Applying Lessons In Archery To The Recruiting Industry

Last year, I began archery lessons. Starting this new hobby, I did not anticipate how much it would teach me – both personally and professionally.

Physically, archery forces me to get in much better shape. And like most things, success is 95% mental. 

• Can you perform under pressure?
• Are you able to practice when you don’t feel like it?
• Can you block out the noise?
• When you miss badly, can you recover and reset for the next shot?

These challenges apply to my professional life as well – particularly in 2020. There is no shortage of distractions and adversity this year. If you’re like me, there are days when you don’t feel like making calls, connecting with your network after a series of meetings, joining another Zoom conference, or sending that one last email. It can be mentally exhausting with everything else going on.

In these situations when no one is looking, you can learn a lot about yourself. Are you willing to put in the work that makes the difference? Everyone can do the basics. What separates the winners are these small things. I’ve learned that winning is accomplished in the margins.

Hitting The Bullseye In Recruiting

In terms of the recruiting industry, it’s competitive and results-oriented. You need to focus on what’s under your control, which will help you execute. Like practicing under different conditions in archery, working in a variety of situations and circumstances enables you to be ready for anything. 

Success in recruiting – like archery – requires attention to detail. It’s important to stay connected to your network, talk to people in various industries where you specialize, and stay ahead of trends. Speaking to people at many companies allows you to have your finger on the pulse of the jobs market. None of this is easy if you don’t have an underlying passion for the job. In recruiting, that means enjoying people. For archery, it’s a genuine love of the sport that matters.

Mistakes happen at work. You may forget to call someone back, describe something incorrectly, or miss an email, but worrying about it won’t change anything. In archery, the same holds true. Letting an errant shot spill over to your next arrow is counterproductive. Archery isn’t about being perfect. You just want to get as close to the bullseye as possible. Put in the work and you’ll give yourself the best chance at success. 

The same holds true for recruiting. Enjoy the process, hone your skills, and you’ll find success more often than not.