My dad has been a keen cyclist his entire adult life. Many years ago, while I was still a teenager, he encouraged a guy he met in his 60’s to give cycling a go. He gave him guidance on buying a suitable road bike and they went on a few regular rides together. This gentleman lived where our family would go for regular holidays and almost without fail, whenever I was in that area on holidays, I would see my dad’s old friend out cycling.

I thought back then, when he first started, he was pushing retirement age so wondered how much longer he would keep cycling? Well cycling obviously became a real passion for this gentleman and to my surprise decade after decade I would see him still out cycling along those country roads. Amazingly he kept cycling into his Nineties which was both astonishing and inspirational. Clearly age need not be an excuse to stop doing the things we truly enjoy especially when they keep us fit and healthy. Cycling changed his life and health for the better. When you still go cycling in your nineties you clearly do not need to go into a Nursing Home.

While my dad has lived a health-conscious life himself, he was simply sharing his passion for cycling which led to his friend giving it a try. Accidentally my Dad was a health leader to this guy. A leader in the sense he influenced him to do something he would not otherwise have done.  

I have other friends who have been accidental health leaders to their friends and colleagues as well. You might already be an accidental health leader to people you have met. If you are active or play a sport you enjoy, encourage others to give it ago with you. Chances are you will have a more profound positive affect on their health and the quality of their life than a whole team of practitioners could hope to achieve just focused on managing their health care.