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Healthy leader, healthy firm A CEO and a president share a few secrets on how they keep themselves, and their companies, in order – go for a hike and live a little. P R O F I L E
By LIISA ANDREASSEN Correspondent
S taying healthy is not just a matter of life and death. It’s a big part of being successful in the A/E/P industry. The Zweig Letter reached out to the leaders of a couple of top firms to get their insights on how to maintain a sound mind and body, and by extension, a successful firm. “I value the unplugged time at our camp on a nearby lake to really get separation from the work.” BALANCE WORK AND PLAY. Douglas McKeown, CEO of Woodard & Curran (Portland, ME) – an 875-person integrated engineering, science, and operations firm – says that maintaining personal health is critical for him. In fact, it’s so vital that he actually put in a fitness center at the firm’s main office for him and his em- ployees. “I prefer a noon workout to break up the long days,” he says. He believes that the intensity of your play time needs to match the intensity of your work time, otherwise it’s hard to recharge. He enjoys fishing, wilderness hunting, playing hockey, and logging off the grid. “I value the unplugged time at our camp on a nearby lake to really get separation from the work,” he says. All these things have combined to help him maintain a good balance and the level of See LEADERS, page 10 “After 30 years of travel and realizing that I get to go to some cool places, but never take time to experience the area, I started adding a little time to my trips to actually experience the places and the people.”
Douglas McKeown, CEO, Woodard & Curran
McKeown unwinding on the lake.
CARE FOR YOURSELF AND SUCCESS WILL FOLLOW CEO.com, a resource for executives seeking out the latest in business news and leadership strategy, reports that staying healthy is on the top of the to-do list and it pays off in terms of success. How are they doing it? ❚ ❚ They exercise. If you are getting up early, mornings are the perfect time to exercise. You don’t have to sign up for the next triathlon, but you can establish habits to maintain your physical health. And, aside from the primary purpose of better health, there are many other benefits of exercise that help CEOs to be better leaders. Some of these beneficial side effects include a sharper memory, a reduction in stress, improved self-confidence, and greater overall productivity. ❚ ❚ They meditate. Setting aside an actual time to just quietly reflect once or twice a day may not solve all your life’s problems, but it certainly helps keep things in perspective. Studies show people who meditate have lower stress levels, lower blood pressure, and live longer. ❚ ❚ They cut back on meetings. Many meetings are habitual and unnecessary. Before scheduling a meeting, consider if an email, a phone call, or some other form of communication, would save more time. If you absolutely have to have a meeting then stick to the allotted time. And only schedule in-person meetings when it’s necessary.
THE ZWEIG LETTER March 28, 2016, ISSUE 1145
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