Why Athletes Make Great Employees

The Winter Olympics are just around the corner. Whether you’re into skiing, skating, or the luge, there’s no doubt you’ll walk away from your TV, tablet or computer with much admiration for the athletes that compete.

As one of the leading staffing agencies in Houston, TX, what’s interesting to us is that many of the traits that make athletes great are the same ones that top performers bring to the workplace everyday.

So next time you need to hire, look for some of these traits in your candidates:

Goal oriented.

Not only do athletes set specific, measurable goals, but they are relentless in achieving them. If they encounter obstacles that are in the way of meeting their objectives, they quickly figure out how to overcome them.

Drive.

Athletes rarely give up. You usually don’t see a skater walk off the ice after a fall. Even when the worst happens, they persist. They’re knocked down; they get back up again.

Accountability.

When a skier falls on the slopes, you don’t hear about them blaming the coach or the conditions. Typically, they are far harder on themselves and don’t point fingers. They know if they want to win, they will need to work harder, practice more, and not make the same mistakes again.

Openness.

Athletes will often watch videos of themselves performing to identify their weak spots and other areas that could be improved. By shoring up their vulnerabilities, they become stronger and are far more likely to win next time they’re in the game.

Competitive.

Having a competitive spirit pushes people to excel in extraordinary ways. The desire to excel produces excellence in tasks ranging from the simple to the complex. Not only does being competitive drive the athlete-employee, but it also drives those around them to reach new heights – and new levels of success in the process.

A team mentality.

Even if an athlete is in a solo sport like skiing, they still have coaches, trainers and a variety of other professionals on their team. They’re used to working with others in order to achieve one common goal: to win.

Does hiring an athlete guarantee success at your company? No. No matter how accomplished they are in sports, a candidate needs to have the hard skills to get the job done. But when someone does have an athletic background – plus a track record of success in their careers – the sky’s the limit in terms of potential.

If you need more help hiring, call Murray Resources. As one of the leading staffing agencies in Houston, TX, we can take the hassle out of hiring – helping you source, screen and hire talent for your Houston area company.

Contact us today if you’d like to learn more about how we can help you.