If you had only one data point to select a leader for your organization, what would it be? No context, no interviews, no resumes - just one data point. For me the answer is unquestionably physical fitness. More specifically, I’d want to know if the individual engages in regular physical activity as part of their normal life. Studies have repeatedly shown that regular exercise is positively correlated with high scores on leadership assessments (1). It has been shown that individuals who allocate time for regular physical activity into their daily life have a greater capacity to achieve goals. If you need more proof type “statistics on CEOs and physical fitness” into your search engine and you’ll have ample evidence that leadership and fitness are intertwined. So, what’s the connection? With all the time constraints placed on a leader, is it worth the effort? As a leader, there are three reasons to consider investing time and resources into your physical health.
Improved Resilience
Have you ever experienced workplace burnout? Most of us have to some extent, particularly in this current environment where margins are tight, and deadlines are incessant. Our physical health takes the brunt of the pain associated with this type of work environment. Many things we know are important get pushed to the side with the justification that it will change as soon as “X” is completed. Yet once that milestone is met another one appears; you’re stuck in a cycle of perpetual deadlines and your body feels it. To break that cycle you need to periodically step off the hamster wheel and step onto the treadmill. Hedging against burnout requires a body that is in the optimal position to thrive. Regular exercise, solid nutrition, and adequate sleep represent the only realistic way to sustain performance. Physical activity creates a buffer between the pressure of the outside world and your inner well-being. Ironically, this improved resilience actually causes you to be more efficient and productive in your daily work life, impacting not only you but also the company's bottom line.
Develops Mental Toughness
One of the most sought-after attributes in a leader is mental toughness. Defined simply as the ability to focus and adapt while facing adversity, mental toughness allows a leader to work under pressure. There are many different opinions on how to hone this, but they all come down to one simple thing: do hard things. This is where fitness can help. Regularly engaging in physical activity isn’t easy- it takes discipline and sacrifice. But the more you expose yourself to sacrifice, the more you are prepared when exposed to adversity. While you can’t control a majority of the stressors in your life, you can develop preventative strategies and physical activity is one of the best tools in your arsenal. This is the essence of SEAL training. Candidates are pushed to their physical limits in order to ensure that they will not mentally break down when things matter the most. As a leader, don’t underestimate the value of habitual exercise in developing your mental toughness.
Task Prioritization
“I agree with all the benefits, I just don’t have the time.” This is by far the most common reason that I hear from individuals whenever the topic of physical fitness arises, especially from leaders. I get it, there are so many important things that you need to do….or are there? This is where your leadership style gets put into the spotlight. If you’re the type of leader that needs to be involved in everything then I will agree, you do not have time for ANYTHING, let alone attending to your personal wellness. To make time in your day for fitness and other non-work related activities requires that you take a very hard look at what is on your plate. By starting with something as simple (yet critical) as fitness, the discipline of prioritization matures. Blocking out time for the important things in life helps you to block out the things that are simply white noise. This is a great drill for leaders: reframe the problem. Rather than saying you have no time to work out, challenge yourself to figure out how you will integrate it into your routine. Something will have to give, but that will most likely be something that needs to or should give. No one is too important for physical fitness!
There’s a lot to consider, but don’t get overwhelmed and don’t start down the road of self-pity. We’ve all been there, we all have areas for improvement, but as leaders we have the ability to do something about it for ourselves AND for our organizations. There are so many ways to tackle this problem, but the first step is to have a deliberate plan. One option is hiring someone to help you at least until you gain some momentum. This is your health so don’t go the cheap route. Additionally, as a leader you have the opportunity to create wellness change within your workplace. Redesigning the space and the workday are visible ways to demonstrate to your employees that things are going to be different, that their health matters. Not only will this help improve the employee experience but boosts in productivity will soon ensue. When you decide to fit health into your leadership, you become a more fit leader. And although I’d never suggest that to be a good leader you must work out regularly, the data demonstrates a strong correlation between the two. Good luck as you embark on your fitness journey; being a lifelong learner who wants to continually grow is the hallmark of a great leader.
Authored by: Michel Uyboco, Director
McDowell‐Larsen, S. L., Kearney, L., & Campbell, D. (2002). Fitness and leadership: is there a relationship? Regular exercise correlates with higher leadership ratings in senior‐level executives. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 17(4), 316-324.