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Successful Image
Your success as an athlete requires three important components: performance, image, and exposure.
To maximize your chances of success, all three need to be high, but they also need to be in balance. If you're an excellent athlete with a good strong image, but nobody knows about you (Problem: no exposure) your skills will only go so far. On the other hand, you could be highly successful and well-known, but you tend to speak before you think (Problem: poor image). In either case, you're not going to be as attractive to teams and institutions.
To increase you appeal you need to identify your strengths and weaknesses, then work to get them in balance. Let's assume you've got a winning record. What's next?
Step 1: Assess your image.
1. Brainstorm six favorable words your coach/trainer/AD would use to describe you.
2. Name six descriptive words you'd like people to say about you.
3. Analyze the gap between the two descriptions.
4. Identify what you're doing or not doing that creates that gap.Are you viewed as a problem solver or problem maker? If your coach/trainer/AD thinks you're bad at dealing with problems, take your next problem to him/her with ideas on how to solve it.
Step 2: Let's look at your exposure.
There are all kinds of exposure - every time you meet someone, you have the opportunity to create an impression - positive or negative.
Keep your goals and your image in mind with every person you meet, and use the tips found in this Communication Fast Track for Athletes to maximize your exposure. Work to get your image and performance at their peak levels, and exposure won't be far behind.
