It’s not uncommon to hear of business owners using sports to boost employee morale and train teams. In Taichung, the well-known listed real estate company Chungtai Real Estate (3056) takes it a step further, with the chairman personally leading all senior executives in weekly mountain climbing activities. Chairman Wu Xikun stated: “Our company is 20 years old now—it’s time to train our physical fitness so we can keep going for another 20 years!” Wu has always encouraged employees to exercise to stay healthy, as he himself has been an athletic enthusiast since childhood. Basketball, badminton, and table tennis are all no challenge for him, and even golf, a sport many business owners are keen on, he taught himself. He eventually worked his way down to a handicap in the 70s, jokingly calling himself a self-taught sports maniac.
To take care of employees, in addition to regular health checkups, Wu Xikun also urges overweight colleagues—whom he affectionately calls the “heavyweights”—to lose weight through diet control and daily exercise. Those who succeed in losing weight are publicly recognized and rewarded with bonuses. The company even reimburses the expenses incurred during their weight loss journey, essentially “doubling the return.” As a result, the company has gradually seen more and more fit figures. Internally, several sports clubs have also been formed, such as badminton, volleyball, and cycling teams, subtly reminding employees to clock out on time and hit the gym or trails.
Wu Xikun said that by calling on the management team to climb mountains together, it forces these usually busy senior executives to set aside time—for themselves and for the future of the team—to hike in tranquility, regulate their breathing, and spend time with themselves to understand their own physical and mental limits. At the same time, they accompany their team. Though these executives often have differing expertise and occasionally hold different opinions, during the climbs they look out for one another, offer companionship, and even wait for slower members. Some with greater stamina charge ahead, while others may show signs of being “out of shape,” but regardless of pace, the team always sets off and finishes together. They chat and laugh along the way, or walk quietly step by step. This camaraderie and sense of unity, beyond improving physical health, becomes an invaluable intangible asset.