Leading under Pressure - in the Media
It was with great sadness that we received the news of the untimely and sudden death of the great political journalist Tim Russert today. While watching Larry King’s tribute and poignant question regarding the challenging lifestyle of media experts, Ted Koppel, managing editor of the Discovery Channel, couldn’t but comment how Russert would always fill in for everyone else and also said “he worked too hard.” Interestingly, when Wolf Blitzer, CNN anchor, was asked if he would consider changing his lifestyle in any way, he smiled with sarcasm at the idea saying that, although others may feel he should, he wouldn’t, particularly as he found his job quite exhilarating.
Top executives and entrepreneurs who are Leading Under Pressure usually see the warning signs along the way: they start to run out of stamina in their forties and fifties, and may start having some stress-related medical problems affecting their health, slowly increasing in intensity or frequency. Unfortunately for Russert, who was apparently symptom-free, the dramatic presentation of his massive heart attack gave no time for a life-saving intervention.
Aside from annual visits to an internist and regular control visits if chronic medical issues are present (high cholesterol, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, mood or anxiety disorders), leaders under constant pressure need to maximize their healthy habits on a regular basis. Prioritizing healthy lifestyles will enable corporate warriors to continue to perform and produce at the top level so as to bring their passion and purpose into action – while staying healthy and well.
