Ch 4 The Adversarial 15%
In Chapter Three, we considered the likelihood of fifteen percent of a workforce being against a company's attempt to implement a fitness program. Certainly this figure could be much higher. That could be true in many rural areas or in some parts of the country which may be thought of as less than progressive. Even if fitness has been around at least since Jack Lalanne starting in the thirties, it is still a new thing for many people.
What's in place of it? The standard American lifestyle. To be sure that is OK, but its not as good as you can get. The normal American lifestyle consists of a forty hour work week, time off off on the weekends a vacation to recharge burned out mental batteries, eight hours of sleep per night,ideally sixty four ounces of water daily, and at least an annual check up to make sure everything is going well. All other things being equal this is supposed to get you through to a ripe old age, presumably twenty-five years after your retirement party.
If you're comfortable with that, you'll will probably say Where is the need for more? The answer is There may not be anyone at all unless you think so. The truth is that there is an ever-increasing number of examples of people who are looking far younger than their years, working longer and harder than ever before, participating in senior competitions and the list goes on. Too, there is the baby boomer desire to look like all of those people they still love watching in the movies. Most will never admit this, but this is where they're at. People who are adverse to fitness (the fifteen percent) do not care about any of these things.
The intent of this chapter is to understand the fifteen percent not to change them. If they want to be different there will be ample opportunity for that down the road. Things do happen which cause openness in people. But these can never be forced or expected. Nor can they be indirectly provided as in any way no matter how innocent. That is ii was only trying let you know about something you might never have even known was available. No one needs to do any of this. We all hve access to the internet, there is a lot of good press on CNN, the evening news, GMA, etc. and new health food stores and clubs spring up everywhere everyday.
While it is true that fitness takes off years, lightens up attitudes, makes people sharper, instills enthusiasm, makes co-worker interaction more fun, some people really may never want this for themselves. They will simply prefer being the fine employees they are. For this theoretical fifteen percent, a fitness lifestyle is, at best, Peter Pan in business casuals and it is the fitness director's responsibility to grin and bear it.
But where are they coming from? There are at least three starting points : 1.)those who have an aversion to any new benefit within the company itself; 2.) those who believe that fitness is just not for them; 3.)those who are habitually challenged.
Some people will be adverse to anything new in a company if they have had a bad experience. As stated in Chapter Three, ,"things just have happened. Not all history is good. Insults, slights, and promotion mistakes occur. On top of that, there is always the long, exhausting commute, the necessary extra hours without extra pay, the negative evaluation when everything warrants a bonus. All of this occurs. It is just part of corporate life, and it can cause a negative attitude toward fitness--something which does take some extra-effort until its been done for a while."
In other words, some folks just need time to heal. They feel that they have not gotten treated fairly in he past and therefore resent being expected to do more.One more change to the workplace with the expectation that is is good for everyone, including them, is simply angering. These folks may know they should work out, but having a plushy facility right there with the expectation that its all for them may be just too much.
Too there are the vending machine changes which are sure to cause trouble. Most companies have a a break room with the standard coffee, pastries sandwiches, popcorn and the like. These really need to be replaced with green tea, fruit, vegetables lean meat gluten free wraps and other healthy foods. Granted, not all corporations will do this extreme makeover of their lunch room and cafeterias, but some will. For those who do, there will be trouble. It is likely that an unhappy employee will not take kindly to having a favorite treat replaced by something thought of as health food; and this will be another cause for hostility.
Of course, anyone can stop off at Starbucks on the way to work, or they can bring their own food with them to the office. But the inconvenience and the seeming lack of regard for someone who has worked so hard and for so many years, in some instances, will be aggravating. Too, there is the fear that Peter Pan will soon be running the company. This means simply that basic attitudes of determination, grueling hard work and disdain for the competition may seem to be interchanged that is levity, youthfulness and joy. While there may eventually be studies showing that this increases productivity, the veteran employee may seriously start worrying over what is happening to the world they thought they knew.
Some may see these hard core people as a dying breed and refuse to be cordial to them. That, however, is a mistake. Bad things happen in corporate life and some folks take them harder than others for different reasons. Granted, they do get bitter but they also do put out. That is, they produce and therefore do deserve their anticipated rewards. If only they would have gotten a big extra check prior to 250K workout facility, which is right now being installed on the first floor. Well... they haven't; and that is the way it is, unfortunate as that may be. As a result, these veterans are not going to be happy with what could have been part of their bonus going toward facilities, changes and supposed betterment for everyone other than them.
So much for where these folks are at right now. They are not prime candidates for a fitness lifestyle right now or perhaps ever. Therefore selling them on it right now is not only a waste of time, but potentially dangerous.
Some people will be adverse to fitness just because fitness is supposed to be a good thing. What these folks are really saying is that everyone but them sees diet, supplementation and exercise as what you should be into. In other words they don't, but they're not angry about it. Its just not for them. To some degree this can be nothing more than a kindly variation of the disgruntled employee above. These people feel they are already doing enough, that are just fine the way they are and that there is nothing wrong with them Furthermore their doctor say they're fine and their doctor doesn't get into all of this untested stuff. With these folks there is an unwillingness to be supportive because of past injustices, its just that they don't see what all the fuss is about. From their perspective, getting to work performing their duties adhering to corporate policies is enough, and they get a paycheck to prove it.
No one can really argue with a position like this, but no one should even try getting them to become the first or second thousandth members of a corporate health facility. Too, they should not be expected or even asked to specify fitness goals for the next year. That is simply asking for trouble. The position this person is that are OK as they are right now and they are. That is why everyone should be appreciative of what they're all about. This actually shouldn't be all that difficult as they more than likely always do what they must, on time, and with minimal complaining. But the temptation is for the corporate fitness person to try selling them on something better. That must never be done.
In a day of more and more health clubs springing up all over, the same for vitamin shops no more than ten miles apart and countless articles stressing low fat low sugar gluten free eating, how can anyone not wonder what they are missing? This question is not meant to be rhetorical, though a fitness person may think so. Rather, it is an attempt to understand where this person is coming from. Thus it demands an answer.
Often times the disinterested person is coming from a high school background which had an emphasis on sports for the boys and cheerleader activities for the girls. While there is nothing better than this (unless its training for the Olympics starting at age six), it can have had a negative effect on some people. Many parents have pushed their kids into these activities, thinking they were doing nothing other than what any good parent might be expected to do. Some of these same kids went along with it and became miserable. Others defiantly refused and spent all of their school hours in forensics or debate for instance. With their defiance came the resolve to never again be bothered by any such absurd expectations from anyone.
A variation of this is the person who tried getting into shape, probably in college, but failed. This happens for numerous reasons, the most typical being the acquisition of an injury within the first week. Most likely this came from trying to do too much too fast. As most people know, a pulled muscle takes a while to heal. The pain lasts for much longer than you would think it should. That can put a significant damper on any fitness fire and result in soul searching. Why does this type of thing always happen to me(and no one else, it seems) is what they ponder
Thoughtful people often get into trouble when things like injuries happen to them but never to others. This can give rise to a period of introspection after which they may become resolved to the supposed fact that they are not genetically cut out for an athletic lifestyle. It is difficult to not smile when hearing this but, a poker face is the corporate fitness directors ONLY recourse. That is so even if he or she has lived through the seventies when the conclusion would have been I guess that I'm not a fitness type person.
Of course the director's position is that fitness is for everyone and everyone has to use their head when getting into it. If they don't they will be out of it by the next day when its time to do their next workout. But this is not the time to act like Vince Lombardi the famous coach, or even kindly Papa Vince, saying Why not just rest up and give it another try next week.
This person has decided that fitness is not for them because of their constitution and no one is going to tell them otherwise. Therefore, no one should try.
The trouble is these folks will not be open to anything which the company is trying to put it place. Yet, they won't have anything negative to say either ; they are inclined to never rock the boat. So where is the problem? Their only threat is that they may say to a co-worker That's great for you but it never worked for me. Some of the open-minded people may find this daunting, never putting the other person's failure failure into the proper context.
Some people are habitually challenged. That is to say some folks have habits which they may know are bad, but which they refuse to do anything about. This is typical of those who smoke, and over eat. Typically, they will say Yes Ii know shouldn't, but I'm not going to stop for you or anyone else, so deal with it! And, deal with it everyone must, as there is no law against being overweight or smoking cigarettes. After all, neither are drug abuse.
Either of these people will probably view a new corporate fitness program as an attempt to shape them up, which they will resent. The company's efforts will come across possibly as a ploy similar to what a parent might do to break a child of a bad habit. Examples might include bribing a child to eat healthy foods instead of preferred sweets, or pushing swimming lessons when it seems as if the pounds are beginning to creep on. Of course, these may be thought of as good ideas--ones which parents should come up with if simple demands such as Stay away from that poison or get on your bike to keep from getting ugly are considered to draconian. But they don't work on children and they are resented by adults. Why?
Smoking and eating are pleasant activities. They're often personal rewards for good behavior at what one does. Complete the morning reports and you can have a smoke. Or, make it through the full workday and you can enjoy a good dinner, which may unfortunately be of the two hour binge variety.
People who are into either off these, are into them unconsciously. They do not say I'm uptight about what happened at home so I'm going to have a smoke. Or I have done everything and more today so I really deserve eating my fill in front of the TV. Rather, they feel that they need a smoke or some food and just go about doing what they do to feel right. Unfortunately what's needed for the desired effect tends to increase over time.
If smoking and over-eating are not rewards, they can be diversions from emotional unpleasantness. For instance smoking can have tension relieving effect. As a result, it can help a person to do a better job by making bad feelings go away. Of course, the underlying problem will most likely persist, but its negative impact will be lessened during working hours. Thus it is a way of enhancing productivity.
The same goes for overeating. It too relieves stress, enhancing focused behavior. It is pleasant and an unfortunate necessary behavior in some people. It actually makes them a better employee than they might be without it.
Both of these problems have psychological roots which a fitness director is not qualified to go into. Certainly it is true that a fitness lifestyle cann decrease if not completely eliminate the urges to overeat and smoke but that is not until the behavior has been stopped.altogether. In many cases, this is extremely difficult and thus requires expert help. A suggested help for these persons is a partial subsidy of a treatment program, but this never be more than mentioned in passing. For certain, fitness ought never to be sold as cure for these disorders. (Though it can be seen as a preventative once they are corrected.)That will only prolong their presence.
In summary, there are three groups of people who make up the adversarial fifteen percent. These are the disgruntled employee, the person for whom fitness is just not right, and the people who have more serious health challenges such as tobacco or food compulsions. None of these persons will be receptive to any attempt, no matter how good, to implement a fitness program. While they may not openly antagonistic toward it, they will be a source for an undertow which may be problematic for the more open-minded seventy-five percent.
That is because many of these people will have significant influence over other workers. For example the disgruntled person can easily have considerable seniority and be extremely good at what they do. Or, the apathetic type may be a model employee, never missing a days work, always attending to the task at hand. Or the compulsive can have a stroke of genius about them, making their habit seem like part of the territory for a creative individual. In short, those who are neutral to mildly against a new company benefit may well have a considerable well-deserved clout.
The temptation is to try converting these people immediately. Nothing could be worse for the success of a new fitness program. That could come from the fitness director, the open-minded seventy-five percent, the already committed ten percent or even upper management. The worst would be requiring these persons to do anything, even something as passive as receiving monthly fitness news letters. In short, there should always be an opt-out on everything from the directors email account. Influence of this nature (spam) is never right and almost always counter-productive.
No matter what precautions are taken, there will still is the well-intentioned threat from co-workers. These people though perhaps never out for a sport in their lives, may believe that the best thing in the world for the fifteen percent is for them to be involved in a fitness program. In theory, they are right; in practice they are wrong. The only time that anyone should be involved with fitness program, no matter how good, or how good is when the person themselves, on their own, decides to give it a whirl. In other words the well meaning I was only trying to help good old Fred cut down on his smoking because the patch just never seems to work for him must be discouraged from day one. That may not be enough to stop it, but it should at least make known that fitness has to be a fundamentally free choice for everybody.
For further thou
What's in place of it? The standard American lifestyle. To be sure that is OK, but its not as good as you can get. The normal American lifestyle consists of a forty hour work week, time off off on the weekends a vacation to recharge burned out mental batteries, eight hours of sleep per night,ideally sixty four ounces of water daily, and at least an annual check up to make sure everything is going well. All other things being equal this is supposed to get you through to a ripe old age, presumably twenty-five years after your retirement party.
If you're comfortable with that, you'll will probably say Where is the need for more? The answer is There may not be anyone at all unless you think so. The truth is that there is an ever-increasing number of examples of people who are looking far younger than their years, working longer and harder than ever before, participating in senior competitions and the list goes on. Too, there is the baby boomer desire to look like all of those people they still love watching in the movies. Most will never admit this, but this is where they're at. People who are adverse to fitness (the fifteen percent) do not care about any of these things.
The intent of this chapter is to understand the fifteen percent not to change them. If they want to be different there will be ample opportunity for that down the road. Things do happen which cause openness in people. But these can never be forced or expected. Nor can they be indirectly provided as in any way no matter how innocent. That is ii was only trying let you know about something you might never have even known was available. No one needs to do any of this. We all hve access to the internet, there is a lot of good press on CNN, the evening news, GMA, etc. and new health food stores and clubs spring up everywhere everyday.
While it is true that fitness takes off years, lightens up attitudes, makes people sharper, instills enthusiasm, makes co-worker interaction more fun, some people really may never want this for themselves. They will simply prefer being the fine employees they are. For this theoretical fifteen percent, a fitness lifestyle is, at best, Peter Pan in business casuals and it is the fitness director's responsibility to grin and bear it.
But where are they coming from? There are at least three starting points : 1.)those who have an aversion to any new benefit within the company itself; 2.) those who believe that fitness is just not for them; 3.)those who are habitually challenged.
Some people will be adverse to anything new in a company if they have had a bad experience. As stated in Chapter Three, ,"things just have happened. Not all history is good. Insults, slights, and promotion mistakes occur. On top of that, there is always the long, exhausting commute, the necessary extra hours without extra pay, the negative evaluation when everything warrants a bonus. All of this occurs. It is just part of corporate life, and it can cause a negative attitude toward fitness--something which does take some extra-effort until its been done for a while."
In other words, some folks just need time to heal. They feel that they have not gotten treated fairly in he past and therefore resent being expected to do more.One more change to the workplace with the expectation that is is good for everyone, including them, is simply angering. These folks may know they should work out, but having a plushy facility right there with the expectation that its all for them may be just too much.
Too there are the vending machine changes which are sure to cause trouble. Most companies have a a break room with the standard coffee, pastries sandwiches, popcorn and the like. These really need to be replaced with green tea, fruit, vegetables lean meat gluten free wraps and other healthy foods. Granted, not all corporations will do this extreme makeover of their lunch room and cafeterias, but some will. For those who do, there will be trouble. It is likely that an unhappy employee will not take kindly to having a favorite treat replaced by something thought of as health food; and this will be another cause for hostility.
Of course, anyone can stop off at Starbucks on the way to work, or they can bring their own food with them to the office. But the inconvenience and the seeming lack of regard for someone who has worked so hard and for so many years, in some instances, will be aggravating. Too, there is the fear that Peter Pan will soon be running the company. This means simply that basic attitudes of determination, grueling hard work and disdain for the competition may seem to be interchanged that is levity, youthfulness and joy. While there may eventually be studies showing that this increases productivity, the veteran employee may seriously start worrying over what is happening to the world they thought they knew.
Some may see these hard core people as a dying breed and refuse to be cordial to them. That, however, is a mistake. Bad things happen in corporate life and some folks take them harder than others for different reasons. Granted, they do get bitter but they also do put out. That is, they produce and therefore do deserve their anticipated rewards. If only they would have gotten a big extra check prior to 250K workout facility, which is right now being installed on the first floor. Well... they haven't; and that is the way it is, unfortunate as that may be. As a result, these veterans are not going to be happy with what could have been part of their bonus going toward facilities, changes and supposed betterment for everyone other than them.
So much for where these folks are at right now. They are not prime candidates for a fitness lifestyle right now or perhaps ever. Therefore selling them on it right now is not only a waste of time, but potentially dangerous.
Some people will be adverse to fitness just because fitness is supposed to be a good thing. What these folks are really saying is that everyone but them sees diet, supplementation and exercise as what you should be into. In other words they don't, but they're not angry about it. Its just not for them. To some degree this can be nothing more than a kindly variation of the disgruntled employee above. These people feel they are already doing enough, that are just fine the way they are and that there is nothing wrong with them Furthermore their doctor say they're fine and their doctor doesn't get into all of this untested stuff. With these folks there is an unwillingness to be supportive because of past injustices, its just that they don't see what all the fuss is about. From their perspective, getting to work performing their duties adhering to corporate policies is enough, and they get a paycheck to prove it.
No one can really argue with a position like this, but no one should even try getting them to become the first or second thousandth members of a corporate health facility. Too, they should not be expected or even asked to specify fitness goals for the next year. That is simply asking for trouble. The position this person is that are OK as they are right now and they are. That is why everyone should be appreciative of what they're all about. This actually shouldn't be all that difficult as they more than likely always do what they must, on time, and with minimal complaining. But the temptation is for the corporate fitness person to try selling them on something better. That must never be done.
In a day of more and more health clubs springing up all over, the same for vitamin shops no more than ten miles apart and countless articles stressing low fat low sugar gluten free eating, how can anyone not wonder what they are missing? This question is not meant to be rhetorical, though a fitness person may think so. Rather, it is an attempt to understand where this person is coming from. Thus it demands an answer.
Often times the disinterested person is coming from a high school background which had an emphasis on sports for the boys and cheerleader activities for the girls. While there is nothing better than this (unless its training for the Olympics starting at age six), it can have had a negative effect on some people. Many parents have pushed their kids into these activities, thinking they were doing nothing other than what any good parent might be expected to do. Some of these same kids went along with it and became miserable. Others defiantly refused and spent all of their school hours in forensics or debate for instance. With their defiance came the resolve to never again be bothered by any such absurd expectations from anyone.
A variation of this is the person who tried getting into shape, probably in college, but failed. This happens for numerous reasons, the most typical being the acquisition of an injury within the first week. Most likely this came from trying to do too much too fast. As most people know, a pulled muscle takes a while to heal. The pain lasts for much longer than you would think it should. That can put a significant damper on any fitness fire and result in soul searching. Why does this type of thing always happen to me(and no one else, it seems) is what they ponder
Thoughtful people often get into trouble when things like injuries happen to them but never to others. This can give rise to a period of introspection after which they may become resolved to the supposed fact that they are not genetically cut out for an athletic lifestyle. It is difficult to not smile when hearing this but, a poker face is the corporate fitness directors ONLY recourse. That is so even if he or she has lived through the seventies when the conclusion would have been I guess that I'm not a fitness type person.
Of course the director's position is that fitness is for everyone and everyone has to use their head when getting into it. If they don't they will be out of it by the next day when its time to do their next workout. But this is not the time to act like Vince Lombardi the famous coach, or even kindly Papa Vince, saying Why not just rest up and give it another try next week.
This person has decided that fitness is not for them because of their constitution and no one is going to tell them otherwise. Therefore, no one should try.
The trouble is these folks will not be open to anything which the company is trying to put it place. Yet, they won't have anything negative to say either ; they are inclined to never rock the boat. So where is the problem? Their only threat is that they may say to a co-worker That's great for you but it never worked for me. Some of the open-minded people may find this daunting, never putting the other person's failure failure into the proper context.
Some people are habitually challenged. That is to say some folks have habits which they may know are bad, but which they refuse to do anything about. This is typical of those who smoke, and over eat. Typically, they will say Yes Ii know shouldn't, but I'm not going to stop for you or anyone else, so deal with it! And, deal with it everyone must, as there is no law against being overweight or smoking cigarettes. After all, neither are drug abuse.
Either of these people will probably view a new corporate fitness program as an attempt to shape them up, which they will resent. The company's efforts will come across possibly as a ploy similar to what a parent might do to break a child of a bad habit. Examples might include bribing a child to eat healthy foods instead of preferred sweets, or pushing swimming lessons when it seems as if the pounds are beginning to creep on. Of course, these may be thought of as good ideas--ones which parents should come up with if simple demands such as Stay away from that poison or get on your bike to keep from getting ugly are considered to draconian. But they don't work on children and they are resented by adults. Why?
Smoking and eating are pleasant activities. They're often personal rewards for good behavior at what one does. Complete the morning reports and you can have a smoke. Or, make it through the full workday and you can enjoy a good dinner, which may unfortunately be of the two hour binge variety.
People who are into either off these, are into them unconsciously. They do not say I'm uptight about what happened at home so I'm going to have a smoke. Or I have done everything and more today so I really deserve eating my fill in front of the TV. Rather, they feel that they need a smoke or some food and just go about doing what they do to feel right. Unfortunately what's needed for the desired effect tends to increase over time.
If smoking and over-eating are not rewards, they can be diversions from emotional unpleasantness. For instance smoking can have tension relieving effect. As a result, it can help a person to do a better job by making bad feelings go away. Of course, the underlying problem will most likely persist, but its negative impact will be lessened during working hours. Thus it is a way of enhancing productivity.
The same goes for overeating. It too relieves stress, enhancing focused behavior. It is pleasant and an unfortunate necessary behavior in some people. It actually makes them a better employee than they might be without it.
Both of these problems have psychological roots which a fitness director is not qualified to go into. Certainly it is true that a fitness lifestyle cann decrease if not completely eliminate the urges to overeat and smoke but that is not until the behavior has been stopped.altogether. In many cases, this is extremely difficult and thus requires expert help. A suggested help for these persons is a partial subsidy of a treatment program, but this never be more than mentioned in passing. For certain, fitness ought never to be sold as cure for these disorders. (Though it can be seen as a preventative once they are corrected.)That will only prolong their presence.
In summary, there are three groups of people who make up the adversarial fifteen percent. These are the disgruntled employee, the person for whom fitness is just not right, and the people who have more serious health challenges such as tobacco or food compulsions. None of these persons will be receptive to any attempt, no matter how good, to implement a fitness program. While they may not openly antagonistic toward it, they will be a source for an undertow which may be problematic for the more open-minded seventy-five percent.
That is because many of these people will have significant influence over other workers. For example the disgruntled person can easily have considerable seniority and be extremely good at what they do. Or, the apathetic type may be a model employee, never missing a days work, always attending to the task at hand. Or the compulsive can have a stroke of genius about them, making their habit seem like part of the territory for a creative individual. In short, those who are neutral to mildly against a new company benefit may well have a considerable well-deserved clout.
The temptation is to try converting these people immediately. Nothing could be worse for the success of a new fitness program. That could come from the fitness director, the open-minded seventy-five percent, the already committed ten percent or even upper management. The worst would be requiring these persons to do anything, even something as passive as receiving monthly fitness news letters. In short, there should always be an opt-out on everything from the directors email account. Influence of this nature (spam) is never right and almost always counter-productive.
No matter what precautions are taken, there will still is the well-intentioned threat from co-workers. These people though perhaps never out for a sport in their lives, may believe that the best thing in the world for the fifteen percent is for them to be involved in a fitness program. In theory, they are right; in practice they are wrong. The only time that anyone should be involved with fitness program, no matter how good, or how good is when the person themselves, on their own, decides to give it a whirl. In other words the well meaning I was only trying to help good old Fred cut down on his smoking because the patch just never seems to work for him must be discouraged from day one. That may not be enough to stop it, but it should at least make known that fitness has to be a fundamentally free choice for everybody.
For further thou
Comments