Every Leader Needs A Hobby
With so much of our day spent dealing with the problems that arise from leading others, it is easy to think you don’t have time for a hobby. It’s a fallacy many leaders fall into. Failing to have a hobby is also one of the reasons many leaders stumble and face burnout. In Adam Grant’s book Power Moves, we learn that David Solomon, the CEO of Goldman Sachs isn’t the straight-laced CEO you might think of when you think of Goldman Sachs. Outside of work, he spends his free time on his hobby--DJing at clubs and events. He goes by the name of DJ D-Sol and rocks clubs all around the world. He found an outlet for the stress of his job. Using his hobby of DJing, he is able to relax and decompress to avoid burnout.
Carey Nieuwhof, the former lawyer and founding pastor of Connexus Church, enjoys spending time cycling the roads of Canada. He’s learned through the process of burnout that he has to do something for himself or he will burnout again. Burnout comes from prolonged periods of extreme stress. Your mental, physical, and emotional well-being are stretched to the max. This is where having a hobby comes in handy.
The Benefits Of Having A Hobby
Our lives are already packed with stress. We feel the pressures of work and home. We feel like we can never getaway.
This is one of the reasons many leaders fail to find a hobby. They believe they don’t have the time. They’re mistaken because finding a hobby can free up time and energy.
We often push hobbies to the side because we feel like we cannot afford the extra time. However, the following benefits will help you realize how important it is for a leader to have a hobby.
- Hobbies release stress: The demands of the home and office can be brutal. Time demands and family commitments can make you lose your mind. But when you begin enjoying one of your hobbies, stress can begin to melt away. Your mind shifts from the challenges of the day to the activity in front of you. You see a fun challenge and want to work to solve the issue ahead of you. Whether this is breaking your 5k record or building a new shed to store your woodworking tools, hobbies help us forget the problems we’ve faced.
- Hobbies unlock your creativity: Have you ever found yourself stuck trying to solve a complicated problem? You have focused so much intense energy on the problem you cannot see the answer. Then, you take a break. You go for a walk or you sit in front of the television to play a quick match on Super Smash Brothers Ultimate. When all of a sudden, BOOM! The solution hits you. Our minds need a break from the stress of problem-solving. It needs time to recharge and refresh. This can be done through our hobbies. They relax our minds and take away anxiety. They also help you unlock your creativity and solve the problems you stopped thinking about.
- Hobbies change how you feel: While you face a constant barrage of pressure at work, your hobbies can provide pressure too. Yet this pressure does something different. The pressure you face from your hobbies is relaxing pressure. You’re having fun. You’re enjoying yourself. And the way you feel begins to change. Your hobbies are a release. They help you melt away the stress and anxiety you feel from doing work that matters.
- Hobbies make you less lonely: Many hobbies force you to create new relationships. They require you to interact with someone outside of your normal social circle.
- Hobbies build your confidence: Hobbies can help you to become a more confident leader. How can this be? Your confidence builds as you find yourself becoming better and better at something you’re doing. The better you get at your hobby, the more confidence you can feel. Whether you get better at kiteboarding or knitting, you feel good when you see improvement. This confidence boost doesn’t stay in your hobby. The confidence you receive from your hobby can carry over to other aspects of your life.
--Adapted from Jmlalonde.com
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