Four H’s and the Work of Building Culture

I recently came across a clip about head coach Mike Vrabel. Born in LA and raised as a Raider fan in the 80s, anything related to the New England Patriots usually gets an immediate side eye from me, (the infamous 2002 snow game still lives rent free in my head). Loyalties aside, the team-building practice he described was worth a closer look.

Vrabel introduced an activity called the Four H’s, a strategy he brought over from his time with the Cleveland Browns:

• History: Where you come from and what shaped you

• Heroes: The people who influenced who you are today

• Heartbreak: Experiences of loss, challenge, or struggle

• Hope: What you are working toward and what you believe is possible

Players were invited to share the parts of their lives that shaped who they are. These conversations created space for connection, trust, and shared understanding. They bonded over stories like identifying their parents as their heroes and the navigating the challenges of fatherhood. Seeing each other beyond their positions on the field, strengthened how they showed up together. Now, they’ll be playing in the Super Bowl. Regardless of who you’re rooting for (Go Seahawks), there are lessons we can all apply from this approach.  

What the Four H’s Teach Us About Culture and Design

Culture becomes stronger when it is intentionally designed through structures that invite meaning and shared experience. In education, the work is complex and layered. District leaders and site administrators are often balancing systemwide priorities, accountability demands, and long term improvement efforts, while teachers and support staff are navigating daily instructional decisions, student needs, and the realities of the classroom. Each role holds a critical piece of the work, shaped by different pressures and time horizons.

Sustained progress requires teams to unite around shared understanding, clear priorities, and consistent ways of working. When educators are aligned in what matters most, how decisions are made, and how success is defined, systems become more coherent. That coherence allows initiatives to move from intention to practice and supports teams in doing the work together.

Belonging grows through shared structure.
The Four H’s offer a consistent way to be seen and heard. When reflective practices are built into how teams meet and work together, belonging becomes part of the system. Over time, this creates environments where educators feel valued across roles and contexts.

Trust deepens through shared stories.
Creating space for one another’s histories and heartbreaks deepens trust and allows educators to understand one another beyond job titles or assignments. These moments strengthen relational trust and support accountability that is grounded in care and shared responsibility for students.

Rituals shape how culture is experienced.
Practices like the Four H’s, when embedded into team routines, become anchors that shape how educators listen, collaborate, and lead. Over time, these rituals influence the daily experience of working within a system and reinforce the values the organization seeks to live out.

An Invitation to Apply the Four H’s in Your Systems

The power of the Four H’s lies in how adaptable they are to the systems educators already use every day. Consider where the Four H’s might live in your context:

• In grade level or content teams, a single H could open a meeting and help teams reconnect to why the work matters.

• In department meetings, the Four H’s could support stronger collaboration and shared understanding across roles.

• In summer professional development, the Four H’s can set the tone for the year by building trust and coherence before the work begins.

Start small. Choose one space, one moment, or one question. Over time, these intentional practices can shift how teams experience belonging, purpose, and shared responsibility.

If you try this, I would love to hear how it shows up in your context. And if you are looking for thought partnership in designing systems that make culture visible and sustainable, let’s connect. I offer a free consultation for leaders who want to build with intention and care.

Let’s keep learning from one another.