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Fit Managers Are Less Abusive to Employees [STUDY]

By Marissa Brassfield 01/31/12
Gordon Ramsay Yelling

Gordon Ramsay is perhaps the best example of a cantankerous leader. (CC) gordonramsaysubmissions/Flickr

We know that exercise decreases stress, but a recent study out of Northern Illinois University also found that fit managers are less likely to exhibit abusive behavior to employees. Bosses who didn’t get regular physical activity were far more prone to venting at subordinates and feeling a time crunch at work.

“The simple act of exercising minimizes the negative effects of supervisor workplace stress on subordinates,” concluded the study’s leader James Burton.

Regardless of stress levels and workload, managers’ abusive behavior significantly decreased with even “moderate” levels of exercise. Burton also found that it didn’t matter what kind of exercise managers did — just that they got moving a few times a week. The study was published in the Journal of Business and Psychology.

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About Marissa Brassfield

Marissa Brassfield is a productivity expert, high-performance author and communication efficiency specialist who helps solopreneurs become ridiculously efficient so that they can pursue their passions and still have time to live well. Connect on Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.