Leadership Profiles: Seattle Mariners
My wife, Christine and I were in the stadium last night when the Mariners clinched the AL West, their first division title since 2001. The energy was amazing, from 3 HRs in the first inning, to their MVP catcher hitting his 59th and 60th HRs of the season. After the game, players rushed the field, fans hugged strangers, and it seemed like the entire city celebrated after nearly a quarter-century of waiting.
We’ve been Mariners fans for a long time. Years ago, when we had less disposable income, we weren’t able to go the the ball game very often. Instead, we’d listen on the radio during a picnic in the park or while riding a ferry across the Puget Sound. Those moments made the team part of our story. Last night felt game like a continuation of that same journey, the same team, and the same excitement.
And as Christine and I watched the team celebrate last night, three leadership lessons came to mind.
1. Trust in Roles, Celebrate Each Other
The clinch the AL West wasn’t about one hero. It was about pitchers trusting hitters, hitters trusting fielders, and role players stepping up when needed. What impressed me most was how the team celebrated each other. Great teams are built on a similar foundation: knowing your role, trusting your teammates to do theirs, and recognizing every contribution.
Leadership takeaway: When leaders celebrate across the team, they reinforce trust, belonging, and shared ownership of success.
2. The Power of Moments
Last night was a defining moment for the Mariners, for the city, and for fans like Christine and I who’ve been waiting decades for the Mariner Magic to return. Chip and Dan Heath’s book The Power of Moments reminds us that memorable experiences often have four elements: celebration, accomplishment, a breakthrough realization, and connection.
The Mariners’ win last night had all four.
Leaders can do the same by intentionally designing moments that matter, whether by pausing to celebrate progress, recognizing someone publicly, or creating shared experiences that strengthen connection. It’s often these moments and how people feel as a result of these moments, that people remember long after the results.
3. Resilience, and the Role of Luck
Clinching the division after 24 years is a story of resilience: showing up year after year, even through false starts and tough seasons. But it also required a little luck, the Mariners are a great team this year, but their path to winning the AL West also depended on other teams stumbling at the right time.
Leadership takeaway: Success is almost always a mix of resilience and timing. Leaders who acknowledge both stay humble, and adaptable, and focus on preparing themselves and the team for when serendipity happens.
Last night was more than a baseball game; it was nostalgia and a reminder that leadership, like sports, is about building trust, creating moments, and staying resilient while recognizing the role of luck.
Go Mariners!!!