Sound body, sound mind

Henrik Bunge, CEO and “Head Coach” of fitness apparel company Björn Borg (named after the tennis star) has integrated fitness into the culture of his company. Since Bunge came onboard, profitability has risen sharply, something he credits to the mind- and team-building benefits of exercising together and physical goal-setting and achievement. Although there is a growing research literature on the connection between physical fitness and cognitive performance, researchers differ in their opinion of whether that directly translates to business success as Bunge claims. Why it may be important – in addition to research that shows that a healthier workforce costs less in terms of health care expenses, lost productivity due to injury and illness, and longevity, demonstrating short-term benefits to profitability may entice other leaders to invest in the physical fitness of their teams.