No Pain – No Gain

The term "no pain – no gain" has often been misunderstood. Positive and beneficial exercise or change (gain) will cause some short term discomfort(pain). If we do not experience the short-term discomfort, it means that we have not pushed ourselves hard enough.

There is a huge difference between this "beneficial short-term discomfort" from profitable change or exertion and the intense throbbing of injury. The pain experienced from a back injury does not bring any gain. Neither does continuing to run with a knee injury.

How do you know if you have made a decision or change that has caused your organization to "jog with a knee brace?" How do you know if it was the wrong decision?

1. The pain doesn't go away
   

The discomfort caused by beneficial change always goes away. The new level that we have pushed ourselves becomes the norm. On occasion, we may push ourselves a little too hard and as a result may take longer to recover, but we do recover.

If the pain never goes away – injury has occurred.

2. Symptoms prevent normal activities
   

Physical injury makes it impossible to carryout normal everyday activities. Business decisions that have caused injury to the business do the same – stop the essential everyday activities. For example: If you can no longer provide the service to your customer that your business was built on – something is seriously wrong.

Pushing through "knee injury pain" (unwise business decisions) is a terrible idea. Don't let pride get in the way.

Knee replacement surgery means it is too late.

Photo by: notcub

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No Pain – No Gain

Joggers with knee braces

I respect people that run (jog) for exercise. It indicates that they are making smart choices in all areas of their life for the benefit their health. What I don't understand is why people run with knee braces on? It's not that I think it looks bad or anything like that, but a knee brace is an indication of an underlying problem – like a knee injury – or more to the point - pain!

Recently, I witnessed a guy running on the grass (people run on the grass to reduce the pain they feel because it is softer and generates less impact than running on concrete), with knee braces on both knees. Our bodies speak to us through pain. We learn this early in life. The child that touches the hot stove instantly learns not to do it again. If I hit myself in the head with a hammer, the pain that I experience makes me question whether I want to try it again. "No pain – no gain" has obviously been misunderstood.

What does this have to with leadership?

Leaders must make decisions that often cause discomfort. Exercise is uncomfortable to our bodies in the same way that change is uncomfortable to our routines and habits. The soreness and pain from change in business and/ or a physical workout goes away in time – it gets easier and easier until it becomes normal. Further challenge repeats the cycle and we continually elevate our capacity.

However, sometimes we make decisions that cause unhealthy pain. The pain experienced by a runner from a damaged knee, will not go away by continuing to run on it. The pain caused to an organization by a hasty, or unwise decision will not go away by continuing to stick with it. Leaders must understand the difference between the beneficial, short-term, discomfort of healthy decisions and the damaging, intensifying pain of unhealthy decisions.

It is never too late to reverse our decision, but it will usually mean that we have to swallow some pride. I.e.: Can't run anymore.

To the runners with the knee braces: There are many other ways to get a good cardiovascular workout that will still allow you to walk after the age of 60.

Photo by: cesareb

Joggers with knee braces