Leveraging Athletic Backgrounds in Sales
Our clients tell us all the time. “Find us an athlete!” We get it, but we also have some nuanced opinions on the matter. Because while not every athlete can seamlessly transitions into a sales role, those with the right personality traits and disposition find their athletic backgrounds to be a significant asset.
Alignment of Personal Traits:
Many athletes who do well in sales have certain natural qualities that fit perfectly within the sales profession. These qualities are things like being friendly, able to connect with people easily, understanding how others feel, having an impact on others, being tough when facing challenges, being disciplined, wanting to win, and working hard. While not exclusive to athletes, some of these attributes are honed and ingrained through years of training, teamwork and competition, making athletes naturally predisposed to thrive in the sales environment.
Technique:
When you ask athletes about their weaknesses, they often provide specific answers—like needing to improve shooting with their weak hand or making quicker defensive reads. Often times, when we ask sales reps about their weaknesses we have to dig deep to get past cliches about “working too hard” or “caring too much.” This is why we love the athlete’s approach to growth. It stands out because they understand that success comes from mastering different elements of their game. Sales is no exception. From prospecting to negotiation, each aspect demands a refined technique with finesse and strategy.
Exploiting the Competiion:
Of course every sport presents unique challenges for winning. However, successful athletes in sales often possess skillsets for analyzing the competition to exploit weaknesses and systems. We see this as one of the standards for competitive excellence. Athletes who can meticulously evaluate their technique and performance while also studying their opponents to identify vulnerabilities gain an advantage. In sales, success extends beyond technical prowess; it also involves understanding the market landscape and competitor strategies.
Facing Setbacks:
Athletes know setbacks are part of the journey to success. Whether it's losing a game, getting injured, or facing criticism from coaches, they bounce back or risk being benched. This resilience helps in sales, where rejection is the norm. Athletes who handle setbacks well learn that rejection is nothing more than a temporary setback. And as we all know, sales professionals face rejection daily.
Team Player Mentality:
While sales may seem like an individual pursuit, it often requires collaboration and teamwork from sales managers, sales operations, SDRs, Account Managers, Sales Engineers and more. Athletes, accustomed to working alongside teammates towards a common goal, understand the value of cooperation, mutual support, and also accountability. Like a well-coordinated team on the field, sales teams thrive when each member contributes their unique strengths towards a shared goal.
Ask SalesFirst Recruiting for Help!
Unlock the power of athletes in your sales team today with SalesFirst Recruiting. Let us help you find the perfect addition to your sales force. Contact us now to discover how athletes' unique qualities can drive sales excellence and give your team a competitive edge.
