Leadership rituals, team connection and the paradox of stepping away.
When I was CEO at Living Goods, one of the rituals my team often mentioned was my Monday morning email.
Every Friday (or, if I’m honest, sometimes Sunday), I’d write a short note with:
My priorities for the week ahead
Thanks for milestones hit or things to celebrate - thanking team members
A reflection from my own leadership journey—often what I was learning the hard way
And something personal - holiday photos, a family visit, even the arrival of new pets
It was simple, but it became an anchor. It gave clarity, created connection, and reminded people that leadership is human.
Looking back now, I realise that was one of the things I miss most about being a CEO: the rhythm of leading a team, the sense of belonging, the accountability of showing up consistently for others.
An exert of a weekly email (that will be hard to read) but an excuse to share about getting a dog that is now happily settled!
But there are also things I don’t miss. The relentless pressure to provide clarity. The responsibility for budgets and systems. The weight of trade-offs that never go away.
I was reminded of this recently while supporting a client team at their leadership retreat. By the end of the week, I felt so embedded in their mission that I almost wanted to step in and lead. (Not that they needed me—their CEO was doing an excellent job!)
And then I remembered what that really meant: showing up day after day, driving systems forward, owning the tough calls. Familiar work - and not the role I want right now.
That’s the paradox of stepping away from CEO life. You carry the muscle memory of leadership, the pull to step in, but also the knowledge of the cost of always being “on.”
So I’ll leave you with two questions:
If you’ve led a team, what ritual did you create that they’d miss if you left?
And if you’ve stepped away, what do you miss most - and what don’t you miss at all?
Thanks for being part of this next chapter with me.
Warmly, Liz Strategic Advisor | Former CEO | Founder, Volante
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