In this episode, I sit down with Kevin O’Connell, head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, to talk about the side of leadership most people never see. What do you do when expectations are high, the noise is loud, and the people you lead are looking to you for answers? Kevin shares how leaders create real buy-in, create accountability without breaking confidence, and communicate a vision people actually commit to. If you lead a team and feel the weight of expectations, this conversation will give you a clearer way forward.
Feeling like you matter is the number one performance enhancer for anybody. Share on X
You’ll learn:
- Why people perform better when they feel valued, not pressured
- The leadership mistake most people make immediately after failure
- How owning mistakes publicly strengthens credibility
- Why accountability fails when standards aren’t clearly defined
- How to correct someone without damaging their confidence
- How great leaders create ownership instead of compliance
- Why relationships drive performance more than motivation
- How authenticity and consistency build trust faster than authority
Resources / People Mentioned
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Why NFL Coach Sean McVay Almost Walked Away After Winning It All— And the Lesson Leaders Can Learn
- Mike McDaniel on Leading with Authenticity
- How to Create Buy-In and Build Trust with NBA Coach Will Hardy
If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to Game Changers with Molly Fletcher and leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite listening platform.





