Diversity helps organisations to grow. But this goes beyond race, gender, sexual orientation or geography – diversity of thinking and approach further brings that competitive edge. With their compelling combination of creative strategies for victory, unique paths to success, and expert methods in dealing with losses, athletes exhibit the key attributes of diversity. With these attributes, athletes are the right choice to challenge existing ways of working and drive innovation.
Making a difference
Analytical
To succeed, athletes must be competitive analysts, critiquing their performance from every angle. Athletes proactively seek to improve themselves and those around them. This critical self-reflection drives athletes to find ways to continually push their own performance forwards.
Resilient
Not only does elite sport drive athletes to push their limits with a positive mindset, it teaches resilience when things don’t go according to plan. Being able to deal with losses is key for elite athletes to progress in their sport. The ability to bounce back and learn from failure is essential in today’s fast-paced working environment.
Passionate ambassadors
The influence of today’s athletes stretches beyond the bounds of sports. Athletes build deep and lasting connections with their fans through their passion and performance. They present an inspiring influence that transcends beyond existing boundaries, providing companies with powerful ambassadors, influencers, and advocates.
Positive disruptors
Athletes learn to challenge the sporting ecosystem to differentiate themselves from the competition. They have the confidence to disrupt the status quo by driving new initiatives and inspiring their colleagues to adopt different ways of working. In today’s business world, disruption is essential for maintaining a competitive edge.
Creative thinkers
Creativity is pivotal in today’s sports world, when a second ahead determines winning or losing. Athletes are adept at using creative and lateral thinking to find new ways to improve. This gives athletes the creative skills that more than three quarters of CEOs struggle to find in their workforce.
Persuasive communicators
Athletes develop unique communication skills which are essential to succeed in the competitive sports environment. To effect change, they must be able to communicate ideas convincingly and tactfully. Athletes are required to continually leverage their network and communicate persuasively, telling their story in a compelling manner.
Business minded
Athletes learn to operate effectively as a ‘business’, to be successful in their sporting careers. This can extend to maintaining a job alongside athletic commitments in order to financially manage their sports career. As a result, besides hard skills, athletes entering the broader workforce bring hard-earned soft skills to drive business success.
Natural publicists
Athletes are adept at building a strong personal brand. By utilising a variety of channels, targeting their audience, conducting performance analysis, and partnering with third-parties, they are able to effectively create and deliver key messages. Such an attribute that can position a company, and create credibility and trust with their target audiences.
