Fourth Quarter Mentality

In week 5 of the NFL season, the Seattle Seahawks found themselves trailing the Minnesota Vikings 13-0 at halftime. The Vikings controlled most of the game, having large advantages in total yards and time of possession.  Despite the early deficit and statistical discrepancy, quarterback Russell Wilson connected with DK Metcalf for the game winning touchdown with under two minutes to play.  Head Coach, Pete Carroll addressed the jubilant locker room following the hard fought 27-26 victory:

P.C. “ Can you win a game in the first quarter?”

Players: “No!”

P.C. “Can you win a game in the second quarter?”

Players: “No!”

P.C. “Can you win a game in the third quarter?”

Players: “No!”

P.C. “Can you win a game in the fourth quarter?”

Players: “Yes!!!!”

Here are four lessons I learned from the 69 year-old Carroll.

Four Lessons:

Lead Authentically: The “Can you win…” chant by Carroll is corny but it works.  Why? Because you can feel it; it’s Carroll being Carroll.  If the morose Bill Belichick were to attempt such a spectacle it would be cringe-worthy.  Both coaches are incredibly successful and they do it in completely different manners. The way a leader maximizes their effectiveness is by fully embracing who they are.  They are not afraid of other’s opinions, nor are they worried about looking silly.  I have a feeling Coach Carroll could care less whether we think he is goofy for leading the chant.  He’s confident in who he is as a person.

Lead with Joy: High performance sports are pressure packed.  Coaches know they are a bad season, or maybe even a few bad performances away, from being fired. As soon as the game ends many coaches feel relief, not happiness.  They lose sight of the present moment. The ‘Hawks didn’t play well against Minnesota.  Carroll could have ranted about all the improvement that was needed.  Instead, he decided to simply enjoy the win.  I’m sure he had concerns about the upcoming week, but those adjustments could wait.  It was time to celebrate.

Lead with Grit: The NFL season is grueling.  Competing against the best athletes and coaches on the planet, the margin for error is minute.  The Seahawks could have checked out mentally, took the loss, and started thinking about next week.  Carroll’s chant is a good reminder to hold the line; to stay in the fight.  There is always a chance if you are still at the table, but if you quit it is over. The willingness to keep competing and fighting even when the odds are stacked in the others favor, is the mark of a champion.  And, a victory earned through persistence feels just a touch sweeter.

Lead with Poise: I’m amazed in professional sports how often the outcome is determined late; innings 7-9 in baseball, the last five minutes in basketball, or the final drive in football.  Games ebb and flow; however, the last quarter of the game frequently determines the outcome. It’s the team that trusts their relationships and executes that emerges victorious.  High level leaders, like Carroll, are prepared for these moments of tension. They expect the outcome to hinge on a few key plays late in the contest and welcome those high-leverage situations.

The Fourth Quarter: We are in the fourth quarter of a grueling year; 2020 has been challenging.  I’m concerned that many people have already marked it in the loss column.  You can’t win the year in the first three quarters (January-September).  It is possible, however, to win in the fourth quarter  (October-December).

As leaders, we can learn a lot from Coach Pete. For the final stretch of 2020, what if we choose to lead authentically?  What if we approach our job and teammates with joy? What if we decide to charge forward and focus on execution?

Over the years, I’ve been in games were the situation looked bleak. On some occasions, our group stopped competing and took the whipping. I regret those games. But….there were those times were we decided to bite down- to keep fighting even though the odds seemed impossible to overcome. Those games are the memorable ones; regardless of the result.

Please join me in adopting a fourth quarter mentality.  Let’s not wish the final days away.  The game is still going on…we still have a chance.  We’ll never regret competing with a positive attitude and continuing to move forward. Let’s be thankful for this tough time knowing we will be stronger and more appreciative on the other side.