Intermittent fasting is not new, but in case you’re unfamiliar, it refers to the practice of setting specific timespans to eat, and timespans to abstain from food. It has entered mainstream nutrition as an accessible means of achieving a variety of health and wellness intentions. Weight loss is probably the most common goal, but intermittent fasting has been linked to other health benefits, including clarity of mind, reduced risks of Alzheimer’s disease, better cardiovascular health, and more.
Why am I writing about fasting on a leadership blog? Well, I am experimenting with intermittent fasting again myself, primarily for weight loss. It isn’t easy at first, and can cause some discomfort—luckily, discomfort sometimes leads to revelation! During a particularly low blood sugar experience, my hunger inspired an analogy: leadership fasting. And since I still can’t eat for another two hours, I figured I’d fill the time by writing about it.
I’m creating these guidelines in real time, so this blog will NOT include any research, scientific data, or statistics. In the parlance of the youth, this is a vibes-based idea. But stick with me here… I think I’m onto something!
The Elements of Leadership Fasting
- A set amount of time, each day, during which the leader solves no problems. This exercise will counterbalance the continual stress of leadership, as well as minimize the risk of becoming addicted to solutions.
- A set amount of time, each day, during which the leader makes no decisions. Being a leader requires constant choice, which is exhausting and stressful. Leaders would benefit from an intentional abstinence from decisions.
- A set amount of time, each day, during which the leader undergoes a “hedonic reset.” Hedonic resets occur when enough time has passed without doing the thing your brain loves to do. For many leaders, what they love most, at least in their professional lives, is leading—the sense of being in charge. I believe stepping completely into followership would be the ultimate hedonic reset for leaders. How might a leader “follow” with no responsibility to their typical and familiar leadership role? I think this will be different for each leader, and will provide unique opportunities to be creative and experimental.
These suggestions may seem somewhat strange and impractical, but I think there are ways of incorporating them into our leadership lives with minimal disruption. It’s important to give our brains deliberate rest. And occasional abstinence from familiar tasks and habits can give us perspective on what it is we’re actually doing when we lead.
Try this experiment: tap a trusted team member to lead your next meeting. Sit in as a participant, allowing things to unfold under someone else’s direction. Observe how it feels to let go of control. You might learn something about leadership styles, and you’ll certainly build the confidence of the person you picked to take the reins. All while taking a load off!
It’s difficult to abstain from the things that nourish us. As mentioned, I’m struggling to get back into the rhythm of intermittent fasting. But I remember how amazing I felt the last time I tried it, and this thought is sustaining me through the challenges.
Many of us struggle with letting go of control. We’ve made our reputation by being strong leaders, and we just don’t know how to turn it off. Perhaps leadership fasting is just what we need to refresh ourselves and improve the health of our relationship with leadership!
Send me an email at [email protected] if you’d like to talk about this with me.
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