The Youniversalife Leadership and Performance platform incorporates an Integrated Approach to Leadership. I integrate physical, emotional, and social wellness into my programs and services. I recently published a blog article titled “Lessons From Cameron Hanes: Taking Action for Success.” I touch on how to align your passion with your professional and personal life. The next phase to consider is your leadership strategy and how to incorporate the very same principles. Identify 3 components:
- A physical activity that brings you joy and fulfillment.
- An activity that stabilizes your emotional well-being.
- Moments that create social opportunities that you crave.
Physical Wellness
We respect physically fit people who consistently exercise daily because it is hard. Exercising daily requires discipline. When considering leaders in a room, those with a physical and healthy presence immediately catch the eye. They have proven that within their personal lives, they can sustain effort in a particular area. They are not easily defeated and have a high base threshold for discomfort.
American culture loves high-performing athletes. We know they have worked hard for success and understand the requirements to ascend to certain levels athletically in American sports. We are naturally drawn to these people and follow their stories. We view them as leaders of communities. When creating our own leadership strategy, we should, in turn, consider the importance of becoming physically fit, knowing our culture places great value on it, especially when we choose those who lead others. Physical fitness in leadership is a prerequisite in the military, strength and conditioning coaches, first responders, and many others. These individuals must live the mission.
Military leadership is competitive. Those who choose to lead are also the most physically fit. They must prove to those below them that they are capable and worthy of their rank. Their leadership suffers if the leader can’t climb the mountain, swim, or finish in top times for running distance. If they’re in the top tier, their men and women respect them, are inspired, and will push forward.
Watch the Detroit Lions on any given Sunday in the fall. Their current head coach, Dan Campbell, is a monster of a man. He belongs behind a Spartan helmet and shield, fighting the Persians in the Battle of Thermopylae, sword in hand. The Lions have historically been irrelevant for 3 decades. Dan led his team to the playoffs in 2023, two years after being named the Head Coach.
Not all leaders are built like Spartan warriors, but identify an area of fitness that you enjoy doing that builds strength, endurance, and mental stability.
Emotional Wellness
The number 1 place I turn to for emotional wellness is my faith in Jesus. A daily ritual of prayer in solitude is what I need to stabilize my emotions for the day. I bring my thoughts, worries, and needs to God. He helps me categorize and visualize how to overcome the hardships of living. Prayer sorts through and weeds out unnecessary temptations, worries, regrets, and wrongdoings. When I start my day this way, I am far more likely to experience joy and fulfillment. Every day is not perfect, but when I neglect prayer and do not spend time with God, my odds of experiencing setbacks and hardship increase greatly.
Making conscious decisions to be proactive with our emotional wellness is vital. We all have “emotional energy capital.” This is the amount of emotional energy we have to spend each day. We must choose to use the energy on prioritized moments. What hill are you willing to die on? Not every hill is a life-or-death situation, but knowing when to charge the hill is important. Some are not meant to be summited. We must become clear on where we place importance in our lives and use emotional control to navigate the tempting causes that do not bear fruit and expel great energy capital.
If costly emotional events occur, counterbalance them with a stabilizing activity that’s good for your well-being. Any form of exercise is a tier 1 go-to. A cup of your favorite coffee may be a tier 2 go-to. A quick phone call with a trusted friend is a tier 3 go-to.
Tier Examples (Your tier structure may look different. Move the pieces around to fit yourself):
Tier 1 Go-To
- Exercise in any form
- Sleep / Nap
- Prayer
Tier 2 Go-To
- Coffee
- Nutritious food/snack
- Read something of value
Tier 3 Go-To
- Phone call with a trusted friend
- Time-conscious video game experience
- Time-conscious movie/show/YouTube or clips
Social Wellness
Leadership is the ability to influence. To lead, you must socially interact and build relationships with people. Professional relationships are key, but casual, tight bonds with outside friends are equally important. You must purposely have 1-3 close friends that you frequently speak with. Work conversations into the weekly calendar where, at certain times, you make time for them. These individuals are soundboards that listen and bring advice when needed. They also bring comical relief. Talks that aren’t business-related but allow for relaxation.
Friends who ease the tension can also see your blind spots. Close friends without professional agendas are likelier to share useful advice and highlight your weaknesses than those who may be tempted to become “Yes” people. This critical advice propels our leadership ability. These gold nuggets are usually embedded in deep conversations of exploration.
Surface-level conversations become tiring and suck the energy from us. The small-talk vampire sinks its teeth and draws out the lifeblood. We quickly begin to check our watch and subconsciously think about the weighty events that await us later. Small talk is the entry point to deeper conversations, but it can also hamstring productivity and your ability to lead. Leaders delicately dance in and out of quick conversations, being always thoughtful and not rushing off for fear of being disrespectful.
We crave the conversations that require us to think and creatively bring our opinions forward. Deep social experiences allow this to occur and breathe life into you. Once you move past the small talk and enter deeper waters, you can recognize the enjoyment of investing time with others. It’s an intoxicating experience and leaves us craving more. Good, healthy, and deep relationships are spiritual gifts from God.
Bonus: Sleep Wellness
The most restorative practice for mental fatigue is sleep. Leadership requires cognitive and physical stamina. Prioritize sleep in the evening to be fully rested and restored for leadership moments the next day. Inconsistent sleep patterns create mental fog and mood swings. To counterbalance the lack of sleep, we quickly run for caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants to boost our energy levels.
Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) is a great way to boost your energy and mood levels if you are fatigued. NSDR is a protocol where you sit or lay down with your eyes closed and experience various breathing techniques or guided visualizations but do not fall asleep. Extended prayer is also an example of NSDR, which incorporates a relaxed, secluded environment where you close your eyes and go through a spiritual narration with God. Prayer is a visual experience, often entering into a realm of deep relaxation and seeing your thoughts and experiences with God.
(Check out Dr. Andrew Huberman’s Explanation)
Wrap Up
You are strong in one area or another. God has given you a gift. Embrace the gift and continually share it with the world. Sharing and teaching others how to operate in the world is a version of leadership. It will require restorative practices so you can continually show up for others.
If you enjoyed this post and want to experience more, head to the Youniversalife Archive for more leadership education. Take care, and Keep Moving Forward!
Also:
Dr. Andrew Huberman has an extensive library of helpful information regarding the human condition. Many of his topics and much of his research translate well to the leadership spectrum. Be sure to check out his work.
