Seattle Seahawks General Manager on Talent, Teamwork, and Tough Conversations | John Schneider

Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

Dr. Michael Gervais

Sport Psychology, Finding Mastery, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Business, Self Help, Michael Gervais, Health & Fitness, Mindset, Psychology, Self-improvement, Education

4.7 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 30 April 2025

⏱️ 77 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What does it take to build one of the most respected teams in the NFL — and lead it with heart, grit, and humility?

This episode is a special one. Recorded right in the heart of Seahawks territory in Seattle, I got to sit down with my friend, John Schneider, General Manager of the Seattle Seahawks.

John has spent over a decade helping to build one of the NFL’s most competitive and consistent franchises—leading through authenticity, values, and a deep commitment to excellence. Having worked closely with John for nine seasons, including two unforgettable trips to the Super Bowl—I can share that he leads from the front. Nothing contrived, nothing manufactured. He leads by being himself and by caring about his teammates.

What you’re going to hear in this conversation is a masterclass in leadership — grounded in football and deeply relevant to life. We talk about how John developed his values growing up in rural Wisconsin, the work ethic he learned from his dad, and the toughness he inherited from his mom. He shares how faith and humility anchor his decision-making, even when the pressure’s on and the spotlight’s bright.

As you listen, I invite you to reflect on how you respond when things don’t go as planned. And how might a clearer, more values-driven approach shift the way you lead—in sport, in work, and even at home?

Let’s dive in with the GM of the Seattle Seahawks, John Schneider.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	My leadership style is it's definitely the vision.
0:03.2	Every's going to be going for this vision, like every single day.
0:05.8	There's no end line.
0:06.8	We're always communicating.
0:07.9	You never, ever think we have the answers.
0:10.0	If you think you have any answers, it's really, we're going to have really hard time working together.
0:13.4	What does it take to consistently build and lead one of the most respected teams in professional sports?
0:23.6	Welcome back. Or welcome to the Finding Mastery podcast where we dive into the minds of the world's greatest thinkers and doers. I am your
0:29.1	host, Dr. Michael Jervais, by trade and training, a high-performance psychologist. This week,
0:35.0	recorded right in the heart of Seahawks territory in Seattle.
0:38.6	I got to sit down with my friend.
0:40.9	John Schneider, general manager of the Seattle Seahawks.
0:44.8	John has spent over a decade helping to build one of the NFL's most consistent and
0:49.1	competitive franchises, blending grit, humility, and an honest commitment to accidents.
0:55.0	We tell everybody in the whole operation, when you get in the car in the morning, what are you thinking about, like, how are you improving the organization? Because we feel great about you. It's a reciprocal thing.
1:03.8	Having worked closely with John for nine seasons, including two unforgettable trips to the Super Bowl, he's just great. There's nothing contrived. There's
1:11.5	nothing manufactured about John. He leads by being himself, by caring about his teammates,
1:16.6	and it's wonderful. I want the fans know we're like going to bust our ass every single day.
1:20.1	We're doing it ever we possibly can for them. Now, as you listen, I want to invite you to reflect
1:24.8	on how you respond when things don't go as planned.
1:28.4	This is a big part of mastery and excellence,
1:31.2	is having the ability to pivot, to adjust, to eloquently respond
	...

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