When you hear him interviewed in his home, Justin Jefferson comes across as quiet and unassuming. He strikes you as someone who would be comfortable sipping an herbal tea while reading at a coffee shop. That’s not what you would expect from one of American Football’s elite wide receivers. Playing football in general requires a lot of confidence, but being a top receiver requires some additional swagger. So how does Justin bridge the gap between his natural, easy-going demeanor and the over-the-top attitude needed to dominate at his profession?
Enter “Jets”, Justin’s on-field persona. Jets is covered in flash, he’s loud, he’s confident, and he’ll let you know that he is going to burn you.
What makes a persona different from a character, is that it is still you underneath—the authentic you. You’re just adjusting some dials down and some dials up.
We all have performance goals we want to accomplish. Sometimes those require us to step away from our default way of being to succeed. Let’s say you’re shy and quiet, but you know that talking to new people will help build your network. Trying on a more outgoing persona can change your mental state in a way that makes it easier to accomplish that goal. With time and practice, various personas can become more permanent tools in your toolbox.
You don’t have to rock any big chains or name your persona, although you can if it fits your goals 😉. I do think dressing the part can help play a role in adopting a new mindset. Try on a new persona and see if it helps you accomplish something that doesn’t really feel like “you”.