An Example Of The Fact That Your Public Success Is Determined By Your Private Behavior

It has been said that your reputation is who others think you are.  Your character is who you are when no one is watching.

Leaders know your public success is ultimately determined by your private behavior.  We can all name pastors, athletes, politicians, and business leaders whose private indiscretions brought down the house of cards known as their public persona.

This is why the story of Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll’s final words to his his team before their summer break resonated so much with me.  In this Pro Football Talk article, we witness an example of the importance of how private behavior affects public performance and what Coach Carroll and the Seahawks are doing about it.

Also, Coach Carroll’s book Win Forever: Live, Work, And Play Like A Champion is one of the Top 10 sports leadership books I have read.  I cannot recommend it enough.  Click HERE or on the image provided to order.  Now onto Coach Carroll’s comments.

1. Personal Downtime Is Competitive Time – Carroll called the six weeks off before summer camps “an extraordinarily competitive time.”
2. Many Things Can Happen With Private Behavior – “So many things can happen.”
3. Leaders Can Have Poor Private Behavior – “Guys can go south on you.”
4. Leaders Can Have Excellent Private Behavior – “They can get better. They really can make it.”
5. Leaders Can Make Changes In Their Private Behavior Right Now – “Changes can occur right now.”
6. Smart Leaders Help Their Teams Focus On Private Behavior – “And we’re really trying to (be) focused about it.”
7. Leaders Need A Plan For Their Private Behavior – “We have helped them create a plan for their offseason, to make sure that they are coordinated and they are organized.”
8. Successful Leaders Must Execute Their Private Behavior Plan – “and that they will max this out.”
9. Leaders Are More Successful When They Are Not Alone And Do Life With Other Leaders – “We have a lot of guys working out in different areas, and they know where everybody is. I’m hoping that we feed off one another and put forth a great six weeks.”
10. There Is No Reason You Can’t Be Successful In Your Private Life – “There is no reason, there is no reason, every one of these guys shouldn’t come back in the best condition of their life.
11. We Must Challenge Each Other To Have Quality, Productive Private Lives – “So they’ve been challenged, to make the most of this.”
12. Having A Productive, Quality Life Is Crucial To Your Success – “I don’t know what other teams are doing. But this is crucial to us.”
13. It Is A Privilege To Be A Leader – “We have to do a great job here.”
14. Our Private Life Is A Game We Must Win – “We will win games here, in these next six weeks. So, counting on them.”

What is one thing you learned from Coach Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks and how they help their players manage downtime?

My book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders is available for purchase.  If you have ever wanted to become the leader God created you to be, this book is for you!  By combining leadership lessons from biblical heroes like Jesus, Daniel and Joseph, along with modern day leaders like Bill Gates, Nick Saban, Kobe Bryant and multiple pastors, Timeless will equip and inspire you.  This book is not to be read alone.  Discussion questions are included in each chapter allowing you to develop those in your circle of influence.  Click HERE or on the image provided and order your copies TODAY.