Coaching “Excellence” Without Being an A-hole…
I’m savoring this moment before today’s kick-off. I want us to win but if we don’t win then I’m not sure we lost.
From the Los Angeles Times:
SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks are headed to the second Super Bowl in their history. They have an inexhaustibly dynamic coach in Pete Carroll, an instant-superstar quarterback in Russell Wilson, the NFL’s richest and most reclusive owner in Paul Allen, and a fan base so passionate that twice this season it set Guinness Book records for the loudest crowd at a sporting event.
Owner Paul Allen, EVP/GM John Schneider, coach Pete Carroll, politician Pete von Reichbauer, and the Seahawks players and deserve our thanks. Getting to the Super Bowl was a result of an entire organization having a singular goal. Achieving that goal can’t be about winning one game. That goal lives on regardless of today’s outcome.
The team’s goal is brought into tight focus by coach Carroll.
Carroll was the runaway favorite in ESPN‘S anonymous poll of NFL players. WHY? Here’s what his players said:
- Clear teaching methods
- Positive-reinforcement approach to coaching
- Mistakes are seen as teachable moments
- Not a talk-down-to-you or yell-at-you kind of coach
- Truly respects the players
- Open, honest and straight-forward
- Passionate, upbeat and positive (our biggest cheerleader)
“Carroll said he appreciates the vote from the players, but the message to any player is a goal of excellence.”
We’re doing it with standards and expectations that are as high as you can get,” he said. “I’m glad we’ve found a way to do it that guys appreciate it.
How are you teaching the “habit of excellence” in your company?
P.S. To the 12th Man organizers — You ROCK! Thanks for creating a movement at every game week in, week out:
