As the Seattle Seahawks complete their NFL season, with their first Super Bowl win in franchise history, there are five lessons business leaders can learn from their memorable season.
#1 Appreciate Your Customer
Today was the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl 48 victory parade in Seattle, Washington. Nearly 700,000 fans showed up in the streets, at CenturyLink Field and at Safeco Field to participate in the event. These fans are known as the 12th Man. In 1984, the Seahawks retired number 12 in honor of their fans who are consistently the loudest fans in the NFL. In 2003, the 12th Man Flag was introduced and is now raised before every home game for the fans and for the home field advantage the 12th man gives the Seahawks.
The relationship between the Seahawks and the fans is based on continued love and appreciation. After the Super Bowl win, coach Pete Carroll told the crowd, “We take this trophy back, and everybody knows we take this trophy back to the 12th man.” This relationship probably explains the estimated 3-1 Seahawks to Broncos fan ratio at the Super Bowl according to Yahoo! sports. During the victory parade today, players like Golden Tate and Sidney Rice recorded the crowd while they passed through downtown Seattle as the fans snapped pictures of them.
Appreciate your customers who support and believe in your product or service. Customers can become an advocate for you. If your customers feel appreciated and like what you do, they will tell their friends or followers to use your product or service. If someone’s friend recommends you they are more likely to use yours over another. These recommendations become free marketing for your company.
#2 Grow New Leadership within your Organization
Pete Carroll is an amazing coach. He inspires, forgives, defends, and has a great attitude. What is unique about Pete Carroll is he trusts his team enough to create leaders among his players. These leaders, like Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman, in turn coach and inspire their teammates.
Within the Seahawks organization it’s not about who makes the most money, it’s about finding and molding the players who will inspire other players as well as the fans. Not only are Wilson and Sherman leaders on the field, they are also leaders in the community.
In business, it’s important to discover and grow your talent for leadership positions. Leadership development brings new perspectives to your business from people who are involved with the day to day work. New perspectives help innovate products and services. If you are currently a leader, continue to grow your skills and search for new challenges for leadership outside of your organization.
#3 Believe
When it came to the Seahawks 2012 draft picks, Donald Wood of the Bleacher Report gave them a grade of F and stated, “Pete Carroll is proving why he didn’t make it in the NFL the first time.” He also, commented that Russell Wilson “was by far the worst move of the draft.”
Two years after that draft, Russell Wilson told a story on the Late Show with David Letterman where his dad asked him years ago, “Why not you, Russ? Why not you?” Wilson returned to his team and asked, “Why not us? Why can’t we be the Super Bowl Champions in Super Bowl 48? We have the players, we have the coaching staff, we have the best fans in the world. Let’s go get it! And that was our mindset.”
When you offer a product or a service the most important thing is believe in it whole-heartedly. Doubt and fear are the killers of creativity and success. Know what you want to achieve and pick yourself to create it or change it!
#4 Concentrate on Small Goals
Throughout the 2013-2014 season the Seahawks concentrated on one game at a time. They treated every game like it was their biggest game with a “1-0” mentality after each win. The team held onto this small goal during their 13-3 regular season.
The big picture and where you want to be in the future can overwhelm you. You know your goal, the next step is to break it down into small manageable pieces. Work on each piece and celebrate your small victories as you move toward your goal. Eventually, you will fail on one of those pieces, that’s okay. Use the failure as a lesson and apply it to the next piece. Before you know it, you will reach your goal! No job is too big if you break it into enough pieces.
#5 Commit
According to Pete Carroll, “The “I’M IN” sign is a physical affirmation of an internal commitment to “tap in” and compete to be your best you. Players and coaches tap in when they’re going to work on the game field, on the practice field or in the weight room to symbolize that they’re setting all distractions aside and focusing solely on the opportunity in front of them to perform and compete.”
You and your employees must commit to the product or service you provide 100%. Employees who don’t believe or commit slow the forward progress of your product or service. These employees may cause unnecessary drama, problems or excuses for why your product or service will not work. Their negativity destroys morale, demotivates others, and creates distrust within your company. When everyone is committed to and excited about a common goal there is a feeling of camaraderie that can inspire your team more than money.
Originally published February 5, 2014 on Tumblr.