Athlete2Business reposted this
Mental Toughness Expert | Helping athletes, coaches, leaders and their teams effectively measure, and develop #mentaltoughness for a stronger, consistent performance
Why do athletes make great hires in business? As a #recruitment business owner and CEO, I’ve hired quite a few #athletes, each of them had that ‘#athletesmindset’ to make them effective recruiters. So, I champion this post by former figure skater, Liz Melton, now with tech company, Zapier, who identifies that former athletes have valuable traits that translate to the corporate environment. TRAIT 1: They showed up prepared! Grace Cuchilla, head of sales operations for a knowledge management software company for business recalls how martial arts training was also business training: “Preparation was paramount in finally achieving my first black belt in Tae Kwon Do after seven years. In my work now, I’ve made a habit of showing up with a well-prepared message, covering nuance and possible objections. It all comes down to preparation.” TRAIT 2: They are flexible! So many things can and do go wrong during competitions. The thing is, these obstacles don’t faze many athletes. They know how to deal with the unexpected—it’s what they train for. Athletes are taught to be adaptable, which can have myriad benefits at work. TRAIT 3: They take and apply feedback As an athlete, you’re taught from an early age to embrace rejection and frustration. Experienced cyclist, now security program manager, Katie Curran, tells me how she wanted to give up when trying running: “My cycling endurance did not translate into running, and I immediately wanted to quit. But I got better learning from my coach and team." "As a professional, I experience similar—I get the urge to give up as I push my limits. But my experience has taught me to stay the course.” TRAIT 4: They know how to work towards goals When I was little, my dream was to go to the Olympics. My coaches helped me whittle that goal into smaller ones that would get me to that level. The first time I heard about SMART goals, I realised that my coaches had been teaching a similar philosophy. Breaking down complex objectives into specific KPIs or OKRs at work came naturally. TRAIT 5: They are good at building relationships Interacting with and learning from everyone in your sport enables you to get along with pretty much anyone at work, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or what their struggles might be. That builds empathy and leadership that serves you well. Best of all, athletes know how to pump people up—they’ve been doing it to themselves for years! SO… HIRE AN ATHLETE AND USE THEIR MINDSET! When reviewing a resume with athletic experience listed, pay attention, as they could reveal more about a candidate than their ability to perform a triple axel. If you want to hire an athlete, you MUST contact Alex Opacic at Athlete2Business! Or, if you want to measure an athlete’s mindset, contact me: Paul Lyons at https://lnkd.in/g_Qt26iT Full article: https://lnkd.in/eTdWsdFY?