Train like a boss Preparing for the mental and physical rigors of leadership

At the world’s largest global corporations, chief executives are paying more attention than ever to their health, and learning to train like professional athletes for the physical as well as mental rigors of their roles. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, senior directors at McKinsey Company, where I was then employed, noticed a recurring theme in conversations with CEOs. In meeting after meeting, leaders of big Fortune 500 firms said they felt â€Å"overwhelmed.† Running a giant multinational company, chief executives complained, had gotten harder than ever: the pace was faster, markets more volatile, problems more complex. Those conversations prompted McKinsey to launch a sweeping study of changing requirements for successful leadership in the 21st Century. I was assigned to the task force that did the research. For nearly a year, we interviewed scores of chief executives from big companies all over the world to understand how they coped with the rigors of their jobs. Some of what we learned is summarized here. But to me, the most surprising discovery was how many chief executives said work pressures had forced them to pay more attention to their physical wellbeing. Fitness in the face of a VUCA business environment Many of the executives we spoke with confessed significant difficulty in combatting the strain of travel, jet lag, information overload, and the risk of burnout. Its unsurprising  in an era where technology means senior executives are on-call 24/7. Over and over, CEOs told us they had responded to those challenges by developing highly disciplined programs for diet and exercise. There was Moya Greene, CEO of Britain’s Royal Mail, who described her morning workouts as a crucial part of her day. I start at five in the morning, she said. The alarm goes off and I’m up. I go for a 30-minute run. I do weight training three mornings a week. I get a good walk every weekend. Or Mark Frissora, then CEO of Hertz, who said he never missed a workout. â€Å"Every day I do something to relieve stress, he explained. It could be lifting weights, it could be running, or maybe it’s just punching a punching bag. It’s an hour every day. Among the most committed C-suite athletes at the time was Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of two giant automakers,  Nissan Motors and Renault. His dual roles required him to shuttle to Tokyo, Paris, and a host of other destinations every month. I have to be very disciplined about organizing everything, he said. Physical discipline is crucial, for food, exercise, and sleep. I live like a monk—well, maybe not a monk, but a Knight Templar. I wake at a certain hour, sleep at a certain hour, and there are certain things I won’t do past a certain time.† I live like a Knight Templar. I wake at a certain hour, sleep at a certain hour. Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO, Renault/Nissan It didn’t take much effort to identify other C-suite fitness fanatics: Citigroup CEO Michael Corbat, a self-professed devotee of the Spartacus Workout; former Starwood Hotels Resorts CEO Frits van Paasschen, a vegan triathlete whose punishing morning workouts earned him the title of â€Å"America’s most fit CEO†; Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who plays an hour of tennis before her 6:45 a.m. hair appointment; Disney CEO Bob Iger, who rises at 4:30 a.m. for his workout, and logs long hours on a gizmo called the VersaClimber. Some of corporate America’s most powerful executives—including former General Electric CEO Jack Welch, entertainment mogul David Geffen, financier George Soros and former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker—pump iron at Sitaras Fitness, the exclusive private gym across the street from the midtown headquarters of Bloomberg News. Tech geeks too are fitness freaks. Among them: Apple CEO Tim Cook, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Oracles Larry Ellison. On the other side of the Pacific, Jack Ma, founder of China’s biggest online retailer, is a master of tai chi, a form of Chinese martial arts. He trains daily with his bodyguard, the grand master from the largest tai chi temple in Ma’s hometown of Hangzhou. A departure from the heavyweights of the past All this sweating and straining is a far cry from capitalism’s early days, when business heavyweights often were just that. The portly profiles of J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie inspired Gilded Age caricatures of businessmen as double-chinned, cigar-chomping tyrants. As recently as two decades ago, sacrificing one’s health was more or less accepted as the price of climbing the corporate ladder. Getting ahead meant living at the office, and lots of smoking and drinking with colleagues after hours—all of which took a predictable toll on executive physiques. Not for nothing did Mad Men star Jon Hamm rock a â€Å"dad bod† for his role as martini-quaffing ad executive Don Draper. One sign of a shift in attitudes about executive health came in January 2001, when Harvard Business Review published an essay entitled â€Å"The Making of a Corporate Athlete.† The authors, psychologist Jim Loehr and executive coach Tony Schwartz, argued that management experts had neglected the influence of physical capacity on executive performance. Executives, they argued, should train for the rigors of their role just like an aspiring Olympian or professional basketball player. The demands on executives to sustain high performance day in and day out, year in and year out, wrote Loehr and Schwartz, dwarf the challenges faced by any athlete we’ve ever trained. The demands on executives to sustain high performance day in and day out dwarf the challenges faced by any athlete we’ve ever trained. Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, Executive performance experts   In the almost two decades since, dad bods have fallen out of fashion for CEOs, and executive fitness has become a multi-billion dollar industry. Hospitals and health clinics the world over have found a lucrative niche in operating â€Å"executive wellness† programs tailored to the needs of high-powered managers on the go. A correlation between fitness and leadership ability? In the modern workplace, overt discussions of weight and physical fitness are fraught with peril. But the relationship between physical health and effective leadership is generally accepted—albeit the subject of recurrent debate. In 2015, two German scholars sparked controversy with a study finding marathon runners make better CEOs. Other studies have suggested that staying fit can improve an executive’s chances of being selected for a senior leadership role. Research by the Center for Creative Leadership found that executives with big waistlines and higher Body Mass Index (BMI) readings were perceived as less effective in the workplace, both in performance and in interpersonal relationships. Some corporate boards have come to put increasing emphasis on the physical health of candidates for top management roles. Some also note that today’s CEOs have much higher public profiles than their predecessors, and thus are assumed to be more effective communicators if they â€Å"look the part† on camera. Barry Posner, a leadership professor at Santa Clara’s Leavey School of Business, told the Wall Street Journal he was hard-pressed to name a single overweight Fortune 500 CEO. My (completely unscientific) Google searches of photos of CEOs from the top 100 companies suggest he’s right. It’s possible that at smaller, lower-profile firms, the correlation between fitness and seniority goes the other way. Loehr, co-author of the â€Å"corporate athlete† essay, estimates that 40% of CEOs are technically obese. That’s about seven percentage points higher than the obesity rate for the overall U.S. population. The problem with chief executives, Loehr argues, is that they’re busy and stubborn, and the demands of their role encourage unhealthy behavior. Ultimately, physical fitness isnt a guarantee  of professional success. Van Paasschen, â€Å"the world’s fittest CEO,† left Starwood in February 2015 under fire for disappointing revenue growth. But you don’t have to be a triathlete to stay fit or a cardiologist to recognize that a regular exercise program, if you can stick to it, will improve your mental wellbeing and performance on the job. Interested in developing your leadership capabilities? Download a brochure  to find out how a Hult degree can equip you with the skills you need to lead in todays global business environment. Grow your leadership capabilities with an MBA in international business at Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog Are you an inclusive leader? or give your career a boost with our Masters in International Business. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .