Trending
Not everyone is cut out to be an elite athlete, but that doesn’t mean you don’t think like one and go for the gold in your own career!
Just like the rest of us “regular” folks, Olympians all have their unique behavioral profiles. One individual could be outgoing and another more reserved with equal performance potential on the Olympic stage. But there are certain behavioral traits they usually have in common that not only drive them to elite status in athletics but set them up for success in business beyond the podium. Maybe you share that Olympian mindset, or maybe you have a completely different way of thinking that drives YOUR success! Ready to find out?
Let’s Talk About the “Pommel Horse Guy”
There’s a lot we can take away from what Stephen Nedoroscik did for Team USA during the Olympics. If you missed it, he’s a gymnast who honed one very specific skill, the pommel horse. During the games, he patiently waited on the sidelines as his teammates competed in all the other gymnastic events. He was the last athlete on the last rotation and his job was to deliver one single jaw-dropping routine that could win a long-awaited medal for his team. And guess what? He did it!
Stephen’s physical skills and behavioral traits were in perfect sync, and that’s what created an unstoppable force! His success exemplifies what we want for every user of the DNA Behavior Platform—to understand what individuals inherently do best so they can have satisfying lives and careers.
"I take a lot of inspiration from Stephen's story: embrace your unique talents and let them shine. When you find your gift and share it, you write your own story of triumph.”"
- Meredith Boulter – Digital Creator
Top 5 Behavioral Traits of Olympic Athletes
It would be interesting to see the results of a study of Olympic athletes who complete the DNA Natural Behavior Discovery Process. But let’s go ahead and venture a guess as to which behavioral styles would have the strongest representation. Based on our experience and what we know about professional athletes, we would expect most of them to either be Initiators or Strategists who would share the following traits to varying degrees:
- Pioneering (goal-oriented, ambitious, driven)
Driven to complete the actions needed to make their vision a reality - Planned (systematic, particular)
Focused on planning and perfectly executing each necessary task to reach a goal - Risk-taking (daring, courageous)
Prepared to put their life on the line to pursue gold, often accepting physical danger along with other types of adversity - Trusting (receptive, believing)
Trusting others enough to work in a team environment - Patient (understanding, tolerant)
Willing to pace themselves in their achievements, accept setbacks, and still move forward relentlessly
Behavioral traits indicate a person’s natural strengths, and they can tell you more about a person than their education, learned skills, or even their experience. Do any of the traits above sound like you? If so, you may have an Olympian mindset! If not, that’s fine too. There are no rankings when it comes to behavioral styles and traits, none are better or worse. They just provide a way to understand yourself and others on a deeper level, improve decision-making, and live your best life.
Encore Careers for Elite Athletes
Figuring out what’s next after a professional career in athletics can be a daunting task. A career change for anyone can be challenging. These athletes have likely been on the same path with a single-minded focus most of their lives. So, where do you go from there?
Well, Olympic athletes have successfully done everything from dentistry to sheep farming. The key is to match their skills with their natural behavior style, just like they did when they chose athletics. They will likely be drawn to roles that align with their competitive nature, involve leadership, and tie into their personal experience. Here are some of the most common choices:
- Acting and Entertainment
- Broadcasting and Media
- Business and Entrepreneurship
- Coaching and Training
- Corporate Roles
- Health and Fitness Industry
- Philanthropy and Non-Profit Work
- Public Speaking and Motivational Speaking
- Sales
- Sports Administration and Management
- Writing and Authoring
What Constitutes Success Outside of Sports?
One of the greatest struggles former elite athletes may have in their new careers is dealing with less tangible markers for success. Winning a race or sticking a landing is concrete evidence of meeting a goal. But what does success look like if you’re a sportscaster, an entrepreneur, or an author? If you work best with specific goals (whether you’re an athlete or not), you may have to create them for yourself to stay motivated. Otherwise, the ambiguous nature of business success can lead to frustration and dissatisfaction with your newest achievements. When you know this about yourself, you can do something about it.
What’s Your Pommel Horse?
At DNA Behavior, we believe that having an awareness of your natural talents is the best way to guide your career and encore career choices. That knowledge allows you to align your life with your core nature, and there is no better predictor of success than that!