Five Leadership Lessons I Learned First-Hand from Pete Carroll

Having a front row seat to the winningest coach in Seahawks history was something I never took for granted. I also never expected to learn so much about leadership and communication.

I’ve been the Seahawks radio sideline reporter for the last 15 seasons. I talked to Pete regularly for pregame interviews, during press conferences and when we bumped into each other at the facility. I can attest to the fact his energy never waned. What you saw on TV was exactly what we saw every day. After watching him throughout his tenure these are the five leadership lessons that stand out for me.

Leadership can be fun. If you were to ask Pete Carroll he would say football should be fun and he regularly told his players that if it wasn’t fun he was doing it wrong. It’s one of the reasons he blared music at practice and held free throw shooting competitions during team meetings. Pete proved to me that “fun-loving” could be and should be on the list of great leadership characteristics.  

It’s not enough to just show up. It’s how you show up that affects culture. I never saw Pete Carroll show up without a smile. He never lacked energy. He was always competing. As a result there was always a buzz at the facility and on the sideline. When you spent time around him you couldn’t help but follow his lead. Pete showed me that great leaders set a tone that’s felt anytime someone walks in the room. 

Consistent messaging is key. If Pete ever grew tired of talking about how “every game is a championship opportunity” he never let on. He is also fond of saying “it’s not how you start it’s how you finish.” He messaged those two phrases so often they sounded like cliches but they weren’t. It was an impressive show of consistency in messaging, which I think takes more discipline than most leaders demonstrate because often they get tired of their own messages. Listening to Pete highlighted to me the importance of consistently delivering the main message.   

Give accurate and honest assessments. For all his optimism and positive outlook, Pete never gave false praise. When asked about players in post-game interviews he provided direct, honest and accurate descriptions of what he saw. He wasn’t unkind in his assessments, but his honesty meant you could trust a compliment and praise for a job well done. Pete’s approach to feedback showed me the value in being accurate and honest in those interactions.

Love ‘em up and love ‘em all. If you followed the Seahawks at all during the past 14 seasons you know there were big personalities in that locker room. Pete loved them all and didn’t shy away from hugging a guy up offering a word of encouragement and showing he cared. In fact, he wanted to prove that caring for people deeply, loving them for who they are and celebrating their uniqueness worked in creating culture and would lead to success. My two biggest takeaways from watching Pete do this is that caring deeply is a superpower and great leaders bring out the best in others.

I will tell stories about Pete Carroll for years. I watched him bring out the best in his players and staff, and I know he brought out the best in me. I wanted to work harder. I competed every day. I knew when I walked into the building or onto the field I had to bring it because that was the standard he set.

My football memories with Pete are incredible, but it’s the life lessons and leadership lessons that affected me most. I’ll be talking about those just as much as those football highlights.