Health is the big topic today. Let's face it's essential to us all. The evidence shows we've gotten pretty sloppy in our own self-health care --- and it is clearly related to our leadership, innovation, high performance and contributions. NPR reports: "Make room, salt and cholesterol, SUGAR is now an official bad guy for your heart," says the The American Heart Association. Why? We are eating as much as 22 teaspoons of sugar a day on average! Can you believe it? How can we be fit for all those looking to us for leadership, while under such excess influence?
I remember being in a management development class at IBM years ago. One sentence from a Warren Bennis film has stayed with me. It came from former Superintendent of West Point, General David Palmer. He was describing the qualities needed to lead and develop "leader's of character" for the twenty-first century:
"You've got to be FIT for LEADERSHIP." -- General David Palmer
So what's SUGAR got to do with LEADERSHIP...? Look closely. It works against us. In excess, SUGAR can erode community and bring out the worst behaviors and actions that keep us from being "top of our game." In turn, SUGAR can impact the generation of new ideas, execution of strategies, development of new products and services, effective collaboration with customers and partners, and the capability to fuel the engine of growth: INNOVATION.
SUGAR Erodes Community: Insights from Linda Prout
Some years ago, I had the good fortune of meeting Linda Prout, nutritionist and author of Live in the Balance. We had a chance to explore how our LEADERSHIP EFFECTIVENESS is directly influenced by what we EAT. A while back, I shared a three part series on one of our blogs on the influence of FOOD on our LEADERSHIP with Linda Prout's insights. Below is the part about SUGAR's IMPACT.
"Refined sugar-rich treats such as cookies and candy, are another additive that can undermine leaders and community. Sugar can exacerbate an angry disposition, plus rob you of energy and interfere with short-term memory. Research at Texas A & M University shows when sweets are cut from the diet, moods such as depression improve and energy levels go up. Studies also show a sugary snack, such as soft drinks, cookies, cake or candy, causes adrenaline levels to rise and blood sugar levels to plummet. With blood sugar levels low, one's energy, recall and ability to think rationally drops. The rise in adrenaline leaves a feeling of aggression: a formula for mistakes, foul moods and even crime.
Annemarie Colbin, in her book Food and Healing, points out that cultures with more refined sugars in their diets are more individualistic than socially oriented. She says eating excess refined white sugar leads us to feel "excessively individualistic," to the point of "alienation and criminality." My clients often tell me they need to nap or just be alone when they've eating too much sugar. They report new energy to take on projects and play a more active role in their community and families' lives when they get the sugar out of their diet. Eliminating sugar can also help ease PMS, including irritability, depression and mood swings. To calm your mood and increase the energy necessary to lead and build community, reduce your intake of alcohol and refined sugars. Replace "Frosted Mini-Wheats®", jam, Pop Tarts®, sweet rolls, donuts and other sugary foods at breakfast with protein-rich eggs, lox on toast, lean chicken sausage or oatmeal with skim milk and nuts. To ward off afternoon sugar cravings, have a large lunch rich with fish, chicken, beans or tofu and vegetables. Choose fruits for dessert or snacks.
Foods To Boost Energy and Calm Your Leadership Spirit
---Cooked leafy greens:
broccoli, spinach, kale, chard, collards, mustard greens, asparagus
---Fish
---Chicken
---Eggs
---Beans
---Soy Products
A diet rich in vegetables, beans, tofu, fish, poultry and lean meats with moderate amounts of whole grains, is generally the ideal diet for lifting energy as well as calming the spirit and reducing anger and agitation. Savoring such meals with friends, associates and family members not only builds health, it builds bonds that build community.
Learn more about Linda Prout's work at her website: http://www.lindaprout.com/
A Call for the BEST from All of US
As I wrote my book, "In times of both crisis and opportunity, leaders are always asked to reinvent themselves; to redirect their attention in some significant way in order for them to champion transformation. This is one of those times we’re being called on to put our differences to work to forge a new paths." It's pretty hard for any of us to operate at our highest potential and contribution without a strong community, being alert, checking our moods, and getting along with others.
At this time in history, our organizations, our people and all those looking to us for leadership, call for the BEST from us all. We have to be the change we want to see as Gandhi told us. We have to set the example. How we eat and care for ourselves can make a difference in how we deliver it day-to-day.
I leave you recommitting myself to being a fit for leadership example for others.
How about YOU?
Warm wishes to you all! Lead the way!
Debbe
Debbe Kennedy
founder, President and CEO Global Dialogue Center
and Leadership Solutions Companies author, Putting Our Differences to Work
The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership,
and High Performance (Berrett-Koehler 2008)
Buy a Copy at Amazon.com
YouTube Book Review by futurist Joel A. Barker
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