How leaders can be fit for the job

IF you ask for a list of desirable attributes for an ideal leader, physical fitness is probably the last thing on anyone's mind.

More often than not, employees tend to look for qualities such as flexibility and stability - all traits related to one's mental or emotional state.

But to achieve peak performance, the physical component - often overlooked - must also be part of the equation, say Marcus and Sari Marsden. The Marsdens are a husband-and-wife-team who co-founded Sarius Performance International, a consultancy that combines executive coaching with fitness and nutrition.

In their new book titled Fit to Lead, the executive coaches offer an alternative perspective on leadership that integrates all three aspects - the heart, mind and body - for maximum impact. Mr Marsden explains: "In the past, leadership was about what you knew. But …