Ever wondered why athletes struggle with career transitions? It’s the fear of the unknown.
I attended a fantastic event today, hosted by mentor list, where business leaders, emerging leaders mingled to watch a great panel.
One of the highlights of the discussion was led by Jason Clark, Head of Wellbeing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ 300+ pathways players. He recounted a story about a player who struggled and froze during certain game situations, with fear affecting both their on field performance and mental wellbeing.
Jason helped this player overcome their fear through a series of simple yet effective steps:
Focus on what they can control: Helping to accept what you can’t control is just as crucial.
Create the game situation in training: Simulating the stressful scenario helped them to build familiarity and confidence in their ability
Practice, repetition, and reflection: Consistent practice and reflecting on experiences lead to their progress out of those situations.
How We Can Approach Fear and Inaction
Anna Pixner, a recent guest on the podcast, shared a similar insight: “My fear is relative. If I know that I can control my movement, I’m not as scared of the speed.” Anna’s message is clear—by focusing on what you can control, you can reduce fear and move forward, rather than getting stuck.
David Watters a recent guest on the 2ndwind Academy Podcast, made a powerful point: “People sometimes get very scared of doing the wrong thing or the big changes, and they end up doing nothing.”
Research indicates that fear of change and uncertainty are indeed common barriers for athletes transitioning out of their sports careers: Athletes often experience anxiety about "the unknown" when facing career transitions, particularly those who have developed their careers around a certain type of structure and organisation. Successful transitions often require athletes to develop new social networks, discover interests outside of sports, and learn to structure their own schedules - tasks that can be challenging for those who have lived highly structured athletic lives.
In fact (and i’m sure he won’t mind me sharing) - Jason was fearful of the Q&A beforehand. Being in a room full of business leaders asking him questions when he thought (only being 15 months out of his pro- rugby career) that he wouldn’t really know how to respond to some questions. He knowiingly stepped into an environment he wasn’t totally comfortable in - a great demonstration of breaking his fear paradigm. (BTW, he smashed it - great communicator and able to turn any question into a lesson from the field).
Three Actions to Overcome Fear in Career Transitions
Yes - while sport offers predictability in certain game situations, allowing players to practice and improve continuously - in more traditional careers we can apply these same principles to overcome fear and thrive.
Identify and Control: Focus on aspects of your career direction that you can control, such as figuring out how you can bring value, creating connections at events (means you have to attend) and getting in position for conversations. Accept that some factors, like the job market, are beyond your control.
Simulate and Prepare: Create scenarios that mimic the challenges you might face in your new career. This could involve role-playing conversations, taking on new projects within a current role, or learning new skills relevant to your desired role.
Practice and Reflect: Regularly practice new skills and reflect on your experiences. Seek feedback and make adjustments as needed. This continuous cycle of practice and reflection will build your confidence and reduce fear.
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