For those of you that do not know, I am really into health and fitness. It has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. From the time I was a little kid I always wanted to be outside and playing sports and doing physical activities. As I got older, I played sports competitively on into college. I loved fitness, exercise and sports so much, I ended up getting a degree in Exercise Sports Science. The specialty I chose within my degree was focused on fitness leadership. Ever since college, fitness is just a part of my life and how I function. I have had a great opportunity to be a personal trainer throughout all these years as well.
So, why am I telling you all this? Because fitness, both mental and physical, make for a better leader. Some of you might question how they relate or if that is a true statement. Allow me to elaborate. Whenever you think of a leader, do you think of someone who is physically and mentally capable to do a job? This is at all ends of the spectrum from the president of United States on down to your manager at work. We as a country are more likely to follow someone who is physically and mentally fit and able to carry out their duties. There are talks of this all the time throughout the news. It is headline news if the president stumbles and falls or makes a statement that people think is not entirely coherent. Then think about your manager. Are you going to follow somebody that physically cannot do the job or is not mentally able to? I would argue that being physically and mentally fit plays a huge role in leadership and who is willing to follow you. Now I am not saying all good leaders are bodybuilders or super athletes. But, if we are going to be honest, people are more likely to follow someone that’s physically and mentally fit because they see them as an able-bodied person that can do the job. This is very apparent in the military and rightfully so due to the physical nature of the job they must do. It has been my experience in the business office setting as well that good leaders hold themselves to a higher standard when it comes to physical and mental fitness.
When it comes to leadership, we want to be our best self in all aspects, and that includes health and fitness as well. There are many benefits from exercise that could make someone a better leader in general. As I was working in the health and wellness department of a university several years ago, there was a poster on the wall that listed “101 Benefits of Exercise.” You might think that there could not possibly be that many benefits from exercise but there are. I am sure the list was not exhaustive either. What comes to mind first are likely the more common benefits of physical fitness like weight loss, lower cholesterol, improved cardiovascular health, etc. But what can exercise do to specifically make you a better leader? I feel that the majority of benefits from exercise for leadership come in the form of mental fitness. By regularly exercising you can increase your psychological function, enhance your mood, boost your self-confidence and sense of wellbeing, decrease negativity, and increase productivity, among many others. Why are those things so important? Those are all traits of a good leader. If you are in a good place mentally and emotionally then you can connect with your team and help them be in a good place as well. What is another name for being in tune with your emotions and understanding and empathizing with others’ emotions? Emotional Intelligence! In my opinion, emotional intelligence is the best trait a leader can have. For more on emotional intelligence and why I think it is the best, check out my blog, “The Best Leadership Trait: Emotional Intelligence.”
We can see that we need to approach leadership in a holistic fashion and take care of your physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. They all tie together in making you the best leader you can be. Now I’m not going to tell you what kind of exercise is the best for you because everyone is at different levels and has different goals. Plus, that could take up a whole other lengthy blog post. So, get out there and hit the gym, get your “pump” on and lead with passion.
Great information! Wise counsel. Thank you.