Contribuições da prática desportiva sobre o desenvolvimento de soft skills para o ambiente de trabalho

Abstract

The labor market has undergone significant transformations, requiring professionals to possess not only technical skills (hard skills) but also behavioral and social skills (soft skills). In addition to its various other benefits, sports have been identified as an effective means for developing diverse soft skills. In this context, a study was conducted to contribute to the research on transferable competencies from sports to the professional environment. The main objective was to analyze the contributions of sports participation to the development of soft skills for the workplace. Through a questionnaire administered to 111 participants, the study identified the most developed soft skills through sports and the most applied ones in the work environment. The results indicated that four skills were both highly fostered by sports and widely utilized at work: teamwork, commitment, dedication, and discipline. Additionally, to gain a deeper understanding of how these skills are applied in organizational settings, interviews were conducted with eight professionals, including athletes and former athletes. The interviews validated and reinforced how the relationship between sports and professional competencies manifests in daily work life. Based on their experiences, the interviewees drew parallels between professional situations and those encountered in sports contexts.