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Overview

In this soul-nourishing conversation, Lindsey Fuller is joined by strategist, storyteller, and founder of the Leaving Well framework, Naomi Hattaway. Together, they unpack what it means to lead with intention, especially when it comes to rest, sabbaticals, and workplace transitions that truly center people.

From micro-sabbaticals to full-scale cultural shifts, Naomi shares wisdom for how organizations can operationalize rest as a core value—not just a perk. You'll hear powerful insights on how to care for your team through change, reimagine wellness in the workplace, and create brave space for transitions that honor the past and make room for what’s next.

This episode is a reminder that we don’t have to choose between humanity and productivity—we can hold both. And it starts with rest.

Affirmations:

You deserve a workplace that values your humanity as deeply as your contributions.
Rest isn’t a luxury—it’s leadership.
Every transition is an invitation to honor what was and imagine what’s possible.

Key Takeaways:

Embedding rest into the fabric of organizational culture
Designing intentional sabbatical and micro-sabbatical programs
Navigating endings and beginnings with care and dignity
Expanding the definition of workplace wellness

Resources Mentioned:

Individual Workplace Transition Nssessment (Naomi Hattaway)
Organizational Workplace Transition Assessment (Naomi Hattaway)

Today’s Speaker

Lindsey Fuller, Executive Director of The Teaching Well

Naomi Hattaway, Interim Executive Director at The Appellate Project (TAP).

“Sabbaticals are one of the most powerful ways to interrupt burnout cycles before they become resignation triggers.”

— Naomi Hattaway, Interim Executive Director at The Appellate Project (TAP)

Episode Transcript

Download Full Episode Transcript Here

Episode Highlights

The Importance of Rest as Policy (02:40)
Somatic #1 (02:56)
Operationalizing Rest in Organizations (05:52)
Deceleration and Onboarding (11:42)
Embedding Wellness in Workplace Culture (14:28)
Sabbaticals and Employee Retention (17:16)
The Ripple Effect of Sabbaticals (20:19)
Navigating Sabbaticals in Nonprofits (25:27)
Advocating for Rest and Well-being (31:35)
Somatic #2 (34:42)
The Impact of Transitions on Organizational Culture (37:17)
Homework for Sustainable Work Practices (45:16)

Powerful Quotes

“People leave - that’s a reality. Change is a reality too. What we do with it becomes our transition experience.” - Naomi Hattaway

“Legacy is 50% what you’ve created and contributed - and 50% beyond your control. It’s what others believe about you.”- Naomi Hattaway

“Rest isn’t a reward for exhaustion. It’s a prerequisite for your excellence.” - Naomi Hattaway

"Unlimited PTO sounds great in theory and on paper, but people often don’t know how to navigate it." - Naomi Hattaway

“100% retention is not realistic or healthy. Change is hard, but it doesn’t have to be traumatic.”- Lindsey Fuller

“We’re asking people to hold space for others even while they’re still in their own healing.” - Lindsey Fuller

“Bring passion for rest, but not in a way that pushes out those trying their best to make it work.”- Lindsey Fuller

“Letting someone cover a sabbatical gives them space to explore what it means to step into a new role.”- Naomi Hattaway

“How you say goodbye reflects how you onboard and how your reputation is sustained.”- Naomi Hattaway

“Talking about energy and capacity should be a full team conversation, not just one for leadership.”- Naomi Hattaway

Homework:

Reflections to Carry Forward:

🌀 Reimagine how you hold performance.
Look closely at how you evaluate success. Does it make room for sustainability? For human capacity? Invite in a gentler lens — one that honors pace, wellness, and what’s possible over time.

🪶 Reclaim your time through meeting culture.
Examine the rhythms of your calendar. Are meetings built on the assumption of constant availability? What would it look like to create space, to trust spaciousness, and to set boundaries that nourish focus and presence?

🌾 Revisit what you uplift.
Recognition carries power. Ask yourself: Are we celebrating behaviors that lead to burnout? Or are we honoring healthy, life-giving ways of working? Let your praise reflect the values you want to see flourish.

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