Put an Athlete on Your Team

All that hard work for nothing!—that’s what I was thinking at twenty-two starting a job as a receptionist for a newly formed L&D company after my college baseball career and lifelong dream of playing for the majors came to an end.  Sure, I had great memories—of hitting a home run in the college world series, of playing for four Hall of Fame coaches—but at the time, that was all I thought I was taking with me.  Business seemed like a completely different game, and I wasn’t sure I had much to offer.

Twenty-eight years later, having led that fledgling L&D company for two decades, I can see that my time training as a serious athlete was far from wasted.  In fact, I believe that sports are such excellent preparation for business that 20 percent of the Learnit team are former Division 1 athletes.  Here are a few of the transferrable skills hiring ex-athletes can bring to your team:

Discipline and Work Ethic

It takes tremendous discipline and a powerful work ethic to reach the top level of any sport. The commitment and drive it takes to train for hours each day, follow strict nutritional guidelines, and continually push oneself to improve is unparalleled. These traits directly translate to the business world, where following through and persevering even when things get difficult are keys to success. Ex-athletes know what it takes to put in the hard work.

Ability to Perform Under Pressure

Competing at a high level requires grace under pressure. With the game on the line, athletes learn to block out distractions, focus on the task at hand, and execute. High-stakes situations in business that require cool heads and rational decision-making in the face of adversity are where former athletes thrive. Their experiences competing on big stages have prepared them for managing stress and coming through in clutch situations.

Teamwork and Leadership Skills

Most sports require strong teamwork and leadership. Being a good teammate, motivating others, assuming different roles when necessary - these are all part of being on a successful team. Ex-athletes understand how to rally people around a shared goal and get the best out of their colleagues. This leadership and collaboration transfers directly to group projects and team environments in a business setting.

Goal Orientation

Elite competitors are intensely focused on goals and do whatever it takes to achieve them. Sports teach mental toughness and the attitude of refusing to fail. Bringing this determination to meeting and exceeding objectives in a business context is invaluable. Ex-athletes are more likely to be solution-oriented, tenacious in reaching targets, and continuously motivated.

Competitive Drive

The will to compete and succeed is inherent in most high-level athletes. They want to win and be the best. This competitive fire often persists long after their playing days end. Bringing an ex-athlete's competitive nature into your business injects energy, passion, and a continuous push for excellence. The inner drive never goes away.

Resilience 

Athletes possess a profound understanding that failure is not only inevitable but can serve as a powerful catalyst for growth. They recognize that failure is almost a precondition for success, as it offers invaluable lessons and opportunities for improvement. They harness the ability to bounce back from failure, maintaining a resilient and positive mindset that enables them to overcome challenges in any professional setting.  

Sure, I felt defeated when my baseball career ended. The death of a dream is a kind of loss, and it can take some time to recover. But any former athlete applying for a job is proving they’ve learned sports’ larger lessons.  They are demonstrating resilience, competitiveness, goal-orientation, and a strong work ethic by showing up for try-outs in a new game. They may not know it yet (as I didn’t when I started as a receptionist at Learnit), but the qualities they honed in the world of sports have primed them for success in the business world.  If you want employees who will work hard, perform under pressure, lead by example, and never settle for mediocrity, give a former athlete a shot. I bet they’ll capitalize on it.