When it comes to workplace wellness, leadership shouldn’t just approve fitness benefits; they need to actively embrace them. Employees look to company leaders for cues, and when executives prioritize their own health and fitness, it sends a powerful message that wellness matters. What’s more, physically active leaders tend to be more creative, more resilient under pressure, and better equipped to inspire their teams. Discover how fitness benefits can enhance leadership effectiveness while simultaneously improving employee wellness.
The Link Between Exercise and Effective Leadership
It turns out that there’s a connection between physical fitness and leadership success. Studies suggest that leaders who prioritize their health are better equipped to handle the demands and pressures that come with the job.
Beyond strategy and vision, effective leaders must think clearly, make decisions quickly, maintain their focus, and demonstrate mental resilience. Physical fitness contributes to all these essential abilities. Here are just a few ways that physical activity helps leaders perform at their best:
- Strengthens mental stamina and endurance: Regular exercise can increase the parts of the brain associated with memory and thinking. This helps leaders maintain focus and concentration over extended periods, an essential skill for tackling complex challenges and making informed decisions.
- Reduces stress and improves mood: Exercise can lessen the impact of stress on the body while enhancing mental health and overall well-being. It stimulates the production of endorphins, which helps reduce anxiety and depression, allowing leaders to remain calm and composed even in high-pressure situations.
- Better discipline, focus, and resilience: Committing to a consistent fitness routine requires discipline, dedication, and goal setting, skills that transfer directly to the workplace. By routinely pushing through workouts that may involve some discomfort, leaders can develop mental toughness and self-discipline, ultimately leading to stronger performance.
- Enhances creativity and innovation: Taking time for a workout provides leaders with a much-needed mental timeout. This intentional pause allows them to clear their minds, approach challenges from a new perspective, and generate new ideas that can drive business growth. Research supports this, showing that regular exercisers outperform their less-active colleagues in key areas such as long-term memory, reasoning, attention, problem-solving, creativity, and fluid intelligence—all essential traits for effective leadership.
Bob Allison, co-founder and CEO of PEAR Health Labs, the technology platform behind the Aaptiv app, sees firsthand the impact that exercise has on his health and leadership abilities. “My workouts are where I mentally reset,” he says. “After exercise, I can walk into the office sharper and more focused because I’ve already tackled something hard that day.” He adds, “No matter how stressful the day is, a good workout helps me stay grounded. It gives me the mental headspace and energy to think clearly.”
He adds, “Some of my best ideas have come during the middle of a workout. When I’m not staring at a screen or in a meeting, my brain has the opportunity to be creative.”
Fit Executives: Perception is Everything
Furthermore, research suggests that physically fit executives are seen as more effective leaders. This perception is valid; it reinforces the idea that a healthy lifestyle can help leaders better cope with the stresses and demands of their roles.
A Role Model for Employee Fitness
As a bonus, when employees see their leaders participating in fitness and wellness activities, they feel inspired to do the same. This modeling of healthy behaviors creates an environment where wellness becomes a shared company value.
Bob says employees need to see management prioritize their health. “When my team sees me exercise, for example, taking a 15-minute break to go for a quick walk, it gives them permission to do the same.”
Studies show a strong connection between a CEO’s commitment to well-being and improved employee morale, engagement, and productivity. A study by the American Heart Association CEO Roundtable found that workplaces where the CEO participates in wellness programs report greater productivity, work quality, and job satisfaction.
It’s clear that wellness and a culture of well-being start at the top. From frontline supervisors to the C-suite, company leaders have an “outsized impact” on well-being. Leaders must champion wellness, not just in words but through their actions. Exercise is one of the most visible and accessible ways for leaders to walk the talk, demonstrating their commitment to well-being while setting an example for the entire organization.
Aaptiv: The Fitness and Wellness Solution for Leaders and Employees
Aaptiv’s all-in-one fitness solution offers over 10,000 on-demand and AI-powered workout plans tailored to employees’ interests, fitness levels, and schedules. Aaptiv makes it easy for every employee to find a routine that fits their lifestyle. Additionally, Aaptiv provides access to one of the largest gym networks in the country, including 20,000 local and national brands and boutique studios— available exclusively as an employer/health plan benefit, with multiple membership options to fit any wellness budget.
Learn more about Aaptiv employee wellness and fitness benefits.
