When Leadership Means Letting Go: Lessons in Rest, Trust, and Reconnection

There’s something humbling about being flat on your back. For me, it wasn’t burnout, it wasn’t a crisis — it was a good, old-fashioned virus that knocked me out right after a week of leading a powerful workshop. Within 24 hours of wrapping up that presentation, I was sick — really sick — and for an entire week, I couldn’t do anything.

Meetings? Missed. Emails? Ignored. Even my beloved trivia night — gone. And in the frustration, the guilt, and the FOMO, I realized something profound about nonprofit leadership: sometimes the most powerful leadership act is doing nothing at all.

1. Releasing the Illusion of Control

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “If I just work harder, I can fix this,” you’re not alone. Nonprofit leaders are often conditioned to believe that relentless effort equals success. But while lying in bed, unable to push through, I learned that sometimes release is leadership.

We can’t force outcomes — not with our health, not with our teams, not even with our donors. True leaders know when to step back and trust the process. As I often remind my clients, letting go of the result doesn’t mean you’ve failed; it means you’re leaving space for alignment and grace to show up.

2. Surrender Isn’t Weakness — It’s Wisdom

Four days into being sick, I realized I wasn’t “pushing through” — I was resisting. So, I made a conscious decision: I surrender.

That surrender changed everything. My healing accelerated, my energy returned, and my clarity sharpened. As leaders, we often forget that rest is a strategic decision, not a luxury.

When we step back, our systems don’t fall apart — they recalibrate. Your team learns to rise, your systems adjust, and your organization breathes. One of my clients once said she felt she wasn’t cut out for fundraising because big events drained her. My response? That’s your wisdom talking. Build in recovery time. Surrender to your rhythm.

3. Let Go of Perfection and Timelines

Missing a meeting, an event, or even an entire week doesn’t erase your value or impact. Yet, many nonprofit professionals — myself included — tie our worth to productivity.

What if we believed that what’s meant for us won’t pass us by? A mentor once told me, “Nothing meant for you will pass you by because you rested.” That mantra carried me through my sick days and reminded me: perfection is a myth. Progress happens in the pauses.

4. Balance Comes from Rhythm, Not Rigidity

Leadership isn’t linear — it’s an expansion and contraction, like breathing. So often, we celebrate the exhale — the growth, the progress, the big win — but we forget to honor the inhale.

Balance doesn’t come from rigid scheduling or control; it comes from rhythm. When we rest, we restore our creativity and open ourselves to new insights. In fact, when we slow down, the universe speeds up. When you pause, you make room for clarity — and for miracles.

5. Self-Compassion Fuels Compassion

The more grace you give yourself, the more grace you can offer others. Too often, I see nonprofit leaders give everything to their teams, donors, and causes, leaving nothing for themselves.

But you can’t pour from an empty cup. When you invest in your own growth, training, and rest, you set the temperature for your organization. A healthy, compassionate leader inspires the same in their teams — and that ripple effect is priceless.

6. Trust the Systems, Trust Your People

When I couldn’t host my family’s annual crab feast, I texted my siblings and said, “I’m down for the count.” Their response? “We got you.”

They handled everything — the setup, the food, the laughter. And I had to practice the hardest leadership skill of all: trust.

Trust your systems. Trust your team. Trust your donors. They may not do it exactly like you would, but they’ll do it their way — and that’s enough. When we step aside, we create space for others to rise.

Final Thoughts: Redefining Leadership in the Pause

Leadership isn’t about never stopping. It’s about knowing when to stop. In our fast-paced, mission-driven world, rest often feels like rebellion — but it’s actually resilience.

If you’re a nonprofit leader juggling goals, events, and a never-ending inbox, ask yourself this:

👉 What expectation, guilt, or timeline could you release this week to create more balance and grace?

When you lead with trust, compassion, and rhythm, you don’t lose momentum — you build sustainable power.

In Closing

If this resonates with you, let’s work together. I’m currently offering a four-session coaching series designed to strengthen your donor pipeline — from awareness to action — while helping you lead with balance and confidence.

👉 Book a free Influence Activator Call with me here.

Because leadership isn’t about doing more — it’s about leading better.