In the Forbes article 5 Sports Psychology Tips To Navigate The Recruiting Process, Kelly Okun, a former professional golfer, MBA student at UVA, and CEO of Fairway to Green, draws parallels between the competitive nature of sports and the challenges faced during recruiting, offering sports psychology-based strategies for navigating the process.
Key Insights:
- Controllables vs. Uncontrollables: Okun stresses the importance of identifying what is within your control during the recruiting process—such as preparation, mindset, and attitude—while recognizing that some factors, like the interviewer’s opinion or the outcome, are beyond your control. Focusing on what you can control maximizes your chances of success.
- Process-Oriented Approach: She advises focusing on building a routine or process to follow before each interview or networking session. This will help reduce anxiety and improve confidence. Success should be measured by how well you stick to your process, not just the outcome, which is unpredictable.
- Emotional Regulation: Drawing from golf, Okun recommends giving yourself a brief moment to process emotions after setbacks (like rejections), then moving forward. Emotional resilience is key, as discipline and routine will keep you motivated through challenges.
- Gratitude for Rejections and Acceptances: Okun emphasizes the importance of expressing gratitude in all outcomes, including rejections. This not only enhances your professional image but also fosters a positive mindset, reducing stress and promoting long-term success in the recruiting process.
- Create a Refocusing Trigger: Similar to athletes who use rituals to regain focus, Okun suggests creating a personal trigger (a word or action) to help you refocus and continue the process. This “reset” will help you move forward after each setback and maintain momentum.
Okun’s insights show that, like athletes, job seekers can benefit from training their minds to embrace setbacks, stay process-focused, and maintain a positive, resilient mindset throughout the recruiting journey.
Additional insights from Julius Thomas, M.S. below:
Professionals can maintain a strong mental game in highly competitive recruiting environments by setting clear objectives to focus on. When high performers gain clarity on how to show up at their best and rehearse those details repeatedly, the time spent focusing on unproductive thoughts diminishes significantly. It’s a natural tendency of the human mind to focus on things beyond our control, but consistent mental rehearsal of specific objectives helps combat negative mind wandering.
There are a few strategies I use to bounce back after setbacks. The best way to recover from a setback is to expect them. An expression that’s helpful to remember is, “You can’t win ’em all.” By waking up daily with the mindset that you will face losses and setbacks, you protect yourself from feeling overly deflated when things don’t go your way. I also believe the sports expression “turning the page” is an elite mental performance habit for managing failures. Bill Belichick has been quoted saying that turning the page is the most important mental skill in sports. Being able to take losses in stride and shift your focus to the next opportunity is a highly effective way to navigate the ups and downs of performance.
Individuals looking to boost their confidence and become process-oriented, rather than results-oriented, must do three things:
- Confidence isn’t as crucial as many people think. Individuals should aim to build courage during their recruitment process. Courage helps you step forward even when you’re dealing with uncomfortable mental or emotional stimuli.
- Have faith that the process will lead to the desired results. Individuals need to ensure their process is grounded in elite preparation. The process only works when shaped by intense effort and high levels of discipline.
- Once an individual develops the courage to step into the unknown and shows up highly prepared, the only remaining step is to express themselves authentically. Hiring or selection committees aren’t just looking for someone who can execute the task—they also want someone they want to work with. Let your best traits shine along with your knowledge.
Mental triggers are highly effective in reducing stress and focusing the mind. A mental trigger can be an action, a mantra, or even a song that puts you in the right frame of mind. For example, one of my favorite mental triggers was wiping the bottom of my shoes. I started doing this as a high school basketball player before I checked into every game, and I continued it throughout my career. Wiping my shoes symbolized “go time” for me—it was the final step before stepping into competition. I did it hundreds of times, and it became a powerful mental trigger. Funny enough, I even used it as a football player. It probably looked strange to see a football player wiping his cleats, but my mind was level-set all the same. Develop a mental routine that you use before big moments, just like a tennis player, free throw shooter, or golfer does. It will make a profound difference in your mental game.
Lastly, remember that being selected for a position isn’t just about the interview moment. It’s about the hours of work you’ve put in beforehand, the preparation that led you to this point. You weren’t selected at random; you’re in the interview because someone believes you have a chance. Acknowledge your past efforts and successes, and remember that all you need to do now is show that hiring you is the best choice.
Appearances
- Julius recently motivated hundreds of agents at Compass RETREAT with his ‘5 Keys to Peak Performance’ – highlights here.
- Julius recently joined Compass leadership on 6AMERS for an insightful conversation – sneak peek of the interview here.
- Last week, Julius joined a panel in Miami, Florida, at The Wellness Oasis™ to discuss how to prioritize adolescents’ mental health.
- Julius is giving the keynote speech at the Tangram Interiors Sales Summit in Newport Beach, CA on January 23, 2025.
- In April, Julius will be delivering the keynote speech on “Enhancing Mental Resilience in Athletes: Strategies for Peak Performance” at the inaugural 2025 Sports Pharmacy Summit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to Optimize Your Performance! Join our pilot group by 12/15/24 for free access to digital course modules designed by Julius Thomas.