The Gold Mindset: Professional Skills We Can Glean From Olympic Athletes
The Olympics and the competitors involved have become an international symbol of the rewards that come from hard work, determination and the value of “going for the gold.”
As many of us prepare to watch some of the world’s greatest athletes put their blood, sweat and tears into pursuing success this summer (from the comfort of our couches in our air-conditioned living rooms), I can’t help but wonder: what if we applied that same “gold mindset” to our professional lives?
Below are three simple ideas inspired by Olympic athletes that can be translated to our day-to-day capacities as business leaders, employees and colleagues.
1. The Art of Practice
Much of what makes the Olympics so fascinating is the precision and focus that goes into perfecting a sport. Yet, each athlete who reaches an Olympic caliber began years ago as an amateur.
What happened in between the time they started and the time they receive a gold medal is practice—and most likely, some failures, bumps and bruises.
No person has a history (or future) free of mistakes. Successful business leaders aren’t an exception. It’s through failure, acknowledgement, intentional re-attempts and practice that we experience professional growth and valuable improvement.
Much like training activities or team practice drills, the small things we do can greatly contribute to big things with real impacts. Setting a goal, making incremental progress and taking even the smallest steps can go a long way.
The ultimate goal isn’t perfection. It’s to be better today than we were yesterday.
2. The Importance of Coaching
Imagine an Olympic athlete training, navigating wins and losses and overcoming adversity without a coach. Think of all the valuable insight they’d miss out on. Even gold medalists, while wildly successful, aren’t so good that they don’t need a coach.
There is unique value in having a coach who not only has in-depth experience and knowledge, but who can help you to see your own blind spots and places where you can improve.
Seeking out advice and input from someone else can be beneficial for any business leader in any position, but it’s even more impactful when you’re willing to address the accompanying opportunity to improve.
Especially in today’s digital environment, human connection is more important than ever. Engaging with a coach or mentor can be the difference in your success and fulfillment.
Share your goals, discuss your struggles and achievements and ask for input. Listen to feedback—not to reply, but to understand and act in response.
And while you’re working on being coached yourself, don’t forget to be a coach for others. Invest the time in helping and advising your colleagues to help them to reach their own goals as well.
3. The Necessity of Perspective
Competition is the driving force of our business world, and it’s a fixture of the Olympics.
Our competitive nature drives us to check off our to-do list, challenge ourselves and go the extra mile. The passion to win is a key ingredient to a healthy and successful mindset.
But when that drive turns sour and the heat of the moment gets the best of us, our mindset isn’t beneficial anymore.
Headlines reporting tensions among competing Olympic athletes have been commonplace for years, but even in your competition, remember to be kind. Focus more time on finding solutions than on placing blame for the problems. Don’t take things personally or take yourself too seriously.
It’s important to keep things in perspective, especially if your competitor comes out on top. While there is great value in benign rivalry, don’t let it go too far. Competition is fierce, but our attitudes don’t have to be. You’ll rarely regret taking the high road.
Going for the Professional Gold
Like Olympic training, personal and professional growth/development isn’t an event. It’s a journey.
If you’re preparing to watch the Olympics and admire the dedication, precision and friendly competition on display, don’t forget that the principles at work aren’t all that different from those that we can apply each day—not just every two years.
How can you go for the gold in your own profession?
This article was originally posted on July 7, 2021 and most recently updated on June 26, 2024.
