A Speech Given in Satisfaction of Course Requirements~

“EFFECTIVE SPEAKING SKILLS”BY RICHARD E. HENDERSON

~Temple University

School of Business AdministrationDr. Donald H. Ecroyd

April 25, 1984

itness, as a foundation for long term corporate productivity, is an issue which demands immediate attention by senior management. Fccess to a daily fitness source is a benefit that should be made available to all employees, and is a cost effective investment by a corporation in their greatest resource: people. The reasons are logical. A

irstly, as has been stated by Dr. George Sheehan, a leading cardiologist, runner and preventative medicine advocate and spokesperson: “Fitness demands that personal growth precede professional growth. That what you do in

your profession is a function of the person you are. As such, personal growth remains the top priority for ourselves, and indirectly for our professions.”

Fecondly, a correlation exists between fit employees and those individuals capable of ongoing and increased productivity, creativity and the ability to assume roles of rigorous responsibility, which management positions

require. S

hirdly, fitness, while not a guarantee to an increased lifespan, without question is a combatant to the negative forces proven to shorten it: addictions to nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, a poor diet and obesity, high blood pressure,

diabetes, heart disease and elevated cholesterol levels.T

hat should this mean for you? Thirty minutes of daily aerobic exercise is the common denominator in achieving a satisfactory level of fitness. As such, management can certainly make a commitment to providing daily work-located access to facilities that would allow employees to satisfy this modest requirement.

orporate management continually emphasizes the need for higher levels of performance and increased productivity from its work force. Ironically however, that same management does not provide a positive outlet for the levels of

stress resulting from increased efforts needed to achieve that very productivity.

xercise is merely the substitution of a positive addiction for a negative addiction. It can become the enemy of the single most powerful force which is responsible for breaking an employee’s body and productivity down: work

related stress. Fitness through exercise, besides its effects on measurable things such as weight, pulse, blood pressure and the desire for nicotine, caffeine, alcohol and food, allows us to realize our “longevity quotient”. To think of life expectancy not in terms of how long you will live, but rather what you expect out of life today. It increases the quality of our lives and enhances our daily productivity.

E

he sense of well-being and self esteem derived from a satisfactory level of fitness, can only lead to a positive work attitude, increased energy, and a desire to complete each work day in its totality. To live and work each day as the

Roman philosopher Marcus Aurelius described: “As if it were our last”.T

anagement would be wise indeed to recognize the benefits derived from these correlations and to assume a posture which encourages the corporate fitness of its employees.M