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Wednesday Apr 17, 2024
Tuesday, 11 March 2014 00:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
In fact this has been highlighted in the Doing Business Index of the World Bank and Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum, which happens to be an independent comparative study done against other countries and gives us an idea of the pressure that a Sri Lankan business leader undergoes.
"The most critical issues for a business leader that create stress are classified information and decision making that impact people’s jobs in companies such as de-hiring and changing organisation structure designs. The other is the loneliness as you move up the ladder that leads to isolation and disconnect from society, which catapults to health issues"
A latest research study has revealed that 87% of senior management in Sri Lanka are either having high blood pressure, excess weight issue or having symptoms of diabetes, which stems from the work pressure that they are under in the current environment. I guess the ramification of the US resolution on Sri Lanka will add to the volatility that a business leader will have to face post 29 March.
Health and wealth creation
Research indicates that if corporate executives are healthy, it leads to better decision making and hence the overall wealth creation by way of increasing brand value and profits will be higher. The logic being that when an executive is more long-term driven on health, it leads to making business decisions on the future business growth rather than short-term gain, which is where Corporate Athletism that originated from Harvard University comes to play.
Typical work issues
There are many work issues that lead to health issues, but the most critical are classified information and decision making that impact people’s jobs in companies such as de-hiring and changing organisation structure designs. These two related decisions create stress at the work place that results in health issues is that what latest research says.
The other usual stress related activity are long meetings and jetlag due to long haul travel that results in one not being able to indulge in regular exercise which is the root cause of the health issues of business leaders.
Corporate Athletism?
As per the scientist who originated the concept Corporate Athletism Dr. Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz identified four areas that impinge behaviour. They are physical capacity, emotional capacity, mental capacity and finally spiritual capacity. Let me throw more light on these areas.
Physical capacity development
Physical capacity is essentially the capacity to continue working for long hours at peak performance. How one can develop this is by doing a 45-minute brisk walk three times a week. The objective is to get your heart beat up to 120 beats per minute. Then, followed up with a 15 minute routine that includes stomach exercises and stretching. In essence it’s only one hour’s dedication that is required.
Maybe the venue can be the Independence Square where the motivation levels tend to be high too 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. The objective is to stretch the muscle up to a point of tearing and then follow up with a rest day so that rebuilding takes place. Once this becomes a ritual, it’s very 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 one’s emotional capacity. This is where a close relationship with a human being is a must during a working day. All it takes is a two to three minute telephone call where an intense closeness has to be achieved, so that certain positive hormones get elicited.
If this is not done research reveals that there can be emotions that get into the system such as self pity and boredom that elicit negative emotions, which are very harmful to health. Unfortunately, most high-performing corporate executives feel that giving into one’s emotional side is a feminine trait or moreover 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. The key thing to remember is that 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 durations.
Mental capacity development
The next skill that is required to be developed is called 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 just two to three minutes. This can be done in the evening and all it takes in total is just 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 for success stories in business.
Spiritual capacity development
The last building block, but remember that this is not about one’s 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 a.m. in the morning before you get dressed for work. But on the other hand if you have to drop your son to school and this is the quality time that you engage with him, then waking up at 5:45 a.m. to achieve this objective will not be an issue.
The challenge is to find out the deeper reasons for your behaviour that motivate and excite you. This is what spiritual capacity development is. It’s very important to becoming a corporate athlete. The challenge once again is making this a routine in your working week.
Next steps
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. Practicing 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 will feel you are not ready to leave home. Also, you will come to a point where foregoing a cocktail party to do your weight training schedule is not a choice anymore but a way of life. At this stage you can be termed a ‘Corporate Athlete’ and then you will suddenly experience that working at high peak performance is equal to playing a game. Then you have really mastered the art of being a ‘Corporate Athlete’.
To summarise, it amounts to three days cardio walk and then a two-day weights schedule with two days being rest after each weight training session. A few more tips in the life of a corporate athlete:
1.Have five to six small meals a day (maybe a snack at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. is all it takes)
2.Develop a routine time for sleeping with six to eight hours of sleep a day being a must.
3.Make a five-day work-out a routine during the week a ritual.
4.Be proud that you are a ‘Corporate Athlete’ – do not be shy to practice emotional capacity building.
(The author has a Black Belt in Karate in the Wado Ryu style and is now training for his second Dan Black Belt. Professionally, he serves the United Nations Operations as the Head of National Portfolio Development – Sri Lanka and Maldives and also serves on many public and private sector organisations in Sri Lanka and internationally.)
