WHY SHOULD COMPANIES HIRE ATHLETES? HERE’S MY TAKE.

The same skills that make someone a great teammate are exactly what you need in the workplace. For instance….

Things you rarely have to remind an athlete to do:

• Be on time.
  Seems like a no-brainer, right? You’d be surprised. Shoutout to every coach who added wind sprints for late arrivals—those lessons stick.
• Communicate 
  There’s nothing better than hearing a competent teammate call out, “I’ve got it!” In the workplace, seeing something up in the air and making sure it doesn’t drop is the quickest way to build trust.
• Show that you’re locked in.
  No matter how loud the noise is, athletes make sure they hear the plays that are being called. Listening, making eye contact, and showing you’re fully present makes a statement that you’re there to take on responsibility.
• Ask for feedback.
  As athletes, our coaches were constantly evaluating our performance, critiquing every play, and pushing us to improve. In the workplace, managers will never be that invested in our growth. Athletes are wired to seek improvement and play better each game. They show up, are coachable, and want to know how to be on the winning team.
• Push through challenges.
  Being a quitter is one of the worst things an athlete wants to be called. If they can find a way, they will. You might have to coax them a little, but I’ve never met a competitive athlete who will phone it in when the game is on the line.
• Understand the game.
  Athletes know no single play wins or loses a game. Every minute counts and every play contributes to the final score. They see the big picture, know their role, and how all the pieces have to work together to bring success.