In today’s fast-paced corporate world, the well-being of executives often takes a back seat. However, neglecting their health can have far-reaching consequences not only for the executives themselves but also for their organizations. An article published by the Academy of Management, Executive health: Building strength, managing risks, addresses strength factors that enhance executive health and health risk factors that concern executives’ vulnerabilities. The authors contend that healthy executives collectively benefit those in their work organizations and society at large.
By building on strengths and managing health risks, executives may enhance their own health and the health of their organizations. The article states that high levels of executive health within an organization contribute to organizational health, as defined in terms of high performance, adaptability, and flexibility of the firm. The primary focus explores the dimensions of executive health, the strength factors that enhance health, and the health risk factors that may jeopardize an executive’s health.
The Link Between Executive Well-being and Performance
While the importance of executive health is evident, there has been a lack of attention to this crucial issue in the larger context of workplace well-being. The Executive Health article aims to bridge this gap by raising awareness and inspiring executives to prioritize their own well-being.
The article’s authors suggest good executive health positively influences the performance of their firms. Studies on top management teams have shown a strong correlation between the executives’ well-being and the organization’s overall success. By extension, this success leads to wealth and economic growth.
The loss of an executive due to poor health can have severe financial and emotional consequences for a company. The scarcity of qualified replacements further exacerbates the impact, affecting shareholder wealth and the organization’s overall performance. For example, Roberto Goizueta, former CEO of Coca-Cola, was a chain smoker, a known health risk that ultimately led to his death from cancer at age 65 in October 1997. Since then, Coca-Cola’s stock has suffered a 15- to 20-percent decline. When Texas Instruments’ CEO Jerry Junkins suffered a fatal heart attack, the company’s stock price fell by 25 percent within weeks.
Thriving Executives, Thriving Organizations
At ExecuThrive, we firmly believe that overlooking the health risks executives face is a failure to recognize their crucial role in organizations, managing stakeholder relationships, and their economic contributions to society. Not only will executives’ psychological well-being affect their ability to make good decisions, but it will also influence the health of the organization. When executives are stable, grounded, and well-adjusted, the organization and its members become more resilient and capable of navigating challenges.
Our perspective at ExecuThrive challenges the notion that executive health is solely personal. We believe that organizations play a crucial role in creating a culture of well-being and supporting their executives’ health. By fostering a supportive environment and providing resources, organizations can influence healthy choices and enable executives to thrive.
Simplifying the Path to Executive Well-being and Success
At ExecuThrive, we understand that the demands placed on executives are ever-increasing. That’s why we have developed a comprehensive program to support their well-being and optimize their performance.
Our approach is simple yet powerful. We begin by assessing the current state of well-being of executives through the assistance of a dedicated Thrive Guide and Well-being Coordinator. These professionals understand the unique challenges faced by executives and work closely with them to match their needs with specialists in various domains, such as mental health, executive coaching, nutrition, and personal training, among others. By offering a single point of contact, we streamline the well-being journey for busy executives and ensure that their personal and professional goals align with the care they receive.
Investing in their well-being enables executives to effectively manage stress, maintain physical fitness, and strike a balance across various aspects of their lives. This benefits the executives and has a positive ripple effect on their teams, organizations, and, ultimately, the nation’s wealth.
