Many business leaders treat their vacations as a necessary evil—something they don’t really want to do but know they must to keep their families or other loved ones happy. Deep down inside, they would rather be in the office making things happen than on some remote beach where they can’t even connect to Wi-Fi.

But what if your next vacation could actually sharpen your leadership skills? The most effective leaders don’t just rest during vacation. They strategically choose experiences that build the very capabilities they need to excel in the boardroom. Here are five for you to consider:

1. The solo adventure

Traveling alone forces you to make countless micro-decisions without a committee or team behind you. Whether you’re navigating Tokyo’s subway system (a real challenge for this non-Japanese speaker!) or choosing between hiking trails in Patagonia, solo travel builds decisive leadership muscles. You’ll return with enhanced confidence in your judgment and a deeper understanding of your own decision-making process – skills that translate directly to leading teams through uncertainty.

Leadership benefit: Improved decision-making speed and self-reliance.

2. The skills-based expedition

Consider taking a vacation that will challenge you to learn something completely outside your wheelhouse. Take a pottery class in Tuscany, learn rock climbing in Joshua Tree, or master Thai cooking in Bangkok. Vacation experiences like these rewire your brain for learning and remind you of what it feels like to be a beginner again – a perspective that makes you more empathetic when teaching and developing your team.

Leadership benefit: Enhanced coaching abilities and growth mindset.

3. The cultural immersion

Skip the resort bubble and dive deep into a different culture. Stay with local families, eat where locals eat, and engage with communities vastly different from your own. That’s exactly what I did when my wife and I joined with friends for a vacation in Vietnam. It was a total cultural immersion for 14 days and nights. This type of travel expands your worldview and builds cultural intelligence – increasingly critical as businesses become more global and diverse.

Leadership benefit: Greater empathy, improved cross-cultural communication, and inclusive thinking.

4. The service vacation

Combine time off with giving back through volunteer tourism. Build homes with Habitat for Humanity, teach English abroad, or participate in conservation efforts. Working alongside people toward a common goal – outside the context of your business – offers fresh perspectives on motivation, teamwork, and purpose-driven leadership.

Leadership benefit: Renewed sense of purpose and team-building insights.

5. The digital-detox retreat

Perhaps the most challenging for driven leaders: Completely unplugging from technology for an extended period, as required by the Thai resort featured in the latest season of The White Lotus. Whether it’s a meditation retreat in the mountains or a technology-free ranch experience, this forces you to be present and process thoughts without constant digital stimulation. The mental clarity gained often leads to breakthrough thinking about business challenges.

Leadership benefit: Improved focus, strategic thinking, and emotional regulation.

Long story short, a vacation can be much more than just time off. It can be a leadership development investment with a strong return. The key is intentionality. Before you book your next vacation, ask yourself: “What leadership skill do I most need to develop?” Then choose your vacation accordingly.

The most successful leaders understand that growth happens when you push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Your next vacation could very well be the competitive advantage you didn’t know you were missing. The question isn’t whether you can afford to take time off. It’s whether you can afford not to invest in becoming a better leader. Stop treating vacation as an escape from leadership responsibilities. Start treating it as training for them.