When stepping back becomes the ultimate step forward embracing intentional pauses to accelerate executive impact
There’s something profoundly liberating about a blank page. No constraints, no predetermined outcomes, just pure potential waiting to be shaped. That’s exactly where I find myself today, having stepped away from my full-time role to create space for what matters most: strategic planning, expanding my executive advisory work, and designing the next chapter with intention.
Let me be clear: this transition is not a pause; it’s an accelerator.
For over two decades, I’ve navigated the complexities of HR leadership, building people strategies, transforming organizational cultures, and driving business impact. But like many senior leaders, I found myself caught in the relentless rhythm of execution, always moving, rarely reflecting. The decision to step away wasn’t born from burnout or dissatisfaction; it emerged from clarity. Clarity that the most powerful work I can do requires space to think, strategize, and engage deeply with the leaders and organizations that need transformational guidance.
The Courage to Choose White Space
We live in a culture that glorifies constant motion. Taking time off is often viewed with suspicion, “Are you okay?” “What happened?” “When will you get back to a ‘real job’?” and these were the exact questions asked by many while I spoke to many people in last few weeks. But here’s what I believe: “Strategic pauses are not career gaps; they’re career accelerators“. Also while many of the leaders who endorse western philosophy and speak about intented breaks to reflect and redirect the career, however practically, they see such breaks with more suspicion and unfruitful for once career, which makes one’s come back more ardous.
Stepping back has given me:
- Clarity of purpose – Understanding exactly where I create the most value
- Time for strategic thinking – The luxury to plan, not just react
- Energy renewal – Mental bandwidth to tackle complex challenges with fresh perspective
- Selective engagement – The ability to say yes to the right opportunities, not just available ones
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” — Steve Jobs
My Key Learnings From This Transition
1. Identity Beyond Your Job Title
For years, my identity was intertwined with my role. Stepping away forced me to answer: Who am I without the title? The answer was liberating, I’m a strategic advisor, a transformation catalyst, and a people champion. The work doesn’t change; the container does.
2. Strategic Planning Requires Space
You cannot architect your future while drowning in operational demands. Real strategic thinking, the kind that shapes industries and transforms organizations, requires uninterrupted mental space. This “blank page” period is my strategic planning laboratory.
3. Advisory Work Is Where Experience Compounds
After 21 years in HR, I’ve accumulated not just knowledge but pattern recognition. I see what others miss. I know which interventions work and which waste time. Executive advisory work allows me to deploy this wisdom at scale, impacting multiple organizations simultaneously and coaching & mentoring made me realise the importance of having sounding board for reflection and growth in life holistically!.
4. The Market Rewards Intentionality
Clients don’t want someone who’s available; they want someone who’s essential. By being intentional about when and where I engage, I’ve elevated the value I bring. Scarcity creates demand when backed by demonstrated expertise.
5. Transitions Are Leadership Labs
How you navigate your own transition models how you’ll guide others through theirs. This period has deepened my empathy for leaders facing change and sharpened my ability to help them navigate uncertainty with confidence.
Practical Tips for Leaders Considering a Strategic Transition
Before You Make the Leap:
- Build your financial runway – Have 12-18 months of expenses covered to remove pressure from decision-making
- Define your “why” – Be crystal clear on what you’re moving toward, not just what you’re leaving
- Test your advisory hypothesis – Start side projects or consulting engagements while employed to validate demand
During the Transition:
- Create structure – Treat this time like a strategic project with goals, milestones, and metrics
- Invest in your brand – Update LinkedIn, publish thought leadership, and engage your network actively
- Say no strategically – Protect your time; not every opportunity deserves your “Yes” (Tip : it is very tempting to say yes, ask yourself why took break”)
- Schedule reflection – Weekly reviews to assess what’s working and adjust course
As You Build Momentum:
- Package your expertise – Develop frameworks, tools, and methodologies that showcase your unique approach
- Be visible – Speak, write, advise, let the market see your value in action
- Build strategic partnerships – Align with complementary experts to expand your impact
- Price for value, not time – Your decades of experience deserve premium positioning
Insights for HR Leaders and Executives
For HR Professionals: Your expertise is more valuable outside traditional employment than you think. Organizations desperately need strategic HR guidance but often can’t access it within their current structures. Advisory work lets you impact strategy without organizational politics.
For Business Leaders: The best advisors aren’t the ones still climbing the ladder, they’re the ones who’ve reached the top and can now guide others up with clarity. Look for advisors who’ve created space for strategic thinking.
For Anyone Feeling “Stuck”: Sometimes the most courageous career move isn’t climbing higher, it’s stepping back to gain perspective. Trust that intentional pauses create momentum.
My Advice: Reframe the Narrative
Stop calling it “time off.” Start calling it what it is:
- Strategic repositioning
- Portfolio career building
- Executive transition
- Intentional growth period
Language shapes perception, yours and others’. Own your narrative with confidence.
The blank page isn’t empty, it’s full of possibility. And I’m filling it with intention.
Call to Action
Are you a leader facing organizational transformation? Let’s talk. Whether you need strategic HR guidance, leadership development, or cultural transformation, I bring 21 years of proven expertise and the fresh perspective that comes from intentional growth.
Are you an HR professional considering a similar transition? I’d love to share insights. The path from employment to advisory work is navigable and potentially the most rewarding move of your career.
Connect with me on LinkedIn or reach out directly to explore how we can work together to drive impact in your organization.
