Leadership is often defined by attributes like vision, charisma, presence of mind, and determination. Health is rarely mentioned. However, this is yet another powerful quality that makes great leaders. Robust health is essential for any leader who wants to excel.
Leaders should be able to think clearly and make quick decisions, and they should be focused throughout the day. They must also be physically fit to cope with stress, long hours, and constant demands on their time and attention. Managing these daily pressures requires excellent health.
Here are some suggestions on how to improve your health to increase your ability to inspire others in your organization.
Start with good nutrition
Business leaders facing a crushing workload every day can benefit from eating nutritious foods. Since leaders often have a demanding schedule and need to think on their feet, consuming nutritious foods provides them with sustained energy.
Healthy eating will improve brain function, helping leaders think more clearly, make smarter decisions, and withstand stress better. It also helps them maintain a cheerful disposition.
If you suffer from food intolerance, eliminate the foods that create digestive problems, make you cranky, and cause you to feel sleepy at your desk. Poor food choices sap your energy and drain your willpower. A food sensitivity test can help you determine which foods to avoid. With this at-home test, you can monitor your body’s reaction to 96 types of food.
Get regular exercise
Exercise also keeps the mind sharp by increasing blood flow to the brain, providing it with oxygen and nutrients. It also releases endorphins which reduce stress and depression because they act as both an analgesic and sedative.
Additionally, it improves physical resilience, which is the ability to quickly recover from physical challenges. For instance, it will make it easier for your body to handle travel and long workdays.
When you’re physically fit and strong, you have more energy and stamina to devote to your work. You also handle crises with grace and ease. Vibrant health can make you a better leader, a more productive, efficient, and resourceful one.
Positive energy in the workplace
Professor Kim Cameron, who teaches management and organization at the Ross School of Business and higher education at the School of Education at the University of Michigan, explains that leaders who display positive energy inspire employees to be more productive. In fact, a leader who lacks this quality will decrease employee performance and increase turnover rates.
What can you do to make sure you have enough positive energy at work? To begin with, eat right and exercise regularly. A good night’s sleep is also essential, as fatigue can cause you to feel irritable over small issues and will decrease your productivity.
Prioritize your health
Healthy leaders can think more clearly, make better decisions, and handle stress more effectively. However, the benefits of good health go beyond simply enhancing your mood or sustaining your energy levels at work. It also contributes to a longer and happier life. So, if you want to be the best leader you can be, don’t forget the value of good nutrition, regular exercise, getting a good night’s rest, and exuding positive energy at work. Adopting these simple behaviours can significantly impact effective leadership.
Of course, it’s not always possible to eat healthy meals or exercise as often as you like or get enough rest when your schedule gets busy, especially when you’re on business trips, but prioritizing your health most of the time can influence your success in building your organization. When your enthusiasm is running high, you can achieve more. Next time you feel run down, take a step back and consider how you can take better care of yourself.