When we think about becoming better leaders or developing our talent, we usually focus on building new skills.

We attend leadership programs, read books, hire coaches, and work on our communication, emotional intelligence, executive presence, and strategic thinking. All of those investments are significant.

However, there’s one area that many of us overlook, even though it influences every decision we make, every conversation we have, and every challenge we navigate– our health.

Somewhere along the way, we’ve accepted the idea that feeling exhausted is simply part of success. We normalize brain fog, poor sleep, low energy, constant stress, and relying on caffeine just to get through the day. The problem is that what we’ve normalized what’s wrong.

When I sat down with Jessica Van Antoine, Founder of Phoenix Functional Health and a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, she offered a perspective that every leader needs to hear.

Jessica doesn’t see health as something separate from leadership.She sees it as one of the foundations of leadership performance.

We Don’t Always Recognize the Signals

We often dismiss the messages our bodies are trying to send us.

Maybe you’ve noticed that you’re rereading the same email two or three times before it makes sense. Your energy crashes every afternoon. You wake up tired even after what should have been a full night’s sleep. Or perhaps you’re finding it harder to concentrate than you did just a few years ago. Many of us explain those things away.

“I’m just getting older.”

“It’s a busy season.”

“I’ll slow down after this project.”

Jessica encouraged us to look at those experiences differently. Instead of seeing them as inconveniences we simply have to tolerate, what if they’re signals that our bodies are asking for help?

As leaders, we’re trained to pay attention to data. We watch market trends, business results, customer feedback, and employee engagement. We know how to identify leading indicators before they become larger problems.

Yet how often do we notice what’s happening in our own bodies? We push through the fatigue, the tension, or the lack of focus because there’s still work to get done. Over time, those things have a way of catching up with us.

Leadership Doesn’t Happen Separate From Our Health

Like many of us, executives, entrepreneurs, and hard-working professionals, Jessica believed working harder was the answer. Coffee helped her get through the day, and rest was something she told herself she’d get to later.

Eventually, she reached a breaking point. She learned that her body didn’t have the resources it needed to deal with the stress.

Many of us can relate to that. When we’re constantly depleted, leadership becomes much harder. Our patience wears thin, our thinking becomes less clear, creativity doesn’t come as easily, and we start operating on autopilot instead of leading with intention.

We don’t show up as the leader we want to be. I’ve often said that I can’t serve my clients, support my team, innovate, or enjoy my personal life if I don’t first take care of my health.

Health isn’t something I work on after work. It’s one of the reasons I’m able to do the work in the first place.

Health Is More Than a Personal Priority 

One of the shifts Jessica challenges us to make is moving health out of the category of “personal goals” and into the bucket of “leadership strategy.”

We tell ourselves we’ll make our health a priority after the next promotion, once this big project is behind us, or when work finally settles down. 

Today, we’re navigating AI transformation, economic uncertainty, changing workforce expectations, and increasing complexity. Our organizations need leaders who can think strategically, communicate clearly, make sound decisions, and help others navigate uncertainty. All of that requires energy, focus and resilience.

If our health influences how we think, feel, and perform, then taking care of ourselves isn’t separate from leadership. It becomes one of the pathways we strengthen our leadership capacity.

Perhaps it’s time we stop asking, “How do I fit my health into my busy schedule?”

Instead, we can start asking, “How does investing in my health make me a better leader?”

That’s a very different conversation.

Great Leaders Are Proactive, Not Reactive

We would never run our companies by waiting until something breaks before we address it. We review what’s working, watch for early warning signs, and make adjustments before small issues become bigger problems.

Yet when it comes to our health, we often do the opposite. We push through fatigue, poor sleep, low energy, and difficulty focusing until our bodies force us to pay attention.

Jessica encourages us to bring the same proactive approach we use to lead our organizations to how we take care of ourselves. Our health deserves that same attention.

Small Daily Choices Build Leadership Capacity

So how can we take better care of our health? And not just talk about it. 

Jessica suggests doing simple things: drink more water, move throughout the day, pay attention to what we’re eating, and notice how our bodies respond. She also reminded us that what works for one person may not work for another. We have to pay attention to what works for us.

None of this requires us to completely overhaul our lives. We can start with the choices we’re already making every day. Get up from the desk more often, refill the water bottle. Notice how we feel after eating certain foods. Pay attention when something we’re doing regularly no longer makes us feel good.

Over time, these everyday choices become part of how we take care of ourselves. We don’t have to wait for a health scare or reach a breaking point to begin.

Focus on What You Can Control

There are stressors within our control and others that are not. We may not be able to change the demands at work, financial pressures, or what’s happening around us. Jessica’s advice…

“Do everything that you can to deal with the stressors that are within your control and minimize them.”

We can’t remove every source of stress from our lives. We can look at what is adding unnecessary strain and decide what we’re willing and able to change and how we respond to stress.

And if you’re doing the right things and still not feeling like yourself, seek support from a qualified professional who can help you understand what’s going on.

What’s Next?

One of the most strategic investments we can make as leaders isn’t another productivity system or leadership framework. It’s building the physical and mental capacity to lead well over the long term.

If this conversation resonates with you, I invite you to watch or listen to our full conversation with Jessica Van Antoine on The Dr. Ginny Show podcast, How Can Better Health Improve Leadership Performance. 

You’ll walk away with a fresh perspective on how caring for your health can strengthen not only your personal well-being, but also your ability to lead with greater clarity, resilience, and purpose.

Healthy leaders build healthier organizations. If you’re ready to equip your leaders with the mindset, resilience, and leadership capabilities required to thrive through growth and transformation, we’d love to support you. Schedule a complimentary Strategy Conversation today. You can also connect directly with us at info@executivebound.com. 

To connect with Jessica and learn more about what you could be doing to be proactive with your health, please see her contact details below.

Lead with purpose, live with joy!

Dr. Ginny

About Our Guest

Our distinguished guest, Jessica Van Antoine, FDNP, is the Founder of Phoenix Functional Health. As a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, Jessica helps high-performing female founders and entrepreneurs uncover the hidden stressors that affect their energy, focus, and resilience. Through personalized functional health strategies, she helps her clients optimize their health so they can grow their businesses and expand their impact without working harder. To connect with Jessica, email jessica@phoenixfunctionalhealth.com, visit Phoenix Functional Health, or connect with her on LinkedIn.