College athletes are often recruited by organizations because of their ability to work well in teams. Here we look at some of the specific skills that athletes develop through sport, contributing to their ability to be effective team members on and off the field.
For an athlete participating in team sports at the college level, teamwork is a skill that has become so ingrained, that it often goes unnoticed. There are many unconscious mechanisms that give athletes an advantage when working within teams even outside of sports. Here are some skills that are developed through participating in team sports that are valued by organizations that athletes may not even be aware they possess: knowing their role, individualized consideration, and the will to win.
Knowing Your Role -
Everyone on a team has a role, that is to say, they have a specific position with behaviors and skills that contribute to the overall success of the team. Role ambiguity is a pain point within organizations causing employees stress and lowering performance potentials. Defining and understanding your role can be challenging for some as they dance between trying to “fit in” and “stand out.” For a higher level athlete, they have mastered this two step, being able to see what the team or organization needs and adapt in order to fill the gap by utilizing their strengths.
Individualized Consideration -
Individualized consideration is a psychological constructs that emphasizes the need to recognize the unique attributes of every individual. The ability to relate to others on a person by person basis is a needed skill across industries. Collaborative efforts within organizations between departments require employees to work with a wide range of personalities and backgrounds. For a college athlete the ability to connect and work well with others is an essential skill. If you consider how many teammates an average college athlete has had over their career the number would astound you. Over the period of their athletic career, college athletes have collaborated with hundreds maybe thousands of different individuals where they were forced to establish roles, norms, and collaborate towards a common goal of success.
The Will to Win -
Every organization worth its salt has a clear idea of what a win would be for them. And this win is their top priority. While creating a positive experience for employees, offering free kombucha and craft beer is a bonus, none of this would occur without a winning record. College athletes are used to winning. Even if they are not currently on a winning team in college, they would not have been recruited had they not achieved some sort of success in high school. One skill you gain throughout your athletic career is the “will to win” the ability to find ways to win where there appear to be none. It is one reason why athletes are often recruited for sales, consulting, and other commission based positions.
The aforementioned skills are certainly not exclusive to athletes and can be developed through proper training and practice. Benefits include improved performance, cohesiveness, and overall enjoyment. Working well with others is one of the highlights of being human. Let’s create more of it.