Put your out of office message on.
Don’t tell people where you’re going.
It’s none of their business.

There’s no fire drill that will pop up that needs you.
There’s nothing SO urgent that will require you to hop on a Zoom call for a “quick chat”. There’s no PowerPoint deck that will urgently need your input on slide 18.

Stop using busyness and productivity interchangeably.
Stop equating your constantly being “online” as job security.
Stop stealing your hard earned time off to feed the incessant corporate hunger.
Stop sacrificing your time with yourself or loved ones for the sake of replaceable strangers.

I say this with much care and respect.
You are not that important.
I am not that important.
You can take that time away.
Trust me, nothing will crumble and fall apart so drastically.

The reality is:
That circular conversation you sat in on last week on Zoom?
You’ll have the same conversation when you get back.

Those comments for the slide deck?
There will be new comments when you get back.

The deadline for that urgent deliverable for the VP?
There will be another new deadline for another new urgent project.

They will all still be there when you get back.

If you, as a manager, cannot take time off without bringing your laptop or constantly checking your email, that says much more about your leadership capabilities than it does your team’s comfort level without having you around all the time.

It says much more about your own insecurity,
than it does your team’s actual capability.

It says much more about your team culture and trust,
than it does the quality of their work and deliverables.

Ricky Koo is a seasoned corporate executive, entrepreneur, and certified Leadership & Communication Coach with a passion for helping professionals lead with authenticity and impact. With a background in Psychology and as a former Big 4 CPA, he built a distinguished career in Fortune 500 companies across banking, consulting, and technology, leading global teams and navigating complex business environments. Ricky’s unique perspective and strong instincts as a business leader enable him to successfully guide people through challenging situations while developing and fostering strong cultures.

As an instructor at UC Berkeley Extension, he passionately blends a strong technical foundation with real-world leadership experience to deliver transformative learnings on communication, influence, leadership, and career development. His approach bridges science with practicality, creating meaningful impact for audiences worldwide—from the classroom to the boardroom.