Taking My Own Advice: What I Learned About Leadership in the Alps
- Jayne McQuillan
- 49 minutes ago
- 4 min read
As a business owner, I spend a lot of time helping other leaders step back and see the bigger picture. I encourage them to take time away, to empower their teams, and to build organizations that don’t depend on them every single day.
It’s great advice. But as I was reminded recently, sometimes the hardest part is taking your own.
This fall, my husband and I spent two weeks traveling through Northern Italy, Austria, and Switzerland. It was a much-needed trip, as we had a busy summer welcoming a new grandson and celebrating our daughter’s wedding. Between client projects, deadlines, and the constant hum of “just one more thing,” it would have been easier to put it off.
But taking my own advice, we went. We packed our bags, turned off the notifications, and headed for the mountains.
Letting Go Isn’t Easy
The first few days, I’ll admit, were hard. It’s not easy to step away from something you’ve built, especially when you care deeply about your clients and your team. I caught myself checking email more than once, wondering if everything was running smoothly back home.
But as the days passed, something started to shift. I began to trust not just that things would be fine, but that they might even be better.
One morning, while sipping cappuccino on a quiet street in Verona, I realized just how much my team had grown. They didn’t need me to answer every question or solve every problem. They were already doing it. And not just “getting by” they were thriving.
That’s when it hit me: leadership isn’t about being needed every day. It’s about creating space for others to lead.
The Power of Perspective
Somewhere between the mountain passes of Austria and the peaceful lakes of Switzerland, I found something I didn’t even know I was missing...perspective.
When you’re in the day-to-day, everything feels urgent. Every problem needs your attention. Every decision feels high stakes. But when you step away, literally and figuratively, you start to see the whole landscape again.
Looking out over those incredible alpine views, I found myself thinking about the business in a new way. What was working? What wasn’t? Where were we headed next? And perhaps most importantly, was I giving my team enough room to grow into the leaders I know they can be?
Those moments of quiet reflection gave me clarity that I couldn’t have found in the middle of a busy week at the office.
The Best Part: Watching the Team Step Up
When I returned, I saw something amazing. The team hadn’t just maintained they had elevated. They’d made decisions, solved problems, onboarded a new employee, and supported each other in ways that made me incredibly proud.
They didn’t wait for direction. They led.
And that’s when I knew: taking that time away wasn’t just good for me. It was good for them.
It was an opportunity for the team to step up, take ownership, and strengthen the systems we’ve built together.
Coming Back with Gratitude
I came back refreshed, yes, but more importantly, I came back grateful. Grateful for a team that leads with integrity and confidence. Grateful for the reminder that when we step back, others step forward.
It’s easy, as business owners, to believe that our presence is what keeps everything moving. But the truth is, real leadership shows up in your absence. It’s in how your people handle the unexpected. It’s in how they carry the culture forward.
And when you return to find that not only has everything gone smoothly but even improved you realize something profound: you’re building something sustainable.
A Challenge to Fellow Leaders
If you’re reading this as a business owner or leader, here’s my challenge to you: take your own advice.
Book the trip. Step away for a while. Let your team show you what they’re capable of.
You might find, as I did somewhere between a vineyard in Italy and a lake in Switzerland, that the business doesn’t just survive without you, it grows. And when you come back, you’ll see everything with new eyes, full of pride and gratitude for the people who make it all possible.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your business isn’t working harder. It’s stepping back and trusting that what you’ve built will keep moving forward.
Imagine what your business could look like if your team operated confidently without you.
👉 What’s one move you can make this week to support that vision?
Case Study: Tureks Plumbing Services
Ed was looking to go from good to great and position himself and the business for an exit at some point in the future. He also wanted a team that could execute day-to-day operations without him, freeing Ed up to focus his energy where it has the most value. Full Case Study
Four years into his Value Journey, Ed achieved:
178% Increase in Business Valuation
45% Revenue growth
EBITDA has grown 2.8X
Ed is out of the daily operations
Want to achieve results like these in your business?
Jayne McQuillan, CPA, MBA, Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) is the owner of Journey Consulting, LLC and author of The Value Journey: How to Drive Profits, Build Wealth, and Exit Your Business on Your Own Terms.
Our firm is focused on providing business owners and their businesses with strategic planning, exit planning, financial expertise, and organizational improvement. We use a holistic approach within all of our services by aligning leadership with business strategy and outcomes.
Schedule your complimentary consultation to begin your Value Journey today!