“Approved.” What That One Word Taught Me About Leadership, Trust, and Healthy Hustle
I've had the past few days off to recover from surgery. This is the kind of recovery that requires rest, ice packs, and very limited talking (which, if you know me, is no small challenge, ha!).
When I submitted my time-off request, it was approved immediately. No questions. No pushback. Just support.
There’s power in that one word: approved.
Because for a long time, I carried the weight of feeling like I had to earn rest. I used to overthink every time-off request, obsessing over the calendar, checking deadlines, trying to figure out where I could “make up the time.”
I truly believed that by showing how carefully I planned or how much I was still committed, I’d prove my worth more, and that I was dedicated, loyal, “a team player.”
But here’s the thing about the word “approved”: It feels different.
It can change an employee’s entire perspective on leadership, and even their love for the work.
Good leadership looks like:
Leaders who don’t question your time off.
Leaders who trust your judgment.
Leaders who know you’ll get the work done.
Leaders who don’t need to be convinced that your health and personal time are valid.
And here’s what I’ve learned: Trust changes everything.
It makes you feel valued. Seen. Human.
It can change an employee’s entire perspective on leadership, and even their love for the work.
"The Healthy Hustle"
A major part of my mantra and how I try to live and work is all about the healthy hustle.
To me, healthy hustle means:
Valuing your work and your well-being at the same time.
Showing up with energy, intention, and commitment without losing yourself in the grind.
Taking time to rest and refuel, not just because you’re exhausted, but because you deserve it.
I’ve seen it from all angles, both as someone who tried to overachieve their way into belonging, and someone who now understands that real balance isn’t something you fight for; it’s something leadership supports.
Because leadership can do one of two things:
Support your balance and wellness
Or subtly sabotage it
And that difference? It changes people. It changes teams. It changes cultures.
So here I am healing quietly, grateful for leaders who lead with trust, and hopeful that more workplaces will start valuing the people behind the job titles.
Healthy Hustle Keeps You Happy.
-Melanie