What Winter Olympics teach us about personality

The Olympics won’t forgive anything. Preparation, personality and performance under pressure will determine winning or losing. So, we teamed up with Hogan Assessments to examine Olympic performance and identified three strategies that differentiates winners and that professionals in business can use as additional insights for their careers.

• Conscientiousness: an uninspiring virtue behind consistent success

Olympic champions are not just exceptionally talented. They train with tireless discipline and conscientiousness, a personality trait associated with reliability, organisation and self-control. It is a reliable indicator of consistently high performance, whether on snow/ice or in the office. Conscientiousness is one of the strongest personality indicators for job performance across a wide range of functions and industries.

Particularly conscientious athletes train longer, recover faster and make fewer avoidable mistakes. Managers with the same trait produce higher-quality work, meet deadlines and gain trust more quickly.

“Conscientiousness doesn’t mean working harder for a week. It’s about being prepared every day,‘ says Dr Ryne Sherman, Chief Science Officer at Hogan Assessments and co-host of The Science of Personality podcast. ’In leadership and professional careers, this virtue is a reliable indicator of who people can rely on in high-pressure situations.”

• Focus

Have you ever watched a downhill skier in the starting gate: with headphones in their ears and a sharp gaze, the rest of the world is temporarily blocked out. Focus is not optional – it is a prerequisite. Studies show that mental imagery and concentration techniques can increase performance by up to 23% – especially under high pressure (Frontiers in Psychology).

Olympic athletes visualise their success long before they actually step onto the podium – this reduces nervousness and sharpens their focus. In crucial moments, professionals can – and should – do the same. For example, during a job interview, a board presentation or important negotiations.

‘Focus is a skill that comes from personality,’ adds Dr Sherman. ‘People who know their weaknesses and understand how stress affects their behaviour are better able to deal with distractions and perform at their best when it counts.’

• Compete fiercely, cooperate smartly

The Olympic Games represent a paradox: here, ruthless competition and honest camaraderie go hand in hand. Athletes want to outdo each other, yet they exchange valuable insights, words of encouragement and respectful gestures. The same dynamic distinguishes a healthy corporate culture from a toxic one. Companies that promote cooperation are five times more likely to perform better, according to data from the Harvard Business Review.

Top professionals know when it’s time to compete and when it’s time to cooperate. ‘Depending on their personality, people find a balance between ambition and cooperation,’ says Dr Sherman. ‘The most successful leaders compete without burning their bridges, because they know that long-term success is never a solo sport.’

History provides us with ample evidence that careers – much like Olympic moments – are rarely defined by a single victory. Rather, it is about resilience, self-awareness and sustained performance.

At the 1988 Olympic Games, British ski jumper Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards finished last, but still became a global icon, because he recognised his limitations and knew how to use his strengths to his advantage. He may not have won a medal, but he impressed with his courage, humor and underdog status.

‘In business, the lesson is clear: knowing who we are, how we perform under pressure and how others perceive us can mean the difference between a fleeting moment and long-term success. Ultimately, careers don’t happen by chance. They are the result of insight, determination and a personality that drives us to peak performance,’ summarizes Dr Sherman.

Curious? Register to download the Hogan white paper for further insights into what distinguishes top athletes from amateur athletes and which Hogan dimensions are decisive.

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