Most high-profile American CEOs take their leisure activities seriously, and it is no coincidence that some of the people most dedicated to their professional lives dedicate similar energy to their hobbies, according to the Harvard Business Review.
Here are five reasons why intense passion for hobbies helps CEOs:
1. It provides valuable detachment. The complex responsibilities of their leadership roles can often leave CEOs thinking about work even when they are off the job, and only hobbies that require intense focus can shift their minds off of work.
2. It means constantly striving for your "best self." Hobbies that involve some level of competition allow CEOs to access and amplify their best professional instincts, which can help them carry that passion back to their work life.
3. It can provide a welcome lesson in humility. Engaging with a hobby in which CEOs are simply enthusiastic participants, as opposed to leaders, can provide a necessary humbling experience.
4. It offers a "full control" experience. CEOs are often people who crave control, and while intricate corporate governance systems spread power across organizations, hobbies offer CEOs the ability to fully control a situation.
5. It creates different, deeper connections with your followers. Leisure activities offer CEOs the ability to connect with employees on a non-professional level. When participating in all-company events such as races or basketball tournaments, leaders can solicit honest feedback from employees they might not usually speak with.