Top executives need to be corporate athletes

By Rohantha Athukorala

Last week I got some staggering data from a leading private sector bluechip company which revealed that 87% of their senior management was either suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity.

If employees are physically fit then productivity will increase.

At the Harvard University last summer we had to undergo health screening before the program commenced.

The findings of this company caught my attention. A CEO who was 52, looked well below his age due to his fitness and control of food, whereas a 35-year-old looked a person in his 50s due to excessive smoking and being overweight.

The question is how could one lead his or her organisation when he or she is unfit and lethargic. The solution is to become a Corporate Athlete.

Corporate executive

If a corporate executive is to work at a high energy level equivalent to a professional athlete the only way out is to increase the stamina levels just like the top athletes of today.

The challenges faced by tennis star Roger Federer or cricketing legend Tendulkar is equal to that of a top corporate executive.

If we take a typical high performer such as Federer, it will include serving hard, positioning the returns with some sharp cross court passes, followed by some aggressive play at the net and then coming back to take a lob at the base line.

The next challenge he will face will be questioning wrong line calls by the judges and following it up by engaging the crowd to maintain the off court relationship. It is also customary that a rough media conference takes place after the match that adds to the pressure on the player.

On the other hand, if we take a typical corporate executive, the challenges on a Monday are similar. Multiple decisions have to be taken by analysing data. Incorrect decisions can cost the company millions of rupees.

Making presentations to get new business, briefing the media on corporate affairs, engaging policy makers to influence policy direction and finally ensuring that humour is maintained so that the spirit of the work place is kept vibrant.

This routine can be mentally demanding. We can see many similarities between a top class corporate executive and a high performing athlete of today. Let's examine the differences.

The difference

There are many differences between the two. A top class athlete such as Roger Federer competes only once a month and may be eight tournaments per year. On the other hand a corporate executive has to perform at his peak each day for a duration of almost twelve hours.

Another difference is that an athlete takes a break of up to three months a year while a corporate executive will get a maximum of two weeks off.

The lifespan of a top athlete is between 10-15 years (if one is lucky) while a corporate executive will have to perform for 40-45 years. Meaning, you start working at 20 and continue until you are 65.

This clearly demonstrates that a corporate executive of today needs to be fitter than a professional athlete to be competitive in today's corporate world.

This holds ground because of the turmoil that keeps hitting the corporate world. It is a rollercoaster ride.

Then comes GSP+ being suspended and next is general elections that makes the life of a corporate executive a whirlwind-like task. The only way out is for a corporate executive to be a corporate athlete.

According to Dr. Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, the scientists who originated this concept, the essence of developing a corporate athlete has four key capacities that need to be developed so that performance can be at a high level. They are physical, emotional, mental and finally spiritual capacity.

Physical capacity development

Physical capacity is essentially the capacity to continue working for long hours at peak level. One can develop this by doing a 45-minute brisk walk three times a week to get your heartbeat up to 120 beats per minute. Followed by a 15-minute routine that includes stomach exercises and stretching.

In essence it's only an hour's dedication that is needed. May be the venue can be the Independence Square where the motivation levels tend to be high given the different shapes and styles in attendance. The rest of the two days must include a light weight training session so that energy can be built.

The maximum weight should be a 50 kg, to stretch the muscle up to a point of tearing and then follow up with a rest day so that re-building takes place. Once this becomes a ritual it becomes interesting. May be joining a gym and getting a trainer's assistance can help.

Emotional capacity development

The next building block to become a Corporate athlete is working on emotional capacity. This is where a close relationship with a human being is a must during a working day.

All it takes is a 2-3 minute telephone call where an intense closeness has to be achieved, so that certain positive hormones get kindled. Research reveals that if this is not done there can be negative emotions such as self -pity and boredom which are harmful to health and can get into the system.

Unfortunately, most high performing corporate executives feel that giving into the emotional side is a feminine trait or more over, a weak characteristic that should not be exposed to others. Research also reveals that if one wants to be a corporate athlete in today's high performing environment this second building block of developing emotional capacity is a must.

These building blocks must become a way of life in a busy executive's working day. In other words it has to become ritualistic behaviour, if one is to get into peak performance for long periods.

The next skill that has to be developed is knowledge management. This has to be done daily. All it takes is reading one article that is mentally stimulating and, thereafter, reflecting on that for 2-3 minutes. This can be done in the evening and all it takes is a 20-minute time block. Once again it's all about habit formation.

This can be also done by watching TV programs such as the 'Buck Stops Here' on NDTV or by watching CNN's 'Boardroom discussions' where a top global CEO is interviewed regarding success stories in business.

Spiritual capacity development

The last building block is spiritual capacity development. But remember that this is not about religion. It is more to do with understanding the values which are deep within you. For example, you may cherish the last burst of sleep between 6-7 in the morning before you dress up for work.

However, if you have to drop your son at school and this is the quality time that you engage with him then, waking up at 5.45 am to achieve this objective will not be an issue.

The challenge is to find out the deeper reasons for your behaviour that motivates and excites you. This is spiritual capacity development which is important to become a corporate athlete. The challenge again is making this a routine in your working week.

By now, you have a fair idea of the building blocks that will make you a 'Corporate Athlete'. You also know what areas in your life need to be developed, so that you can become a corporate athlete. Practising this is the next step.

You have to make it a ritual so that it happens naturally. You need to come to a stage where if the gym kit is not in the vehicle you feel you are not ready to leave home.

You will come to a point where foregoing a cocktail party to do your weight training is not a choice any more but a way of life. At this stage you can be termed a corporate athlete and then you will suddenly experience that working at peak level is equal to playing a game.

Then you have really mastered the art of being a Corporate Athlete.

To summarise, it's three days of cardio walk and then a two-day weights schedule with two days of rest after each weight training session.

A few more tips:

1) Have 5-6 small meals a day. (May-be a snack at 10 am and 4 pm).

2) Develop a routine time for sleeping with 6-8 hours of sleep a day, being a must.

3) Make a five-day work out routine during the week a ritual.

4) Be proud that you are a corporate athlete - do not be shy to practise emotional capacity building.

The writer is reading for a doctoral degree in Business Administration. He is an alumnus of Harvard University (Boston).