Healthy Leadership

Peter McLaughlin, author of Catchfire, and a well-known speaker on executive performance, penned an article on CEO wellness in the most recent edition of Chief Executive Magazine.  Here's an excerpt:

"Most CEOs agreed (and the research certainly backs this up) that exercise improves their mood and light food such as salads at lunch enhances their afternoon energy level.

In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, follow these best practices:

• Eat breakfast. Most have cereal and fruit or poached eggs, a light omelet, whole wheat toast and coffee (or tea for Elson).
• Eat a light lunch. Salads are number one, some with grilled chicken, tuna or salmon on top. High protein, low fat lunches make for a brisk afternoon and help avoid the “3 o’clock slump.”
• A piece of fruit in the afternoon provides fuel to the end of the day. Lara Merriken argues for her Lära- Bars, which I find to be an excellent source of energy in the late afternoon.
• Some, à la Winston Churchill, take short naps, or at least breaks from the action, especially in the mid afternoon. (I think this is the most important “recovery period” next to sleep you can have.)
• Fish is a staple in the diet of these CEOs, as are fresh veggies. Many agree that a glass of wine is a healthy, fun accompaniment to a light dinner.
• As far as exercise, multitasking seems to make it easier to accomplish their fitness goals. Many combine aerobic exercise with watching sports, the news, or their favorite television show. Most, as you might have guessed, have some exercise equipment at home or at the office. MacDonald says that he needs goals for his exercise. He is always “training for triathalons or long biking events … something to shoot for.”

CEOs are on the whole much more attuned to the value of sleep, though not all are able to regularly attain the required amount. Since MacDonald’s change to a new lifestyle, he sleeps seven to eight hours every night as opposed to the four or five he used to get. “It’s all in the rhythm,” he repeats. A higher priority had been placed on “real vacations” to complement their “working vacations” and a conscious attempt made to achieve more balance in their lives."

-  Fit To Be CEO, Peter McLaughlin, Chief Executive Magazine. (link to entire article)

Peter is an insightful speaker, coach and consultant. He is based in Denver, Colorado, but serves clients across the globe.  He has some good articles on his website: http://www.petermclaughlin.com.