Getting in the Zone: What Business Leaders Can Learn from Patrick Mahomes
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Instagram post by coach dan casey.
click to see the video
This video (shared by Coach Dan Casey on Instagram) shows the small gesture Patrick Mahomes, quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, makes to the sideline that he’s ready for the next play. His teammates and Coach Reid say it indicates when Mahomes is in the zone.
Travis Kelce said, “When he gets in his super-competitive mode, he’s locked in.”
Coach Reid said, “He doesn’t even know he’s doing it.”
Whether he's dodging defenders, making behind-the-back passes, or leading the team down the field, there’s a point where everything just clicks. He signals to the sideline, calling for the next play, ready to keep the momentum going.
As business leaders, founders, and executives, we face our own kind of high-stakes game every day.
Though we may not be on a football field and have more than a game at stake, we need to get in the zone, stay there, and lead our teams with the same focus, agility, and confidence that Mahomes displays.
But how do you do that in business?
Here are three key ways to get in the zone, stay there, and lead your team to a championship-level performance.
1. Getting in the Zone: Preparation Meets Opportunity
Mahomes doesn't just wake up on game day and become great. He spends hours studying film, practicing throws with teammates, and running drills. His in-the-zone moments are the result of preparation. The same goes for leaders. You can't expect to reach peak performance without putting in the groundwork.
For business leaders, this preparation looks different, but it’s equally crucial. It might involve analyzing market trends, deepening your understanding of your industry, or strengthening your leadership skills. Are you learning, growing, and adapting as fast as your industry demands? When opportunity knocks, will you be ready to capitalize on it?
The key is discipline. Just as Mahomes commits to practice, leaders must commit to ongoing self-improvement, whether that’s through education, developing a more agile mindset, or executive coaching. Preparation is how you position yourself to recognize and seize opportunities when they arise.
2. Staying in the Zone: Focus, Flexibility, and Trust
One of the most remarkable things about Mahomes is his ability to remain calm under pressure. When the game is on the line, or he is being chased by defenders, he doesn't panic—he focuses. For business leaders, staying in the zone means maintaining focus amidst chaos. In our world, the pressure comes from shifting markets, competition, or unforeseen challenges with employees, customers, or suppliers. Staying locked in means you’re ready for whatever comes next.
But focus alone isn’t enough. Flexibility is key to staying in the zone. No game ever goes exactly according to plan, and no business does either. Heck, hardly any business day goes according to plan, does it?!
Mahomes doesn’t just stick to the playbook—he improvises. Similarly, great leaders stay flexible and adjust their strategies on the fly when circumstances change. They recognize that what worked last quarter may not work now, and they’re willing to adapt.
Finally, staying in the zone as a leader requires trust—trust in your team, your process, and your own instincts.
When Mahomes signals for the next play, he’s trusting his teammates to execute. He doesn’t micromanage; he empowers. For leaders, this means cultivating a culture where teams can perform at their best without constant oversight. Trust your team to make decisions, take risks, and grow. That trust keeps everyone focused and aligned, even when the pressure is on.
3. Leading to Victory: Keep the Momentum Going
Once Mahomes is in the zone, he doesn’t slow down. He signals for the next play quickly, keeping the defense on its heels. For leaders, this means knowing when to capitalize on momentum and push your organization forward. Too often, companies lose steam after initial success because leaders fail to sustain momentum. Sometimes, leaders take success for granted, as if the next steps will be easy because they surmounted the last hurdle.
Keeping momentum in business requires a forward-thinking mindset and decisive action. Are you continuously looking for new opportunities to innovate, grow, or pivot when necessary? Or, do you wait to see what your competitors or customers do? Are you setting the pace or is someone else?
Are you building on your team’s strengths and wins, while learning from setbacks? Like Mahomes, you can’t afford to coast after a touchdown. The game isn’t over whether the Chiefs scored or the opponent did. Play to the very end, even if it’s decided by the smallest sliver of a toenail amount. Give your best the whole time.
In football, it’s not just the quarterback who wins the game; it’s the entire team working together. The same is true in business. As a leader, it’s your job to ensure that your team feels like they’re part of something bigger—that every role matters, and every contribution propels the organization closer to its goals. Create a culture of accountability, where everyone is invested in the outcome.
Include rewards too because when the team reaches the pinnacle because of its investment, the celebration is sweet!
The key to championship-level leadership is a blend of disciplined preparation, laser-sharp focus under pressure, the flexibility to adapt, and the trust in your team to execute.
So next time you feel the pressure mounting, think of Mahomes. Signal for the next play. Stay in the zone. Keep your team moving forward.
You can probably nearly pinpoint when you will feel pressure again the same way Mahomes can because he watches game and knows the schedule. What can you anticipate coming up? How can you prepare for it? How can you get in the zone, stay there, and lead your team no matter what else is going on?
