Today’s Inspiration

As the NFL playoffs continue, the margins get thinner, but the leadership principles become clearer.

Here are three clips from head coaches who’s teams are still standing that have stuck with me lately. Each offers a different lens on leadership by highlight self-awareness, culture, and vision.

The Mirror Test

Culture is a Shared Mentality with Different Personalities

Creating a Vision for Your Team

Context and Lesson

In his first team meeting back in April 2024, Seahawks’ head coach Mike Macdonald didn’t just tell the team where he wanted to go, he invited them to experience it.

He asked them to picture the NFC championship game at home in Seattle. Cold. Wet. Windy.

“It’s miserable for them,” he says. “But it’s just right for us. We’re loose. Focused. Confident.”

Great leaders help people understand how today’s standards and behaviors are stacking up toward tomorrow’s moments.

One of the core principles I love to share with those I serve is this: Leveraging a long-term clear and compelling vision will help you endure short-term struggle, adversity, and pain (hear more on this in my podcast below).

Bonus: Something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately…