And what sport do you do? You have to reckon with this question today when you apply for a new job. Because the person you are talking to – regardless of whether they are HR managers or department heads – wants to know from you: What does the woman do to stay fit and healthy? And not only that: conclusions about your professional talents are also drawn from the type of sport you are passionate about. For example, anyone who practices martial arts such as judo or karate has a good feeling for tactics and strategic thinking. Dancers or yoga fans are regarded as concentration “luminaries”, and half marathon runners are guaranteed to bring an extra portion of ambition with them.
Sport pushes education
Those who are fit simply have the better cards today, are considered to be physically and mentally more powerful and are usually more likely to have a career than couch potatoes. Interesting: A recent study by the Bonn Institute on the future of work shows that even young people who regularly do sport in their free time achieve higher educational qualifications than their sedentary peers on average. For example, the chances of gaining a higher education entrance qualification or successfully completing a university degree are improved. What is particularly striking: Young women in particular benefit from the positive fitness effect. The scientists explain this by saying that the girls are much more self-confident and assertive in the competition with young men – regardless of whether in the class group or when applying for an apprenticeship.
This is also the result of a survey initiated by Nike, in which 10,000 women between the ages of 16 and 30 from nine European countries reported what sport actually does for them. Of course – good looks and a great figure come first, but many “internal” plus points also count. The fitness freaks feel through their regular traininghealthier, mentally stronger and more successful in work or study, have more self-confidence than the passive group. Incidentally, Germany takes the top spot in fitness in this survey: Here, a proud 67 percent of the young women surveyed do sport in their free time. Fitness is in greater demand than ever In the USA, Canada or Japan, it has long been a matter of course to spice up the application portfolio with sporting achievements. And for us, too, fitness is no longer just a leisure hobby.
Jogging makes you creative
“In the future, sport will increasingly be a natural part of our everyday lives,” according to the brand new “Body & Health” study by the Zukunftsinstitut. “Because it stands for active self-responsibility, health, but also performance.” Another survey by the same institute shows that 83 percent of those surveyed already see an important need to actively do something for their own physical and mental fitness. To feel good and be successful in life. Pleasing: More and more employers are also providing “development aid” here, making sport part of the company philosophy. For example, the Cologne company Bellicon, manufacturer of mini-trampolines, was the first German company to introduce sport during working hours. Not only as a preventive health measure, but also to increase the creative potential of employees. This trend has been around in America for a long time: At Google’s Californian headquarters, employees can even play volleyball during working hours or crawl their lengths in the company’s swimming pool.
“Regular training not only gives us a positive aura, it also has a ‘cleansing effect’,” says Dr. Uwe Seebacher from the my-G Systemic Sports Academy, which develops combined fitness and mental training programs for companies, their managers and employees. “Due to the often automated motion sequences – e.g. when jogging or swimming – sporty people switch off more easily and have time to process things. In such phases, many people start to get creative, to develop ideas and concepts or to prepare for meetings,” says expert Seebacher.
“Athletes are also used to exercising in a higher “frequency range” through their training, which makes them more resilient overall. Some even go to their limits for this, apparently need the extreme kick. A study conducted as part of the 2008 Dresdner Kleinwort-Frankfurt-Marathon documents that those who are among the most successful at work are also the fastest on the 42-kilometer route. So much breath for the career? One thing is certain: we don’t have to pant after this ambition, but you should never answer the sporting question in the job interview with a simple “no”. Hiking on vacation, cycling to the office or the morning Qigong round are activities that are rated very positively by employers. So: get fit for the job!
This is how sport scores for work:
It’s all uphill from now on. Those who are fit also have good prospects in the job.
Spiritual flights of fancy
Endurance sports also make our upstairs fit. A study by the University of Ulm shows that those who run regularly improve their concentration and memory. Researchers suspect that it stimulates the formation of new nerve cells in the brain. Team spirit Team sports in particular, in which effective interaction brings success, train the “we feeling”. Mutual understanding, tolerance and mutual motivation – also in teamwork at work – are decisive for success.
mental balance
Stress, lack of time, trouble with colleagues: When we are in a bad mood, our brain releases stress hormones. They are supposed to arm our body against stress, but they can also make us irritable and aggressive. Exercise can accelerate the breakdown of these stress hormones. Scientists at Duke University in North Carolina now confirm that jogging even helps against depression. They had patients walk on a treadmill for 14 minutes. Most felt much better afterwards. The effect was similar to that of antidepressants.
Positive charisma
Dancers, yogis or Pilates fans in particular impress with their good body awareness, smooth, secure movements and great posture. Great for the job, because all of this radiates inner harmony, power and sovereignty.
motivation and ambition
Anyone who does sport regularly develops a more intensive awareness of their own strengths. The training encourages you to explore and expand your own limits. If the set goals are achieved, it boosts our self-esteem immensely. It goes without saying that this also has a positive effect on the job.
