Beyond the Job Title: Lessons from Sport on Identity and Wellbeing in High-Performance Business

As a sport and exercise psychologist in training, I’ve been struck by how many lessons from the world of elite sport apply equally well to high-pressure careers in business. Both athletes and business leaders often pour their hearts, minds, and time into excelling within demanding environments. But what happens when their entire sense of self becomes wrapped up in their role? And how might broadening identity improve wellbeing and resilience?

Drawing from research in sport psychology and extending those insights to business, we can better understand the challenges and opportunities faced by high-performing professionals.

The Double-Edged Sword of Identity in High Performance

Elite athletes often describe their sport as a core part of who they are. This “athletic identity” fuels motivation, focus, and discipline. Similarly, business leaders may find that their role defines their purpose, drives their self-esteem, and shapes how others see them.

But intense identification with a single role carries risks. When business professionals equate their worth solely with job performance or status, setbacks – be it a failed project, restructuring, or career change – can trigger profound emotional distress.

Haslam et al. (2024) describe this as “identity foreclosure,” where a narrow self-concept leaves individuals vulnerable during transition. This phenomenon is widely documented in sport but is increasingly recognised in organisational psychology as well.

Pain Points: When Identity Becomes a Prison

For business leaders, the pressure to perform and maintain a particular professional image can lead to:

Emotional distress when facing failures or role loss
Difficulty adjusting to new roles or career changes
Increased risk of burnout, anxiety, and depression
Struggles to find meaning beyond work

These challenges echo the experiences of retired athletes who feel lost without their sport, as Haslam et al. (2024) illustrate.

The Power of Broadening Identity: Lessons from Sport and Science

The good news is that research points to a powerful antidote: developing a multifaceted identity. In sport, athletes who cultivate interests and roles beyond competition (whether as students, parents, artists, or activists) navigate transitions more successfully and maintain psychological wellbeing.

Business research aligns with this. Studies show that professionals who engage in hobbies, community involvement, or learning outside work report greater life satisfaction and resilience (Settles, 2004; Ibarra, 2003). And, as Ibarra points out, your identity includes ideas about who you might become in the future (INSEAD, 2023).

By broadening identity, we create multiple sources of meaning and self-worth, and map out potential futures in advance, reducing the psychological impact of setbacks and change.

Practical Steps for Business Professionals

Here are some strategies inspired by sport psychology that can support business leaders and professionals in cultivating a healthier, more balanced identity:

Pursue “dual careers”: Develop interests or skills (like hobbies, volunteering, or education) alongside your business role.
Build diverse communities: Engage with groups or causes outside the professional sphere to enrich social identity.
Reflect regularly: Practice mindfulness or journaling to explore who you are beyond job titles and achievements.
Seek psychological support: Working with coaches or counsellors who understand identity challenges can help you explore who you are beyond your career.

Conclusion: Thriving Beyond Performance

Just as athletes are more than their sport, business professionals are more than their roles. High performance thrives on commitment, but true wellbeing comes from flexibility: a willingness to embrace the many parts of ourselves.

By learning from sport psychology and fostering a richer, more complex identity, professionals in business can not only survive transitions and challenges but flourish long term: living fulfilled, balanced, and resilient lives.

References

Haslam, C., McAulay, C., Cooper, D., Mertens, N., Coffee, P., Hartley, C., … & Fransen, K. (2024). I’m more than my sport: Exploring the dynamic processes of identity change in athletic retirement. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 73, 102640.

Ibarra, H. (2003). Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career (Harvard Business School Press, Cambridge, MA). Google Scholar Google Scholar Digital Library Digital Library.

INSEAD. (2023). Working identity: Unconventional strategies for reinventing your career [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdNW7S-6cmE

Settles, I. H. (2004). When multiple identities interfere: The role of identity centrality. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 30(4), 487–500.