Today’s the big day. Millions of viewers, millions of dollars and millions of hours of preparation collide to determine this season’s Super Bowl winner.

How did these two final teams–the Seahawks and the Patriots–make it to the world’s biggest stage for the NFL’s biggest game? What do these teams do differently from the competition? Do they simply possess more raw talent, better coaches, or better week-in, week-out game plans?

I loved reading Pete Carroll and Dr. Michael Gervais’ approach to “relationship-based coaching” in Wednesday’s WSJ. If we’re looking for 21st century leaders who “get it,” we can start here.

Win Forever
Carroll’s coaching philosophy is well-explained in his best-selling, “Win Forever: Live, Work and Play Like a Champion.”

Key to Carroll’s success is the importance of gaining a deep understanding of his personnel and his players. If we truly understand our co-workers, our ability to achieve expands. Our chances of success not only improve, but our potential levels of achievement increase, too.

In other words, dig deeply into understanding your people if you want to climb higher mountains.

This relational mindfulness isn’t just a buzzword. It is a heightened way of seeing, living and seeking to understand the people, places and events in your life.

In this age of distraction, deeper, more meaningful interactions and relationships can no longer be “nice-to-haves.” On the contrary, if you want your organization to thrive, they’re imperative.

Your organization’s success is determined by your people–not the latest technology, not previous success and not by one lone leader’s supposed brilliance or flashy charisma.

Failing to embrace, know, learn, cherish, uplift and honor your people, is an expedient way to foster a culture of organizational mediocrity.

A Trust-based Mindset
Watch Dr. Gervais and Coach Carroll’s brief conversation about performance here.

Pay special attention to Carroll’s response about maintaining calm in stressful situations at the 3:20 mark. Carroll says, he “knows things are probably going to work out,” and he’s simply “thinking something good is about to happen.”

What he’s referring to can only be achieved through an abundant mindset. The roots of an abundant mindset are planted in trust.

This trust isn’t something gained once a year at a half-day leadership seminar with a few ropes courses and “trust falls.” Trust takes time to build and grow. Relationships take effort and energy. These rich relationships and deep trust are key components to the Seahawks success.

Contrast an abundant mindset with a scarcity mindset. A scarcity mind-set is based on fear. Scarcity mind-sets are breeding grounds for corrosive office politics, poor people decisions and costly strategic choices.

And, the winner is…
Which mind-set will you take into the office on Monday morning? What’s the mind-set of your organization–full of abundance or strangled by scarcity?

Deep relationships, or superficial, “what have you done for me lately?” relationships? Deep mindfulness or mistaking motion for action? Trust or fear?

Contrast these two mind-sets and you’ll understand a key reason why the Seahawks are so successful.

We’ll know the Super Bowl winner in a few hours. However, win or lose, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks have created a culture, rich with relationships, trust and abundance that eclipses whatever happens on the field tonight.

Please drop us a line at hello@strengthslauncher.com and let us know how your organization compares with Carroll’s approach (even if your a Pats fan).

We’d love to hear from you.

Cheers,

DW