Why Social Fitness Is Essential To Leaders And How To Strengthen Yours
Why Social Fitness Is Essential For Modern Leaders (And How to Strengthen Yours)
When we picture great leaders, we often think of bold visionaries, sharp strategists, or decisive problem-solvers. Those qualities certainly matter. But another trait quietly sets exceptional leaders apart in today's workplace. That trait is social fitness.
Social fitness is like physical fitness in that it helps you stay strong and energized. Social fitness is what enables you to connect, communicate, and lead people effectively. It's not something you're born with, it's something you work on. And in a world of hybrid teams, fast-changing dynamics, and high expectations, it's becoming one of the most valuable skills you can have, especially if you're a leader.
Social fitness is your ability to build, maintain, and strengthen relationships, both personally and professionally. It's rooted in emotional intelligence, strong communication, empathy, and adaptability. Essentially, it's the soft skills that help you show up as your best self in the moments that matter.
Leading experts, Shane Hatton and Henna Pryor describe social fitness as your capacity to connect, collaborate, and influence. It can feel awkward at first, especially if you're not naturally outgoing.
But just like building physical strength, developing social fitness takes regular, intentional steps. Over time, those 'conversational muscles' help you face challenges, build trust, and stand out as a leader people want to follow.
Social fitness is a crucial, yet often overlooked, skill that plays a key role in how leaders engage with their teams, foster collaboration, and handle challenges.
Whether it's creating a supportive work culture or driving productivity, leaders with high social fitness are better equipped to succeed. So, why is it essential for every leader?
Understanding others is the foundation of strong leadership, and that requires emotional intelligence. Leaders with emotional intelligence can read nonverbal cues, understand team dynamics, and respond in ways that build trust rather than create tension.
Harvard Business Review research shows emotional intelligence is one of the strongest predictors of leadership success. It directly impacts how teams collaborate, their overall morale, and the results they achieve. By building up your social fitness, the ability to build, maintain, and foster relationships, your emotional intelligence increases significantly.
When leaders can read behavior patterns, not just words, they quickly identify who's disengaged in meetings, who needs additional clarity on projects, and who performs best under pressure. This awareness enables them to lead with empathy and tailor their approach to support each team member effectively.
Emotionally intelligent leaders don't just talk at their teams; they connect with them. This connection maintains healthy communication, builds stronger relationships, and keeps everyone aligned toward common goals.
In today's fast-moving workforce, social fitness isn't just nice to have, it's a competitive advantage. Career advancement now depends on connection as much as competence or credentials.
Leaders who are masters at social fitness know how to:
The goal isn't knowing everyone, it's nurturing the right relationships. A socially fit leader becomes someone others want to follow, collaborate with, and advocate for in decision-making rooms.
Recent Zippia research shows 85% of job opportunities are filled through networking rather than applications, with 70% of employees reporting they got their current position through connections. Your network isn't just a career asset; it's your influence in action.
Leadership often brings high pressure, isolation, and decision fatigue. These factors quietly undermine mental health. That's where social fitness plays a critical role.
For today's leaders, building strong, supportive relationships isn't just a soft skill; it's a resilience strategy. Social fitness encourages regular connection, open communication, and emotional awareness, all of which reduce stress and strengthen psychological well-being.
Socially isolated leaders are more prone to burnout and impaired judgment, negatively affecting team performance. Conversely, leaders who stay socially engaged make better decisions, remain more grounded, and sustain their leadership capacity under pressure. Simply put, social fitness helps leaders protect their mental health, and that stability supports clear, confident, and consistent leadership.
Leaders with strong social fitness can build inclusive cultures where collaboration and innovation thrive, even across screens.
Social fitness enables leaders to adapt communication styles and promote psychological safety, ensuring every voice is heard. This is especially important in virtual settings where body language and informal cues are limited.
By practicing empathy, active listening, and cultural awareness, socially fit leaders create stronger team cohesion and empower bold thinking, creating more connected, creative, and high-performing workplaces, regardless of location.
Effective leadership requires sound judgment, especially in complex, high-pressure situations. Social fitness strengthens this ability by creating environments where open dialogue, diverse perspectives, and trust-based communication become the norm.
Leaders with strong social fitness build networks where team members feel safe sharing honest feedback and alternative viewpoints. This broadens the leader's perspective, reduces blind spots, and leads to more informed, collaborative decisions.
Leaders who foster open, inclusive communication make better choices and adapt more effectively during uncertainty. Additionally, social fitness helps leaders manage emotionally charged situations with composure, staying empathetic, listening actively, and responding constructively rather than reactively.
For leaders, strong relationships are a strategic advantage. The 5-3-1 framework, introduced by Killam in The Art and Science of Connection, offers a focused approach to building these kinds of relationships.
Connect with five people each week, nurture three close professional relationships, and dedicate one hour daily to meaningful conversation. In practice, this means making time for one-on-one check-ins, sharing sincere recognition, and being fully present in meetings.
By investing in authentic connections, leaders create stronger teams, more engaged cultures, and networks that support long-term success.
Improving your social fitness at work starts with a simple yet powerful habit: checking in. Checking in means more than just the passing "How are you?" Genuine check-ins invite real conversation.
Whether leading a team or collaborating cross-functionally, taking initiative to reach out builds relational trust.
These moments don't need to be formal. A quick virtual coffee chat, a walk-and-talk, or a few minutes before a meeting can make an impact. The goal is to be present, ask thoughtful questions, and really listen.
Strong social fitness isn't just about talking; it's about truly listening. Many professionals fall into the habit of waiting to speak instead of actively hearing what others say. Developing your listening skills means being fully present in conversations, minimizing distractions, and responding with empathy and clarity.
When leaders listen with intention, they create space for others to feel valued, understood, and respected. This not only improves communication but also forms the foundation of a socially fit workplace.
Strengthen your conversations by asking open-ended questions. A key component of social fitness is the ability to engage others in meaningful dialogue. Questions like "What are your thoughts on...?" or "Can you walk me through your perspective?" encourage deeper conversations and demonstrate genuine interest.
This approach helps you gain insights into colleagues' ideas and experiences while signaling that you value their input, building trust and mutual respect.
To keep discussions relevant and engaging, stay informed on current events and industry trends. Thoughtful, well-informed conversation starters can elevate everyday interactions while maintaining a professional tone by avoiding polarizing topics.
Building your social fitness is an ongoing process, and the right resources can accelerate your growth. From books and podcasts to online courses and workshops, numerous tools are designed to strengthen specific social skills, whether it's active listening, reading body language, or navigating professional networking.
Identify areas where you'd like to improve and seek out high-quality content tailored to those topics. Most importantly, apply what you learn in real-world interactions. Social fitness isn't just about knowing what to do; it's about consistently practicing in everyday conversations in both personal and professional settings.
A practical way to strengthen your social fitness is by observing skilled communicators around you. Pay attention to subtle cues like how they maintain eye contact, use open body language, or steer conversations with thoughtful language.
Note what makes their interactions feel approachable, confident, or authentic. Begin incorporating these behaviors into your communication style. For example, maintaining steady eye contact when initiating conversations or actively listening signals confidence and attentiveness.
The goal isn't to copy others exactly but to observe effective behaviors and incorporate them in a way that aligns with your authentic communication style.
Enhancing your social fitness is a valuable investment in both your career and personal development. By practicing intentional communication, asking thoughtful questions, and learning from those around you, you build stronger, more resilient professional relationships.
Remember, becoming socially fit is not about perfection. It's about being engaged, adaptable, and sincere in your interactions. As you refine how you relate to others, you elevate your influence and effectiveness as a leader.
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Lilly's oral GLP-1, orforglipron, showed compelling efficacy and a safety profile consistent with injectable GLP-1 medicines, in complete Phase 3 results published in The New England Journal of Medicine
The investigational once-daily pill lowered A1C by an average of 1.3% to 1.6% across doses, with improvements seen as early as four weeks, in adults with type 2 diabetes In ACHIEVE-1, orforglipron also led to an average weight loss of 16.0 lbs (7.9%) at the highest dose by week 40 in a key secondary endpoint The safety profile of orforglipron was consistent with the established GLP-1 class INDIANAPOLIS, June 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced detailed results from ACHIEVE-1, a Phase 3 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of orforglipron compared to placebo in adults with type 2 diabetes and inadequate glycemic control with diet and exercise alone. Orforglipron is the first oral small molecule (non-peptide) glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, taken without food and water restrictions, to successfully complete a Phase 3 trial. At 40 weeks, all three doses (3 mg, 12 mg, 36 mg) of orforglipron achieved the primary endpoint of superior A1C reduction. In addition, the 12 mg and 36 mg doses showed clinically meaningful and statistically significant reductions in body weight vs. placebo. In the study, orforglipron had a safety profile similar to the established GLP-1 class, and the most frequently reported adverse events were gastrointestinal-related. The results were presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions 2025 and simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine. In the study, orforglipron met the primary endpoint of superior A1C reduction compared to placebo at 40 weeks, lowering A1C by 1.3% to 1.6% from a baseline of 8.0%, for the efficacy estimand.1 In key secondary endpoints, up to 76.2% of participants taking orforglipron achieved the ADA treatment target A1C of <7%, 66.0% achieved an A1C of ≤6.5%, and 25.8% achieved <5.7%, defined as a normal A1C value.2,3 Improvements in A1C were observed as early as four weeks and were accompanied by similar reductions in fasting serum glucose. In another key secondary endpoint, participants taking the highest dose of orforglipron lost an average of 16.0 lbs (7.9%). While participants in ACHIEVE-1 did not appear to reach a weight plateau, longer-duration trials, such as the ATTAIN trials, will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the safety and efficacy of orforglipron for the treatment of obesity. "The ACHIEVE-1 trial demonstrated that orforglipron, a novel oral small-molecule GLP-1, achieved clinically meaningful reductions in A1C and body weight over 40 weeks in adults with type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Julio Rosenstock, senior scientific advisor for Velocity Clinical Research at Medical City Dallas, clinical professor of medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and lead trial investigator. "The early onset of glycemic improvement, observed as soon as four weeks, reinforces the therapeutic potential of orforglipron as an effective, oral GLP-1 therapy for early type 2 diabetes treatment. These findings support further investigation in broader populations and longer-duration studies." Full ResultsOrforglipron 3 mg Orforglipron 12 mg Orforglipron 36 mg Placebo Primary Endpoint A1C reduction from baseline of 8.0 %i Efficacy estimand 1.3 % 1.6 % 1.5 % 0.1 % Treatment-regimen estimand4 1.2 % 1.5 % 1.5 % 0.4 % Key Secondary Endpointsii Percent weight reduction from baseline of 90.2 kg (198.9 lbs)i,iii Efficacy estimand 4.7 % 6.1 % 7.9 % 1.6 % Treatment-regimen estimand 4.5 % 5.8 % 7.6 % 1.7 % Weight reduction from baseline of 90.2 kg (198.9 lbs)i,iii Efficacy estimand 4.4 kg (9.7 lbs) 5.5 kg (12.2 lbs) 7.3 kg (16.0 lbs) 1.3 kg (2.9 lbs) Treatment-regimen estimand 4.2 kg (9.3 lbs) 5.2 kg (11.5 lbs) 7.2 kg (15.8 lbs) 1.5 kg (3.4 lbs) Percent of participants achieving A1C <7 %i Efficacy estimand 72.9 % 76.2 % 74.9 % 28.0 % Treatment-regimen estimand 68.1 % 72.9 % 72.7 % 33.0 % Percent of participants achieving A1C ≤6.5 %i,ii Efficacy estimand 61.5 % 62.3 % 66.0 % 13.5 % Treatment-regimen estimand 56.9 % 58.1 % 61.9 % 14.9 % Percent of participants achieving A1C <5.7 %iii Efficacy estimand 17.7 % 25.8 % 23.9 % 3.8 % Treatment-regimen estimand 16.8 % 23.9 % 21.5 % 3.8 % Fasting serum glucose reduction from baseline of 147.5 mg/dLi Efficacy estimand 30.6 mg/dL 37.4 mg/dL 37.8 mg/dL 1.1 mg/dL Treatment-regimen estimand 30.7 mg/dL 36.5 mg/dL 34.7 mg/dL 10.8 mg/dL iSuperiority test was adjusted for from the full list of key secondary endpoints are available in the of participants achieving A1C <5.7% across all orforglipron doses and body weight for orforglipron 3 mg were not controlled for Type 1 error. "This convenient once-daily pill with no restrictions on food and water intake could be an option for millions of people with type 2 diabetes who prefer oral medications over injectables," said Jeff Emmick, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president of product development at Lilly. "The positive ACHIEVE-1 results position orforglipron as a potential treatment option with meaningful A1C and weight reduction, and a safety profile similar to injectable GLP-1 therapies. We look forward to the four remaining global readouts from the ACHIEVE program, as well as results of the ATTAIN program in obesity, and working with regulators to bring this once-daily oral GLP-1 to people around the world." The overall safety profile of orforglipron in ACHIEVE-1 was consistent with the established GLP-1 class. The most common adverse events for participants treated with orforglipron (3 mg, 12 mg and 36 mg, respectively) were diarrhea (19%, 21% and 26%) vs. 9% with placebo, nausea (13%, 18% and 16%) vs. 2% with placebo, dyspepsia (11%, 20% and 15%) vs. 7% with placebo, constipation (8%, 17% and 14%) vs. 4% with placebo, and vomiting (5%, 7% and 14%) vs. 1% with placebo. These gastrointestinal-related adverse events were generally mild-to-moderate in severity and occurred primarily during dose escalation. Overall treatment discontinuation rates due to adverse events were 6% (3 mg), 4% (12 mg) and 8% (36 mg) for orforglipron vs. 1% with placebo. No hepatic safety signal was observed. Later this year, Lilly expects to share topline results from ACHIEVE-2, evaluating orforglipron compared with dapagliflozin, and ACHIEVE-3, evaluating orforglipron compared to oral semaglutide, both in adults with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin. ATTAIN-1 and ATTAIN-2, evaluating orforglipron for weight management, will also be shared in the third quarter of this year. Lilly remains on track to submit orforglipron for weight management to global regulatory agencies by the end of this year and for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in 2026. About orforglipron Orforglipron (or-for-GLIP-ron) is an investigational, once-daily small molecule (non-peptide) oral glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist that can be taken any time of the day without restrictions on food and water intake.5 Orforglipron was discovered by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and licensed by Lilly in 2018. Chugai and Lilly published the preclinical pharmacology data of this molecule together.6 Lilly is running Phase 3 studies on orforglipron for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and for weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related medical problem. It is also being studied as a potential treatment for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension in adults with obesity. About ACHIEVE-1 and the ACHIEVE clinical trial program ACHIEVE-1 (NCT05971940) is a Phase 3, 40-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial comparing the efficacy and safety of orforglipron 3 mg, 12 mg and 36 mg as monotherapy to placebo in adults with type 2 diabetes and inadequate glycemic control with diet and exercise alone. The trial randomized 559 participants across the U.S., China, India, Japan and Mexico in 1:1:1:1 ratio to receive either 3 mg, 12 mg or 36 mg orforglipron or placebo. The primary objective of the study was to demonstrate that orforglipron (3 mg, 12 mg, 36 mg) is superior in A1C reduction from baseline after 40 weeks, compared to placebo, in people with type 2 diabetes who have not taken any anti-diabetic medications for at least 90 days prior to visit 1, and are naïve to insulin therapy. Study participants had a HbA1c between ≥7.0% and ≤9.5% and a BMI of ≥23 kg/m2. All participants in the orforglipron treatment arms started the study at a dose of orforglipron 1 mg once-daily and then increased the dose in a step-wise approach at four-week intervals to their final randomized maintenance dose of 3 mg (via a 1 mg step), 12 mg (via steps at 1 mg, 3 mg and 6 mg) or 36 mg (via steps at 1 mg, 3 mg, 6 mg, 12 mg and 24 mg). Flexible dosing was not permitted. The ACHIEVE Phase 3 global clinical development program for orforglipron has enrolled more than 6,000 people with type 2 diabetes across five global registration trials. The program began in 2023 with results anticipated later this year and into 2026. About LillyLilly is a medicine company turning science into healing to make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help tens of millions of people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges: redefining diabetes care; treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects; advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease; providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders; and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit and or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. P-LLY The efficacy estimand represents the treatment effect had on all participants who adhered to the study drug (with possible dose interruptions) for 40 weeks without initiating additional antihyperglycemic medications (>14 days of use). American Diabetes Association. Standards of Care in Diabetes—2020 Abridged for Primary Care Providers. Clinical Diabetes 2020; 38(1):10–38. Percent of participants achieving A1C <5.7% across all doses was not controlled for Type 1 error. The treatment-regimen estimand represents the estimated average treatment effect regardless of treatment discontinuation or initiation of additional antihyperglycemic medications. Ma X, Liu R, Pratt EJ, Benson CT, Bhattachar SN, Sloop KW. Effect of Food Consumption on the Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of Once-Daily Orally Administered Orforglipron (LY3502970), a Non-peptide GLP-1 Receptor Agonist. Diabetes Ther. 2024 Apr;15(4):819-832. Epub 2024 Feb 24. PMID: 38402332; PMCID: PMC10951152. T. Kawai, B. Sun, H. Yoshino, D. Feng, Y. Suzuki, M. Fukazawa, S. Nagao, D.B. Wainscott, A.D. Showalter, B.A. Droz, T.S. Kobilka, M.P. Coghlan, F.S. Willard, Y. Kawabe, B.K. Kobilka, & K.W. Sloop, Structural basis for GLP-1 receptor activation by LY3502970, an orally active nonpeptide agonist, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 117 (47) 29959-29967, (2020). Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about orforglipron as a potential treatment for adults with type 2 diabetes, and the timeline for future readouts, presentations, and other milestones relating to orforglipron and its clinical trials and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, as with any pharmaceutical product, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of drug research, development, and commercialization. Among other things, there is no guarantee that planned or ongoing studies will be completed as planned, that future study results will be consistent with study results to date, that orforglipron will prove to be a safe and effective treatment for type 2 diabetes, that orforglipron will receive regulatory approval, or that Lilly will execute its strategy as expected. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from Lilly's expectations, see Lilly's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release. Trademarks and Trade Names All trademarks or trade names referred to in this press release are the property of the company, or, to the extent trademarks or trade names belonging to other companies are referenced in this press release, the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this press release are referred to without the ® and ™ symbols, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that the company or, to the extent applicable, their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, the company's or their rights thereto. We do not intend the use or display of other companies' trademarks and trade names to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies. Refer to: Brooke Frost; 317-432-9145 (Media)Michael Czapar; czapar_michael_c@ 317-617-0983 (Investors) View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company
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