The Kowloon Motor Bus Company, which my grandfather William Louey Sui-Tak founded in 1921, has always believed in investing in human capital as a priority. His dedication to staff welfare is what I believe has driven the success of our business. It is a commitment that has consequently fueled my passion and interest in health and wellness.

My father passed away at the age of 49 and my grandfather and uncle passed away in their 50s, which added to my worry that I too would die young. This sudden realization of my mortality made me conscious of my health and even more dedicated to my family business.

Many family businesses struggle to survive beyond themselves the second generation of the heirs. While business founders are valued as the backbone of the company, the second generation is often feared to be passive heirs who can make or break a business. As a fourth-generation businessman, I strive to encourage the company to embrace change, especially in an era where green technology is becoming more important than ever to business sustainability in my industry.

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Health is wealth

A business leader who focuses on them first health and well-being will be competent enough to carry out their responsibilities and inspire their management teams and staff members. New data published by jam in 2024 – a survey of 500 UK business leaders – showed that 76% of business leaders wanted to strengthen their physical, mental and ethical fitness in order to succeed.

Following these the three pillars of fitnessAccording to the report, it means business leaders can be more focused and equipped with the ability to inspire teams. Physical fitness is of great importance, as shown by Howard SchultzStarbucks CEO who is eager for cycling challenges. He believes that pushing his physical limits can develop the mental strength and discipline required to lead by example.

CEO burnout

Overload, whether physical or mental, can lead to FIRE that will hurt your overall efficiency. Many business leaders suffer from this. A 2022 explorative by Deloitte showed that 82% of senior leaders in Canada, Europe and the US have experienced burnout symptoms such as stress, depression and extreme exhaustion. Of the 1,100 respondents surveyed for the research, 96% of those who reported burnout also indicated that they also experienced a decline in their mental health.

A very tired, sleep deprived leader is also more likely to be a less effective negotiator, less able to empathize with and understand different points of view, and is unable to drive innovation and change within the company. This combination of effects will surely decrease the overall performance of the organization.

In fact, there is evidence that poor CEO health is associated with poor business results. Furthermore, poor health will often result in long-term illnesses resulting in unwanted absences from the company, hindering its progress and creating greater uncertainty among staff and shareholders.

A decline in company performance will also worsen the health and well-being of a business leader. Another study from National Bureau of Economic Research conducted in 2021 also shows the devastating long-term effects of the declining health and well-being of senior executives. The study found that CEOs whose companies declined looked older and lived two years less than their counterparts.

Related: See what happens when you invest in employee health

A healthy work culture

The fortunes of a company weigh heavily on the ability and health of the business leader. A leader must set a good example for their team members to follow, with physical and mental performance being no exception. In doing so, a business leader has the power to shape the entire company culture, and a healthy leader will surely instill more programs focused on health and wellness to create a better working environment for employees as well.

A company culture that focuses on overall health and wellness will ultimately increase staff retention, which ultimately contributes to business longevity. Two decades of research into predictors of company longevity conducted by McKinsey & Company found that healthy organizations, particularly those that not only have an efficient operational capability but also an emphasis on the health and well-being of their people, are more likely to perform better on a long-term basis.

Healthy companies are also those that are better equipped to manage downside risk and are resilient. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it was found that healthy companies were 59% less likely than unhealthy organizations to detect signs of financial harm.

Related: Inspire wellness in your workplace and watch productivity soar

It's becoming clearer than ever that a company's future depends on the overall health and well-being of its workforce and visionary leader. Organizations that understand this are better equipped for future challenges and more likely to survive in this ever-changing and increasingly volatile global business environment.