As we reflect on the recent 2018 Olympic Winter Games, it hard not to recognize the inspiring achievements of the world’s elite athletes. The courage, focus, personal drive, and a razor-sharp vision of victory is the foundation of any success story. As a guy who likes to stay fit, I appreciate the example of these athletes. But as an entrepreneur, it’s worth noting that the character traits an Olympic athlete develops through years of training are also the desired skills of today’s leading companies.
When your company’s vision comprises a positive, productive, self-motivated, supportive work culture, focusing your attention on the recruits who based their experience largely on taking laps around a track rather than merely spending time around the proverbial block may be the winning combination your company needs.
Here are five reasons why hiring people with an athletic background is a winning move for your company.
- Athletes are self-disciplined.
An athlete’s decision to roll out of bed for a 5 am training or stay under the covers is a personal choice. But athletes also see the direct connection between getting up and coming in first. And that is what keeps them motivated.”Athletes are already attuned to maintaining balance,” said Cody Ferraro, a former collegiate Lacrosse player and cofounder of InXAthlete, a job search site for athletes. “Employed athletes who pursue passions outside of the workplace bring that self-discipline to their job. What an employer gets is a productive, self-motivated employee who has a strong concept of time-management.”
- The concept of teamwork means something.
Simone Biles, 2016 Olympic individual all-around, vault, and floor gold medalist once said, “As athletes, we’re always going to have aches and pains, but when your teammates cheer you on, you don’t think about it.” That commitment to perform your best for the benefit of the team despite the personal sacrifice can have a huge impact on the workplace. “Athletes have a greater understanding of the teamwork design,” said Max Wessell, a heavyweight All-American wrestler, and cofounder of InXAthlete. “They recognize that everyone has a job to do to accomplish a common purpose.” It’s true that athletes are natural leaders, but they also carry a sense of humility and respect the impact a combined effort makes when working toward a goal.
- Athletes accept setbacks as teaching tools.
It was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the highest scoring NBA player in history, who said, “You can’t win unless you learn how to lose.” For athletes, a loss, albeit disappointing, is merely a step toward improvement and eventual success. “Great employees take the time to reflect on what went wrong, regroup, and apply their learnings moving forward,” says Inc.com contributor Christina DesMarais. “They display the mental toughness to remain poised and confident despite adversity.”
- Athletes are natural leaders.
It’s no surprise to learn that 95 percent of Fortune 500 executives participated in high school athletics. “Progressing in sports means negotiating an increasingly exclusive series of hurdles that can’t be cleared without discipline, focus, patience, practice, and more practice,” says Liz Hanson, client director at Athlete Assessments. Strengths in confidence, determination, quick thinking, and the ability to handle pressure lay the foundation for corporate leadership.
- They are healthy.
Some employers take a healthy workforce for granted –until they aren’t. A study by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)reports that productivity losses linked to absenteeism cost employers $225.8 billion annually in the United States, or $1,685 per employee. So it works to a company’s advantage to hire health-minded people who take care of themselves.
From an employee’s perspective, watching a coworker grab running shoes after work and run two miles is a persuasive motivator to pay more attention to healthy habits. A healthy lifestyle is infectious among employees. And what better model for daily exercise than a former athlete?
In a study published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 160 national employers were asked to list the top five traits they looked for in new hires. Things like leadership, teamwork, overcoming adversity, hard work, and strong communication skills all mirror those of an accomplished athlete. “It starts to make sense why employers would want to look for collegiate athletes when hiring recruits who may lack extensive work experience,” said Ferraro.
Ryan Westwood is the CEO of Simplus, a Platinum Salesforce Partner. An experienced entrepreneur, he is also a bestselling author and speaker on entrepreneurship.