Active lifestyle and mental function
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Whether you’re an executive or an MBA student, navigating the hiring hurdles can be difficult. As we enter college recruiting season, we thought we’d ask a former professional athlete turned MBA student for some insight on how to leverage sports psychology tactics to overcome recruiting challenges.
Kelly Okun is the founder and CEO of Fairway to Green, a former professional golfer, and an MBA student at Darden School of Business (UVA). Below, Okun explains how being a professional athlete is similar to the challenges faced when recruiting, and shares five tips from sports psychology for navigating the process. Masu.
Similarities between recruitment and professional competition
Okun says, “The recruiting process is similar to being a professional athlete. It’s a very competitive environment, and you can only control some aspects. However, those ‘controllables’ It could be a changer. ”
Okun suggests that one of the biggest lessons he has learned from golf is that acceptance is the key to success. Practicing acceptance during your MBA internship recruitment process can lead to a more positive experience. ”
Tip #1: Analyze controllable and uncontrollable factors
“When you’re on the golf course, you can control how much you train, the strategy you prepare, and your attitude. But you can’t control your opponent, the weather, the score, etc.,” Okun said.
The same idea applies to hiring, where uncontrollable factors include performance and the interviewer. It’s important to note from the outset that you can’t control who gives you a job offer.
While it may be easy to blame missed opportunities on a poor relationship with your interviewer, you’re actually more likely to succeed if you rely on what you can control. Approaching the process with a positive mindset will not only help you reframe failure as an opportunity, but it will also help you network with future employers.
The key is to have a game plan. Who do you want to talk to first? Have you thoroughly researched your focus targets? What is your plan to reach them? And when you connect, what will be the purpose of the discussion and agenda? Make a plan Once you start the process, you will have clear criteria for what you are looking for and can quickly rule out some opportunities that are a poor fit and will only consume even more of your valuable time. . You can control how prepared you are. ”
Tip #2: Be process-oriented rather than result-oriented
Okun emphasizes the importance of “trusting the process” and harnessing the power of routine. “Before each networking session or interview, it’s important to create a routine, or process, that you feel well prepared for. Perhaps it’s a checklist with specific tasks that will boost your confidence.
Whatever it is, take some time after each interview to notice how well you stick to your routine. If you follow that, you can consider the recruitment opportunity a success and celebrate your victory. If you get off track, note what you can improve on and try again next time.
If you’ve strayed for a good reason, it’s okay to be willing to adapt your routine in a more successful way. However, constantly pivoting is inefficient and leaves you with no routine or sense of success.
Building on the first tip, you can control the process, but not the outcome. By making the most of your routine, you’ll feel more confident in your interviews and in your time management skills. ”
Tip #3: Set a time limit for yourself to let your emotions take over (in private)
Interestingly, Okun says: “In golf, you have 10 seconds to react to the result of a shot, and then you have to accept it and move on to the next shot.
Remember that you are human and need time to process and recharge. Whether it’s going for a walk or chatting with a friend for an hour, finding time to regulate your emotions and feel like yourself during this stressful time is essential. It is that true self that leads to work.
When we are definitely rejected, remember that while feelings are valid, they don’t have to drive our actions. Too many hits may make you want to give up on the recruiting process, but remember that motivation comes from discipline. A routine will get you back to work in no time. ”
Tip #4: Express gratitude for all approvals and rejections
As a former professional athlete, Okun suggests: Let’s say your summer internship wasn’t what you were hoping for. You’ll want to take advantage of the connections you’ve made with recruiters, but have you left them with a positive image of yourself?
No matter how the conversation ends, send a timely thank you message and be polite in all subsequent conversations.
Not only is gratitude beneficial in the long run, research suggests it can change the brain’s perception of the hiring process and physical health. When you focus on the good things, you’re less stressed and more likely to overcome challenges more easily. ”
Tip #5: Create triggers to help you refocus
Okun suggests that cues can help you refocus your efforts and attention. “Have you ever noticed how superstitious athletes are? Maybe they dribble the basketball three times before every foul shot, or take a deep breath before taking a putt.
This allows them to get back into their routine and focus on the next shot, no matter what happened beforehand.
You can do the same thing in your recruiting efforts. Create a trigger word or action that will remind you to restart the preparation process. It could be as simple as saying “Next!” Or open a new page in your notebook to signify a fresh start.
Whatever you choose, if you repeat it often enough and believe in your intention, the trigger will come naturally and you will find it easier to accept the past and move into the future faster. Masu. ”
As Okun suggests, professional athletes are constantly training their brains to accept consequences and move forward. There’s no reason why people can’t do the same when it comes to the hiring process.
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