Get in There! - 3 Ways the Weight Room is Similar to the Board Room

Not so long ago, an injury put the brakes on my running. I love to run, though, so I needed to find a new endorphin fix. At the same time, I started doing strength training as part of my physical therapy to get myself back on the road. Long story short, I discovered the weight room.

 Traditional wisdom dictates a heavy focus on cardio in our workouts. We’re burning calories and toning all the right parts, all while keeping our hearts in shape, right? The experts suggest we need to spend a decent chunk of time in the weight room, too. But the weight room, especially for women, is often outside our comfort zone. Step into any weight room at any gym and, chances are, you’re going to see a lot more men than women. Strength training is physically uncomfortable, too. That old expression “feel the burn” applies far better to a set of squats than it does to half an hour on a treadmill. But it’s feeling like we belong in the weight room that is a much bigger deal than any extra lactic acid buildup.

If you think this sounds a little like being a female executive, you’re right. The weight room and the boardroom aren’t all that different for a lot of women. But we have a place in both - here’s three things you can do to claim your spot, whether it’s on a free weight bench or in the boardroom:

 Observe & Apply

The first time I walked into the weight room, a lot of the equipment looked totally foreign to me. Weight lifting isn’t rocket science, but there are definitely right and wrong ways to go about strength training. So I watched what other people did...I observed, I learned, and it wasn’t long before lifting became second nature. There’s no shame in asking questions either. Whether it’s a personal trainer or just a friendly lifter on the bench next to you, there are plenty of ways to learn the ropes.

 The same goes for executive leadership. We’ve all had great bosses and worked with outstanding leaders. We’ve also all had the misfortune to encounter really poor leaders. Observe and apply. What leadership styles work well? How do people respond to different situations? A keen eye and a willingness to learn go a long way towards developing the right skills for the boardroom. And like personal trainers, mentors and the best leaders are willing to share what they know and are candid about their mistakes.

 Stand up for Yourself

Last week, I was in the weight room and had set up a nice circuit for myself. Right in the middle of my workout, a man walked over and began moving my things off of a bench I was using. He was so intent on his own workout and it didn’t even occur to him that I might be using the equipment--he actually didn’t see me. A pointed “Excuse me” and a confident offer to share the equipment set him back on his heels and let me finish my circuit.

 It seems like a small thing, but women encounter this sort of apparent blindness in the executive ranks and the boardroom all the time. It’s too easy for our ideas to get lost in a sea of testosterone. Our voices won’t be heard unless we speak up. Again, this isn’t always a comfortable thing to do, but if you’re working at the executive level, you’ve earned the right to be confident. Speak up at meetings, push back when you need to, don’t be intimidated, and be prepared to defend your ideas.

 Seize the Moment

Strength training isn’t something I sought out. Runners are all about lean muscle and endurance. But when I had to rethink how I approached exercise, I embraced it and I’m glad I did. I’m stronger, healthier, and totally addicted to the benefits of weight training.

Many of us are actively seeking out positions of increasing responsibility and leadership. Getting there means taking advantage of the opportunities that come our way, even if they’re unexpected or uncomfortable at first. If you have the chance to lead a project or jump into a new position, take it. If you have the chance to go toe to toe with a senior leader, do it. If you have the opportunity to learn something new, don’t let it pass you by.

 Why is it that we are so often intimidated in the weight room? Look around - Do all the men in there look like Joe Manganiello? No, they don’t. In fact, many of them aren’t in the best shape. Now look around at your organization’s executive team. They aren’t all Warren Buffets and from a leadership perspective, not all of them are in the best shape either. Bottom line, don’t be intimidated. Embrace challenges and opportunities and get out of your comfort zone. Own that bench in the weight room and own that spot around the conference table.