Journal of Professional Exercise Physiology          

ISSN 1550-963X



Editor: Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, MAM, FASEP, EPC

Vol 7 No 11 December 2009

An Internet Electronic Journal Dedicated to Exercise Physiology as a Healthcare Profession

Leading Change Requires Guts
Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, MAM, FASEP, EPC
Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology
The College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN 55811 

Guts is an umbrella term for the quality we’d been missing: a willingness to do the right thing, no matter how difficult that is. -- Head, Heart, and Guts [1]
   

Leadership is a combination of many different things.  One is not being afraid to make mistakes.  Another is learning to think for yourself and, when it is determined the right thing to do – start thinking for yourself.  Oh yes, don’t forget about guts.


Someday in the not-so-distant future we will awaken to a new world of exercise physiology.  It will be radically different from the one we know now.  Hence, the questions: “What will exercise physiology look like then?” “What will exercise physiologists do in society?”  Will they be recognized as credible healthcare professionals like other healthcare providers?  What will life be like for the board certified exercise physiologists?  Will they have a salary commensurate with occupational therapy, physical therapy, or nursing professionals?

If they were to do so, how soon will all of this happen?  That is the question, isn’t it?  The short answer is that it isn’t going to happen next year and, perhaps, not even 10 years from now.  For certain, it will not happen until exercise physiologists decide to start thinking and acting as healthcare professionals.  That means they must stop clinging to the ACSM simplified research-version of exercise physiology.  If they don’t, change will still take place but at exceedingly so rate.

Another version of the same thinking is that it isn’t going to happen until exercise physiologists have the guts to take charge of change.  Unfortunately, it appears that many exercise physiologists haven’t the guts to do so.  They suffer from various mental blocks such as “that’s not going to happen,” “come on now, get smart,” and “don’t be so foolish.”  In a nutshell, they have become so constrained and manipulated by the ACSM political necessity not to lose membership that they can’t think for themselves.

The willingness to believe plausible but inaccurate stories is the dark side of exercise physiologists.  The record shows that they are susceptible to incomplete ideologies.  It is more than a pattern of why and how exercise physiologists act as they do.  The problem is that they don’t know how to seize the initiative.  In spite of the difficulty of advancing this dialogue in an open forum, it is imperative to do so.  Visions should uplift, provide direction, and get people involved.  However, thus far exercise physiologists have turned a deaf ear to the work of the ASEP organization.  Some would have you to believe that the problem lies with the ASEP leaders. 

The challenge today is to create a climate of commitment, driven by fearless


Not so, if exercise physiologists aren’t interested in being inspired, uplifted, or motivated to create their own profession, they are the problem.  It is the same with the American public, given that it is common knowledge exercise can help postpone if not prevent diseases and disabilities.  Yet, the majority of the 300 million Americans are living a sedentary lifestyle.  From childhood obesity to adult heart disease, they turn a blind eye to their health problem.  Over time, it is clear that their health problems will of course get worse. 

The problem lies with the people who aren’t taking responsibility for their health.  Instead of biting the bullet and staying committed to lifestyle changes, they rely on the healthcare system to take care of them.  Perhaps, in time, they will get the point of prevention.  Similarly, all one can do is hope that it is just a matter of time before exercise physiologists in the workforce will eventually get the difference between their substandard salaries and poor healthcare benefits and the successful reality of their physical therapy colleagues.  There is no question that physical therapists benefit tremendously from their association with and their support of the APTA professional organization. 

This thinking is no doubt rather shocking to some exercise physiologists in academics, particularly in light of their commitment to ACSM.  I have witnessed colleagues almost die when someone would make a negative comment about ACSM.  However, the last I recall ACSM is a sports medicine organization [2].  It is not an exercise physiology organization.  Therefore, it is both distressing and frightening to think that exercise physiologists still depend on ACSM as if it had some religious significance.

ASEP academia and member organizational processes have put forth the effort to create a culture of professionalism, fairness, and accountability.


Exercise physiologists who are not driven to support ACSM resonate with the enduring quality of being “independent thinkers.”  They are able to think and choose their preferred future.  As independent thinkers, they aren’t interested in continuing a relationship where there are minimal returns from non-exercise physiology organizations with complex motives.  They understand that rejecting traditional views is hard to do, especially when there is the fear of retaliation.  However, all anyone can say is “Get serious.  We do live in a democracy.”  The danger that each person faces is the fallout from failing to think for him- or herself.

That is why it is clear that the minds of many exercise physiologists are representative of a freeze-dried package.  Learning to think outside the context of ACSM is a constant challenge for them.  Why not see for yourself?  Talk to a colleague about supporting ASEP.  Record the comments.  Are they traditional in origin, such as: “This is the way it has always been done, why change?”  Or, “ACSM is a great place to present my research.”  True enough to the latter statement, but while the first isn’t a good reason at all not to change, the latter comment can easily be true with ASEP if only exercise physiologists would make the effort.

The process of professionalism can vary considerably, depending on circumstances and commitment.  The truth of this statement is all around us.  What matters is the words exercise physiologists read.  The power of words is awesome.  Imagine the different assumptions and thinking resulting from words. 


The most common way to understand change is to think about it as a process, which begs the question: What happened to our imaginative powers?  Stated somewhat differently, have we lost the ability to dream?  Also, while it is true that most people don’t like dealing with conflicting problems, the bottom line is that’s life.  Change doesn’t happen immediately unless it is demanded because of some crisis.  At this point, the victims of ACSM’s failed rhetoric [3] don’t realize they were targeted for continued failure.  It would be impossible to overstate the truth in this thinking.  Yet, even more dramatic is the simple fact that academic exercise physiologists just don’t get it.  They are so caught up in the traditional thinking of research and personal status that nothing else seems to matter.  I believe that it was Emile Chartier, a French philosopher, who said: “Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it’s the only one you had.”

Exercise physiologists haven’t gotten stuck looking at exercise physiology only from the ACSM perspective.  The reasons are many, but one in particular is the highly specialized indoctrination and the continuation of thinking that has reached diminishing returns.  It is not by accident that the indoctrinated person is expected not to question or even to exam points of view different from the core of an existing highly socialized process.  This thinking isn’t complicated or new.  The problem stems from continuing to believe attitudes and beliefs about exercise physiology that are no longer reasonable. 

To demonstrate the degree of the indoctrination, anyone who is upset while reading this article or who believes I am confused isn’t fully aware of the ACSM reach.  To press my point further, what is your reaction to the statement that: “Exercise physiology is the responsibility of exercise physiologists.”  Now, if you agree, you can’t agree as well that exercise physiology falls under the umbrella influence of the ACSM organization.  The result of continuing to think that it does isn’t just problematic, it is simply makes no sense. 

The next question concerns what, if anything, are exercise physiologists doing about the change process?  For example, are they willing to pay the price of arguing the benefits of ASEP?   Please appreciate that there is always a price to pay!  There are many insecure exercise physiologists who will do anything to try and feel better about what they do.  Interestingly, they represent a large number of individuals who are either uncomfortable in their own skin without an equally large number of people thinking similarly or they are very comfort using the circumstances to their benefit.  Either way, those on that side of the argument will do what they can to keep things as they have been.  Nothing is worse in life to have finally realized that you have been doing the wrong things for all the wrong reasons and, yet you are too afraid to do anything about it. 

Life is like riding an elevator.  It has a lot of ups and downs and some is always pushing your buttons.  Sometimes you get the shaft, but what really brothers you are the jerks.

-- Roger von Oech [4]

There is the always hope and expectation that the exercise physiologists of tomorrow will smarten up.  There would be little point in looking to a more hopeful future if this were not the case.  Perhaps, it is just a matter of time when they will look to ASEP for help and guidance in professionalism.  At that time, there will the converging of ideas into a single viewpoint that is consistent with the existing ASEP perspective that exercise physiology is a healthcare profession.  Obviously, there is a lot of work to be done.  Every aspect of the reconfiguration of how exercise physiologists will think will need leaders who act on the basis of strongly held beliefs that much has been done, but much more needs to be done for decades to come.

It takes heart to stay the course and to keep a balance between what is personally important (e.g., research) and what is collectively important (e.g., organizationally speaking) if the family of exercise physiologists are to achieve professionalism and credibility.  Members will have to learn to work together for a common cause, such as the ASEP vision from which the students of exercise physiology will benefit. 

The inclusiveness that is necessary for total and meaningful success hinges on complete trust and respect for all members and their individual and collective differences and contributions to exercise physiology.  When one member realizes that another member is having trouble doing his/her part, another member should assist and do what can be done to help and find a way.  Whether it is a new innovation or an old fashion coming together of friends and networking, members need to work together, especially while delegating, setting goals and boundaries and offering support.

Being practical, integrity isn’t always a straight line. Those who have lived in the moment of this understanding know of what I’m saying. 


Doing the right thing because something inside you says it is the right thing to do is what is meant by “guts.”  There is nothing arrogant or superior about it.  Often, it is a person without all the answers but knows that something must be done and that person sets out to do it.  Many times in life people stumble across the need or opportunity to take the lead.  Few ever do it.  Change isn’t easy.  Often times, it is scary.  Also, it can be painful to go it alone when friends fail to help.  In fact, it can mean the crossroads into a new and unsettling reality when friends actually turn against you because they know you will not give up and they can’t do it anymore.  Having the guts to stay the course might not be the best way to define a person who takes risk, but I like it.  It is similar to several other expressions that most people understand even after hearing it the first time, such as “He’s got some backbone.”  Without further explanation, the point is obvious.

The ASEP organization represents such a moment.  It was both constructive and destructive, but necessary.  Without asking a friend or someone of status as to whether it was okay to start a professional organization, it was done.  That is the story, period.  It is one of those rule breakers.  The founders didn’t set out to challenge the status quo, but the perception is that they have done so.  Most people will say, “As a rule, why didn’t you ask the ACSM folks before starting ASEP?”  All one can say to such a dumb statement is, “Get real.”  While it is obvious there is a lot of pressure in society to follow the rules, there is no rule that ACSM controls exercise physiology.  People usually do better for themselves and society when they know they are doing the right thing for the right reason.

Some people have ideas.  A few carry them into the world of action and make them happen.  These are the innovators.

-- Andrew Mercer, Innovator


There is nothing wrong going after sacred cows.  Even with its success, ACSM should simply step back from its association with exercise physiology.  That way fewer members would be afraid to speak out.  After all, the organization itself is not immune to criticism.  To start thinking this way, why not ask yourself, “what if” I decide to support the ASEP organization?  Certainly, the world wouldn’t come to an end?  Would it?  No, and, importantly, the question allows for new ideas and possibilities.  The profession of exercise physiology needs more “what-iffers.”  Imagine how others would think if they knew you were not allowed to raise an interesting point about freeing yourself from the deeply ingrained assumptions that have held you captive for nearly 60 years.

No doubt you have done a similar thing in your life.  Perhaps, you may have had the need to speak to a friend about a specific matter.  Not knowing if you should, you did it nonetheless because you felt in your gut it was the right thing to do.  The leadership that you displayed may well have been exactly what the person needed to hear at that very moment.  Or, it may have been the day you decided to major in exercise physiology or the night you decided to start your own business.  Whatever it was, without dependence on someone else, you made the decision and you acted on it.  One could call that intuition, or it could be called guts.  Either works.

Work comes from inside out; work is an expression of our soul, our inner being.  It’s unique to the individual; it’s creative.  Work is an expression of the Spirit at work in the world through us.

-- Matthew Fox [5]


Please appreciate that deciding to create ASEP doesn’t mean that the founders had all the answers or even the right answer.  Throughout the past 12 years, they have asked friends to step up to the plate and provide the insights, ideas, and long hours of time to move the organization forwards.  At no time has anyone on the ASEP Board of Directors simply ignored advice from sincere members.  If Board members came across to anyone as stubborn, it was only their discipline to stay the course.  The ASEP members can and should share with the members of the Board whatever concerns they may have and any ideas (however crazy) about ASEP, exercise physiology, and professionalism.  Nothing would make the Board happier since they need all the help they can get to deal with the complexity and ambiguity of the change process.

Until then, those responsible for the ASEP footprint that continues to define exercise physiology do not have to wait for approval from others.  The ASEP leaders have already given permission to move on, to get past the negative bias, to transcend yesterday’s thinking, and become literally and figuratively the new exercise physiologists of the 21st century.  Think about it, not too long ago, an alternative exercise physiology paradigm didn’t exist.  Now, it does.  Today, there is another way to look at exercise physiology.  Fortunately, the ASEP leaders’ instincts and guts drove them far beyond “what is” to the “what if” reality.  For example, what if the diverse number of undergraduate majors were all one name, exercise physiology?  That would help our students, right? 

The ASEP leaders understood that taking risks based on vision and instinct would be both scary and difficult.  They did it anyway.  Why, because they had the guts to move outside their comfort zone even when friends and others ran away.  To be sure, those who support ASEP will no longer have to say, “But, what if I had done something differently?”  They took a chance.  It is time now to pause a bit and let the process incubate.  As the old Japanese Proverb goes, “The nail that sticks up will be hammered down.”  It will take decades for ASEP perspective to be completely driven into the very soul of exercise physiologists and healthcare.  But, exercise physiologists must feel more confident today than ever before.  ASEP is already deep in the wood!        

 

   

References

  1. Dotlich, D. L., Cairo, P. C., Rhinesmith, S. H. (2006). Head, Heart, and Guts. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
  2. Robergs, R. (1998). ASEP vs ACSM. ASEPNewsletter. 2:3 [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/fldr/links7.htm
  3. Boone, T. (2004). Victims of a Failed Rhetoric. Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline. 7:9 [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/FailedRhetoric.html
  4. von Oech, R. (1992). A Whack on the Side of the Head. Menlo Park: CA: Creative Think.
  5. Fox, M. (1994). Reinvention of Work: A New Vision of Livelihood for Our Time. San Francisco, CA: Harper San Francisco.