Taking a break is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength.
CEOs and athletes have more in common than you might think. Both fields, at the highest level, require extensive travel and time away from home, and operate in high-pressure environments where criticism and scrutiny are relentless. In both fields, athletes are expected to be nearly superhuman, showing no signs of distress or chink in their armor. With the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris underway, many have been eager to see top athletes, and one has made a notable return to the spotlight: Simone Biles.
Biles recently won her third gold medal at the Paris Olympics, and she still has several events to add to her current nine Olympic medals. While her medal haul and peak performances are remarkable, her journey to Paris is a valuable reminder for CEOs, founders, and business leaders. At the 2020 Tokyo Games, Biles was favored to win as many as six gold medals and was considered the “face of the Games.” Instead, she walked away with two medals (a silver and a bronze). Discussing her experience with NBC’s Mike Tirico, Biles revealed the pressure of performing and her struggle with “turns,” a phenomenon where gymnasts feel a disconnect between their mind and body while in the air.
After dismissing it as a fluke, Biles faced the issue again and sat out most of her scheduled events. While she didn’t win multiple gold medals, Biles highlighted the critical issue of mental health in high-pressure environments. In the business world, you can trade medals for IPOs, key mergers and acquisitions, revenue targets, company revitalization, shareholder pressure, public scrutiny, and more. Biles’ journey from Tokyo to Paris highlights two critical lessons for CEOs striving to perform at a high level while maintaining their mental health.
Pay Attention to Your Check Engine Lights and Enjoy Strategic Rest
Biles, with her team of professionals and her self-awareness, was able to assess her situation and make decisions that prioritized her mental health. As she emphasized in her interview, “Prioritize your mental health. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the biggest stage; it’s more important than any other medal you could win.” While 55% of CEOs have struggled with their mental health in the past year, many are trying to cope and ignore their internal struggles. Whether you’re a high-performance athlete or a business executive, taking breaks is often frowned upon in favor of “hustling” and “working hard.”
This approach leads to burnout, which affects your well-being, organization, and critical relationships, such as with family. Just as the check engine light serves as a warning for your car, CEOs should not ignore check engine lights in their daily lives. Physical problems, mental exhaustion, spiritual discouragement, or emotional challenges—address them as soon as they appear and seek help. Professional athletes understand that rest allows muscles to rebuild and grow. In the business world, you can’t keep your foot on the gas all the time. Strategic breaks and hobbies that provide a breather from the demands of daily life aren’t just stress relievers; they help you grow professionally.
Building a Wellness-Focused Board
No one succeeds alone, and many elite athletes often experience various forms of loneliness. Biles has spoken of the “loneliness of having to win,” a sentiment echoed by athletes like Michael Phelps and Naomi Osaka. As she rebuilt herself mentally and physically, Biles relied on a supportive board of directors, including her husband, coaches, teammates and parents.
Just as CEOs have a board of directors to guide organizational decisions, leaders must approach their wellness with the same intention. While running a business and navigating the intricacies of the CEO role share parallels, every leader’s experience is unique. Therefore, the makeup of your wellness board will be tailored to your situation. Key areas include individuals or groups that help nurture important personal relationships, manage physical health, provide outlets for mental and emotional issues, and manage work pressures.
Executive stress and the constant pressure to perform are not going to diminish any time soon. These challenges are part of being a CEO and leader. While the pressure on employees may not be abating, your approach to dealing with it can be modified and improved. As seen with the return of Biles and other athletes, taking a strategic break to recharge and rejuvenate is not a sign of weakness but a strategic move to come back better and stronger.
