The Effective Corporate Athlete

I spent (invested?) a lot of time watching the Olympics and was amazed by the strong demonstrations of sportsmanship (and Snoop Dogg's dedication). Inspired by this, I recently wrote about “Surfer Mentality,” and below I am now sharing a concept I learned in a training I took over a decade ago that still resonates today. This training revolves around treating our corporate careers as if we were athletes. Popularized by the Harvard Business Review, it offers valuable lessons on performance and resilience that are as relevant in climbing the corporate ladder as they are on the track.

THE THEORY

The Corporate Athlete theory proposes that professionals can achieve peak performance by training like athletes. Developed by two legends of the self-development field, Dr. Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, founders of the Human Performance Institute and The Energy Project, the theory emphasizes managing a pyramid made up of four types of capacities: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.

Physical capacity is the foundation of the Corporate Athlete model. Just like athletes, corporate professionals need to maintain their physical health to perform optimally. This includes regular exercise, proper nutrition, and adequate sleep. A healthy body supports a healthy mind.

Emotional capacity focuses on cultivating positive emotions and managing stress. Positive emotional energy can improve performance and teamwork, using techniques like mindfulness and gratitude practices. For instance, Emotional intelligence (EQ) is crucial as it enhances our ability to understand and manage our own emotions while effectively navigating and influencing the emotions of others.

Mental capacity involves maintaining focus and clarity in the face of distractions. This includes setting clear goals, prioritizing tasks, and taking regular breaks to avoid mental fatigue. Time-boxing and Taking Breaks are two of the main techniques.

Spiritual capacity relates to finding a deeper purpose and aligning actions with core values. This involves reflecting on personal mission, values, and the impact we wish to have in professional and personal lives.

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS

This concept, though 23 years old, becomes more relevant over time. It resonates with me because it emphasizes a holistic approach to peak performance. It's not just about working harder but about working smarter and taking care of all aspects of our well-being.

It's key to understand our natural energy levels and fluctuations to best integrate these four pillars. Knowing your energy cycles and implementing rituals like regular exercise, mental relaxation, and consistent sleep schedules is crucial for sustaining high performance in high-paced environments. Here is a previous article I wrote with a chronotype test you can take.

HOW TO PUT THIS INTO PRACTICE

As you probably realize, this theory incorporates many holistic topics. Here are a few practical tips to implement the Corporate Athlete theory:

1. Prioritize physical health: Measure your current exercise, diet, and sleep habits (e.g. you can use a calorie-counting app). First focus on just measuring it. Then, gradually (+5-10% at a time) work towards recommended levels for your age, gender, and height.

2. Practice mindfulness: Try sitting quietly for 5 minutes without any agenda, gradually increasing to 30 minutes. You will be surprised by what happens. Alternatively, start a gratitude journal.

3. Manage mental focus: Break projects into smaller tasks and Time-block 90 minutes daily to the most important ones.

4. Incorporate recovery rituals: Take short, focused breaks throughout your workday to recharge. More info here.

5. Align with your purpose: Reflect on your core values and why you work where you do. Write it down and remind yourself daily. [Side note: If your motivation is money, then it will probably not last for long, but it is still perfectly fine.]

The Corporate Athlete model provides a comprehensive framework for achieving high performance. By focusing on physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy, we can enhance our productivity and well-being, much like athletes train for their sports and reach the Olympics.

Olympically yours,

Jorge Luis Pando