlier. His quiet creativity and exceptional memory impressed me deeply, subtly challenging labels such as “fast” or “slow” learner. My wife, Wenny, often observes Eann‘s slower pace academically, especially compared to his elder brother Aden, who quickly grasps concepts. Yet, Eann’s ability to keep promises and express himself artistically demonstrates his unique strengths.
Life and learning aren’t linear. Each child’s journey is distinct, shaped uniquely by their talents, decisions, values, and contexts. As a father and educator, my role is simply to cherish and nurture Eann’s uniqueness without anxiety or judgment.
The Reverse Leadership Mindset—Why Rest Comes First
With Wenny away in Malacca visiting family, Aden and Evan were away with family, I embraced the rare gift of a guilt-free, restful Sunday. Today, I intentionally challenged a deeply ingrained yet flawed belief:
“We rest when the work is done.”
Instead, I’ve adopted the reverse leadership mindset:
“We don’t rest because work is done—work will never be done. We rest because we are human. Rest enables meaningful work.”
Historical Lessons on Productivity
The Soviet Union’s Failed Productivity Experiment
History offers an essential lesson in this reverse thinking. In 1929, the Soviet Union replaced the traditional seven-day week with a continuous workweek—no shared rest, only staggered days off—to maximize productivity. Instead of a productivity boom, however, they faced collapse:
- Burnout became epidemic.
- Families fragmented without a common rest day.
- Productivity plummeted, and morale deteriorated.
By 1940, the Soviets reversed course, humbly acknowledging that rest isn’t a luxury—it’s fundamental for productivity, creativity, and wellbeing.
Lesson learned: eliminating rest doesn’t amplify productivity—it destroys it.
Malaysian Context—Leadership in Crisis and the Importance of Rest
In Malaysia, we’ve seen this principle firsthand. Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, our former Health Director-General, highlighted the exhaustion of frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emergencies—like pandemics or national elections where politicians stay awake over 24 hours awaiting results—might require temporary sacrifices. But these are rare, not sustainable models.
Rest, especially in leadership, must be a rhythm rather than a luxury. You don’t rest because you’re done; you rest because you’re human. You lead best not when exhausted but when rooted.
Work-Life Integration: Your Head, Your Body, and the Monkey Experiment
In 1970, scientists experimented by transplanting a monkey’s head onto another monkey’s body. While initially deemed a technical success, the monkey soon became paralyzed and died within days. The head and body, it turned out, are inseparable systems.
This vividly illustrates why compartmentalizing work (“head”) and personal life (“body”) inevitably fails. Your professional productivity cannot be sustained independently of your personal health, relationships, and life balance.
This is precisely why I’ve questioned traditional approaches such as punch-card systems. Companies don’t truly benefit from monitoring hours—they thrive by nurturing responsibility, balance, and alignment of personal and corporate values.
Ethical Responsibility—The 5-to-9 Connection
Many believe their personal time after work (5-to-9) is entirely disconnected from professional obligations (9-to-5). Technically, that’s correct; ethically and practically, it isn’t.
People who irresponsibly handle their personal time—such as regularly staying out late drinking or neglecting rest—cannot sustainably deliver their best performance professionally. True leadership and productivity stem from acknowledging this interconnection and proactively maintaining balance across both spheres.
Through years of leading a purpose-driven organization, I’ve observed that private turmoil inevitably spills into professional life. This underscores why I prioritize hiring individuals whose personal values align closely with organizational values.
Real Leadership Means Prioritizing What Matters Most
Leaders, educators, and parents share this common responsibility: we lead best by modeling balance. Children and colleagues don’t just follow what we say—they imitate how we live. Neglecting rest, family, or health ultimately sets unsustainable examples.
No professional success, regardless of how impressive, is worth pursuing at the expense of health, family, relationships, or community.
Rest is Proactive, Strategic Leadership
Imagine driving endlessly without stopping. Initially, you may travel far—but inevitably, without fuel or rest, you’ll break down. Productivity, creativity, and leadership are no different: without intentional rest, burnout becomes inevitable.
Therefore, rest isn’t passive—it’s proactive.
It isn’t indulgent—it’s strategic.
It isn’t an afterthought—it’s foundational leadership.
But how do we lead effectively when we’re not at our best mentally, emotionally, physically, or spiritually?
Leadership isn’t just about performing at your peak; it’s about understanding and managing your energy and impact even during low points. Here’s how you can lead well—even when you’re not at your optimum:
- Mentally: Recognize your cognitive limits, delegate clearly, and rely on structured routines and decision-making frameworks to maintain clarity.
- Emotionally: Practice transparency with your team about your emotional state—this builds trust and authentic connection, showing your humanity rather than weakening your authority.
- Physically: Prioritize tasks that align with your current physical capacity, manage your energy wisely, and empower your team to step up during these times.
- Spiritually: Stay grounded in your purpose and values, leaning into them even more deeply when times are tough. Allow your core principles—not just your energy levels—to guide you.
When leaders show up authentically—even when they’re vulnerable—they inspire resilience, trust, and deeper connection within their teams. Remember, genuine leadership isn’t about constant perfection; it’s about consistency of character, clarity of purpose, and the courage to rest, reset, and realign.
Today’s Reminder: Purposeful Presence
Today wasn’t simply “time off.” It was purposefully spent, reinforcing a crucial truth about leadership and life:
- A sketch of a capybara by Eann,
- A slow, thoughtful breakfast,
- Unhurried conversations grounded in love.
We cannot lead others sustainably if we can’t first lead ourselves well. And self-leadership is a rhythm—of rest and responsibility, of pause and pursuit.
Know when to stop. But more importantly, know when to start.
I’d invite reflection with these prompts:
- For the over-functioners: “What would change if you trusted rest as a strategic act of leadership, not a reward for exhaustion?”
- For the under-functioners: “What would change if you saw consistent effort not as pressure, but as purpose in motion?”
- For everyone: “What rhythm do you need to build so you can lead yourself sustainably—on your terms, not someone else’s tempo?”
Rest first for now. Everything else second.
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