Every team hits a rough stretch. It might be a losing streak, a setback no one saw coming, or a season that doesn’t go to plan. And when things get hard, the foundation you’ve built is what holds a team together.
Dan Quinn knows a thing or two about building great teams. He led the Atlanta Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance and took the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship game in his first season. But some of his biggest growth as a leader came after Atlanta, when he asked close to 50 former players and staff members for a “blind spot report” on how he leads.
In this conversation, Dan shares why consistency is the key to building trust and how he develops leaders at every level of his team. He also talks about the lessons he took from Pete Carroll and Nick Saban, and how he helps players love the grind by showing them their progress.
If you want to build a team that brings out the best in each other, this conversation is full of ideas you can put to work right away.
If your standards are too low, your team’s never really going to climb to what you think it can be. Share on XYou’ll learn:
- What Dan learned from Pete Carroll about developing players
- The “blind spot report” that changed Dan Quinn’s approach to leadership
- Why consistency is the foundation of trust, and why your team shouldn’t have to wonder which version of you is showing up today.
- How to know your message is truly reaching your team.
- Why real leadership shifts from “How do I lead?” to “How am I developing the leaders around me?”
- How Bobby Wagner stepped up during a losing streak and the importance of team members having a voice
- Why improvement sometimes means removing things instead of adding more.
- How to keep a team locked in when the results aren’t there
People / Resources Mentioned:
- Washington Commanders
- Pete Carroll
- Nick Saban
- Atlanta Falcons
- Arthur Blank
- She was a sideline reporter. Now she helps NFL coaches find their blind spots.
- Laura Okmin
- Bobby Wagner
- Jayden Daniels
- Kobe Bryant
- Sonny Styles
Recommended for you:
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- How Great Leaders Create Belief and Buy-In with Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell
- Why NFL Coach Sean McVay Almost Walked Away After Winning It All– And the Lesson Leaders Can Learn
- How to Lead When Everything Feels Like It’s Falling Apart with Admiral William McRaven
Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review.
