24. The Unplanned Absence

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Most leaders have a plan for when they go on holiday.

Meetings are moved. Decisions are brought forward. Work is delegated. The diary is managed.

But what happens when a leader disappears without warning?

No handover. No preparation. No final email. No opportunity to clear the desk.

An unexpected illness, accident or emergency exposes a simple question: can the organisation continue without you?

Drawing on a personal experience of being suddenly hospitalised for more than a week, this essay explores business continuity from a leadership perspective. It examines the difference between planned absence and genuine disruption, and why resilient organisations are built to withstand both.

The true measure of continuity is not whether a leader can step away for a holiday. It is whether the work continues when they have no choice.