What does fitness have to do with leadership?
So you know the drill….long hours spent putting out fires all day and no time to think or process information. You are expected to make quick decisions (that may or may not backfire on you). During a long workday you barely have time to eat because you respond to 500 plus emails per day. And on top of all that, you are in back-to-back meetings. Sound familiar?
Eventually, this WILL wear you down. You may not want to admit it, but it IS happening or WILL happen. Maintaining your physical fitness is critical if you want the stamina to excel in your career and handle your ever-growing daily responsibilities.
The good news is that you will reduce your fatigue and improve your mental agility with the proper fitness and nutrition program. You will make better decisions and decrease your stress level. Yes, and there is another benefit to being fit – your team will be more productive! Ok, so you might be wondering just how that works.
Here it is in a nutshell – your job as a leader is to enhance your personal and professional life to the point where you are leading by example. You set the pace for others in your life. You set the bar! And to be an influential leader, you must set the bar super high. You can’t do that if you’re tired, sick, irritable, frustrated, and stressed out. So up your game, and your team will too. They will either see what you’re doing and start doing it too. Or they will catch your newfound enthusiasm and start putting more effort into their work. You have nothing to lose by trying this.
You MUST get yourself in peak condition to develop a peak-performing team.
This isn’t rocket science, but the problem for most people is having the discipline and making the time. I’ll give you some tips on how to do just that, but tips aren’t enough for many people. They need guidance to stay on track. There are plenty of personal trainers, nutritionists, and coaches to help you with that piece of it. Once you get started, you’ll see the results physically, in your work performance, AND in your team’s performance.
For ten years, I competed in amateur bodybuilding, worked full time, and raised my children. So, I know it CAN be done. You CAN make the time. With a strong enough desire, you CAN be disciplined about it. Below are some very high-level tips to get you started. If you need more detail, please drop me an email, and we can go into the weeds. You owe this to yourself and your team.
- Block out time at least three times per week to lift weights (30 – 60 minutes)
- Block out time at least four times per week for cardio activity (at least 30 minutes)
- Set an achievable and measurable goal to give you the desire and discipline
- Fuel your body properly with 5 – 6 meals per day (yes, you’ll have to bring food to work)
- Replace your other beverages with water.
- Make sure you’re getting the sleep you need each night.
It’s your responsibility to be fit for leadership! Give it a try and let me know your results.