Being a leader in the workplace is a highly rewarding experience provided you are healthy enough to manage your contribution, act with enthusiasm, achieve high levels of productivity and make the right decisions in a measured and calm manner. If you are not healthy enough, your performance as a leader is going to suffer on all levels.
As a business and success coach, I have worked with many leadership teams to assist them to enhance the productivity of their business and the performance of their people. In most cases, executives are over worked, over-stressed and overweight. No one functions at their best when their body is out of shape and in need of a tune up.
It’s no secret that there is no shortage of stress in leadership positions. When stress levels increase, so should a leader’s determination to respond and manage their health and well-being. Better eating, exercise, time management and mental health management are all important parts of the process. Sadly, very few leaders take action where required.
When working with businesses and leadership teams, one of the first places I start is in the area of time management. Many may be surprised by this, but eating well can improve your time management abilities. By eating regularly and at set times, you are helping your body to put in place good habits. Improving the food you are consuming also ensures that you are giving your body the nutrients it needs to perform and function well. Adding in walking four times a week, going to the gym or going for a ride or a run, further increases your body’s health and wellbeing and also helps to drop weight.
A leader should strive to look and act like a leader. So what do people expect a leader to look like? For one, not bogged down by a tired demeanour and poor health. Maintaining a strong image of health is fundamental for your reputation as a leader to inspire your employees. An overweight leader is often seen as being less capable of doing their job as well as leading. Though fighting negative body image and stereotypes is extremely important, the research speaks for itself.
A leader is expected to be an example of an organisation’s brand and a person of respect and inspiration for staff. Maintaining strength and respect is fundamental to creating a productive working environment. If you’re seen to be ineffective in your role by your employees, this may “rub off” onto them. Workplace morale will decrease and work ethic with it.
The most drastic change eating better can provide is the boost to your mood and energy levels. Healthy eating has also been linked to lower levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Cutting out junk food greatly improves the health of the gut. In other words the way to happiness truly is through the stomach. It controls serotonin regulation and makes you more likely to feel happy and confident. A happy boss means happy employees and happy employees are productive employees.
A strong leader breeds a strong workplace, strength which cannot be obtained from poorly educated dietary and lifestyle decisions. It’s much simpler than it sounds and your body will thank you for it in the long run. Small changes can create a world of difference for you in the workplace and move your leaderdip situation into the leadership zone – which is where you need to be if you are going to perform at your best.
Darleen Barton, Managing Director, DIPAC & Associates and author of “The Power of Peak Performance”
