CEO Adviser: Watch Like a Hawk

Sea-HAWKS! Sea-HAWKS!

Its that time of year again. And we all know the chant that whips the crowd into a frenzy on Seahawks game days is not confined to CenturyLink Field. Ive heard it while walking through the airport, having lunch at a sports bar, even picking up a few things at the grocery store.

Seahawks fans arent quiet in their support of the team. They set a world record last season as the loudest fans in the league, and they are out to defend that title at every home game. You know when youre around a Seahawks fan; tapping into that awareness can give you an advantage in business.

Its tempting to write off football conversations as a waste of time at work. After all, shouldnt your employees be spending more time concentrating on the next project and less time talking about Russell Wilson, tailgate parties and Blue Friday? Maybe. But they could also be trying to tell you something.

Fans do more than just wear a team logo, cheer loudly and talk about the big game. Every conversation about a team, a player or a game opens a window on their personalities and communication styles.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll talks about the importance of putting his players in the best position to succeed, but he cant do that without knowing what makes each person tick. By putting your employees in the best position to succeed, youll get more from them, and your team as a whole will perform better. This can be done without scheduling meetings and doing extensive personality tests. All you have to do is be willing to let them talk about the Seahawks and express their fandom. Here are five things you can learn as a result.

1. Are they team players? Fans who loyally wear Seahawks jerseys and actively participate in Blue Fridays enjoy being part of a community, part of the team. They likely thrive in group settings and appreciate the camaraderie and the connection that comes from being a part of a team. This could mean they are good at collaboration and will do better working with others rather than on their own.

2. What characteristics or values do they prize? Ask an employee about his or her favorite player and pay attention to the description. The on-field ability and stats are only part of the attraction. For example, you might hear about Russell Wilsons poise and leadership, Richard Shermans confidence and trash talk, or Marshawn Lynchs hard-nosed Beast Mode running style. If they find those qualities attractive in the Seahawks, they will find them attractive in people they work with and may seek to emulate the traits themselves.

3. How do they respond to a win or a loss? Listening to the way fans talk about the outcome of the game can tell you a lot about their ability to handle success and failure. Are they gracious winners? Sore losers? Do they blame officials? True colors come through when people talk about a game. Their reaction to wins and losses at work will be similar to how they express their fandom.

4. Are they Monday morning quarterbacks? Second-guessing and criticizing a coaching decision a day or two after the game seems like just part of being a fan, but it is another aspect of behavior that is tied to personality traits. An employee who consistently second guesses a coach is more likely to challenge or question authority, which depending on your organization and the degree to which the person does this can be a good or a bad trait.

5. What are their preferred communication styles? People have different styles, which can be demonstrated by the way each person describes a game. Some people focus on numbers and prefer short conversations. Others include more details and favor longer exchanges. How does that work within your organization? Do you acknowledge and accommodate different communication styles?

Theres a lot you can learn about your employees from their sports talk. Seahawks fans cant stay quiet about their team. Trying to limit those conversations is a futile exercise that could hurt morale. Instead, embrace their passion and put it to work for you.

Jen Mueller, radio sideline reporter for the Seattle Seahawks, runs the consulting firm Talk Sporty to Me and is the author of Game Time: Learn to Talk Sports in 5 Minutes a Day for Business. Reach her at [email protected] or 425.280.4513.