Running is a truly rewarding personal pursuit. It’ll keep you healthy in both mind and spirit; and, provided you can find the inspiration you need, it can be one of the best endeavours you ever decide to pursue. But running is not always about the individual – far from it. You may already have a running partner who you share your exercise with, but have you ever considered the benefits of running with people you work with? You may think it an unusual suggestion (colleagues are usually for drinking with, are they not?), but running with colleagues can be an incredibly unifying team-building exercise. And whether you do it as part of an organised event or just a personal arrangement, it can be one of the best decisions you can make... as a business or just as an individual.
The unifying force of running and exercise
If you’re already an active runner, you’ll already know how great it makes you feel. Boosted confidence and self-esteem are just some of the benefits of regular exercise. But often, especially when we work a lot or long hours, running can take a back seat. That’s why running with your work colleagues makes perfect sense. Offices and other workplaces are not always the best environments in which to get to know the ‘real’ people behind your colleagues’ job titles, and running can provide the perfect launch pad for this social interaction. Exercising together will give you something in common, give you time to get to know one another, and improve your working relationship too (this last one is particularly good for the company itself).
Running in organised corporate events
Depending on the type of business and industry you work within, you may have the opportunity to take part in organised corporate running events. There are many marathons, triathlons and other sporting events that multiple businesses can take part in at the same time. This not only boosts team morale because everyone is working towards a common goal, it also gives you the opportunity to meet other local businesses and people too. It really is a win-win. These events are a good chance to show off company branding too and get your name out there, with many companies choosing to bring custom-made branded items to give to onlookers and even other competitors. This also helps with the competitive spirit that makes perfect sense in the context of both business and running competitions. Plus, if you haven’t yet had a go at growing your business with promotional gifts, an organised athletic corporate event could be exactly the thing you need to do that.
Running benefits the business and the individual
If you’re a manager or you’re responsible for a team of employees (maybe you’re even a CEO), you’re probably always looking for ways to motivate your team. Exercises to help team building can only go so far. By encouraging your team to take up running, you can explore new avenues of employee satisfaction and build your business at the same time. Lots of companies try unusual ways to promote their business, but consider this: ask your employees to wear company-branded gear while they run! Don’t make it mandatory of course, but doing so could give you a double dose of benefits: to your team as individuals and to the business as a whole. Of course, one of the best ways to show your dedication to running as a team activity is to take part yourself… there’s nothing more inspiring than seeing a business leader getting stuck in and doing it for themselves!
The bottom line here is that running really has no downsides from a corporate or individual point of view. If you’re struggling to find a way to keep a team motivated, or you need a way to integrate socially with your colleagues, help out charities, or you want to reach out to other local businesses – running and athletic events can be the perfect solution. The end result will be better fitness, stronger personal relationships, stronger working relationships, and a stronger business overall. The question, then, really has to be: if your business isn’t yet out there pounding the pavement, isn’t it about time that you got started?
