Dan Campbell Uses This Key Idea to Be a Great Leader (And You Should Too)

Every leader, good or bad, can teach you something. It’s just a lot more fun to learn from the successful ones.

Whether you’ve followed the Detroit Lions’ resurgence, Head Coach Dan Campbell’s approach to leading a team is worth studying. In a profession where expectations are skyscrapers high and patience to win is razor-thin, Campbell has ignited fresh energy and optimism in Detroit since being named head coach in 2021. It didn't start that way, going 3-13-1 in his first season, but patience has been a virtue for Lions' fans going 27-7 the last two seasons.

Yes, he’s got a fierce work ethic, and yes, he lives and breathes football. But what sets him apart is his authenticity. He’s genuine, passionate, and unapologetically himself. It’s a trait that endears him to players, coaches, and fans alike. It shows that you can learn from and take best practices from those around you, but to truly lead, you must be yourself.

A Great Leader Is Unapologetically Authentic

After being hired, Campbell wasted no time letting the NFL world know exactly who he was. In his introductory press conference, he delivered an impassioned speech that famously referenced “biting kneecaps” and building his culture around Grit. Which Campbell defines as "The ability to overcome adversity in any situation. The ability to push through it, mentally, physically, to overcome". Campbell has said that if you don't have grit, you probably can't be a Detroit Lion.

While the soundbite got headlines and his GRIT culture is their own, the deeper lesson for leaders is this:

Authenticity is the foundation of trust, and trust is the cornerstone of leadership.

Campbell isn’t trying to fit the mold of an unapproachable coach. He’s fully Dan Campbell, open, honest, passionate, intense, risk-taking, and sometimes a little rough around the edges. Because of that, his players know exactly what to expect and a transfer of belief has occurred.

If you’re going to lead people, you must be authentically you because everyone else is already taken.

Learn from and take best practices from others and experiences, but it must be you.?

How to Lead Like Dan Campbell

Below are three specific lessons you can model from Dan Campbell’s leadership approach to make them authentically you.?

1. Breathe Life Into the People Around You

Campbell has a unique ability to inspire his team. Whether ramping up the entire locker room before a game or giving a passionate speech after the game, his ability to inspire is a level 10.

In Accelerate Leadership, I defined leadership as “Someone whose actions inspire, empower, and serve in order to elevate others.”? Campbell models this definition to a tee.??

But it’s not just about inspiring players and coaches on game day—“breathing life into” which is what inspiration means, goes beyond big moments.

• Build people up daily. Ask about their personal lives and aspirations. Show genuine concern and curiosity about their well-being, not just their on-field performance.
• Celebrate their wins. Recognizing the small victories is vital to keeping morale high and reinforcing the behaviors you want repeated.
• Encourage people to believe in themselves. When you encourage someone, you put courage into them. It is often the difference between persevering and quitting when things get tough.

At the end of the day, your presence as a leader can be either a drain or a fountain. Choose to inspire and breathe life into your team with positivity, recognition, and encouragement.

2. Always Coach to the Standard You Expect From Your Players

Campbell preaches a level of toughness and resilience that he expects every Detroit Lion to embody. But he doesn’t sit back and dictate from a distance. He sets the standard by how he carries himself and how he plays to win regardless of the circumstances.??

For example, in week 16 in a meaningless game versus the 49ers in the standings, he didn’t sit his starters or throw the towel in, he coached to the standard he expected from his players.??

If you want to model this, here are some ideas:

• Practice what you preach. Whether it’s work ethic, discipline, or accountability, you must live the standards you set. If you demand punctuality, be the first one in the building. If you demand a relentless work ethic, show the same commitment every day.
• Hold everyone accountable (yourself included). If the standard is clear, no one—coach or player—is above it. Consistently addressing both good and bad performance builds trust and a culture of shared responsibility.
• Communicate what “good” looks like. Campbell is known for direct, transparent communication around standards of behavior. His players know when they’ve done something well and when they need to improve.

Great teams are built when leaders set high standards and then stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their team members, striving to meet those standards daily.

3. Go Through the Downs to Get to the Ups

Even as Detroit’s record improved, there were still tough stretches, close losses, injuries, and mounting pressure. Despite that, Campbell kept the team focused, channeling every setback into a lesson. He knew that success would come by focusing on the process not the result.

The best leaders fall in love with the process to deliver the result.?

• Embrace adversity as growth. Campbell doesn’t shy away from mistakes or disappointments. Instead, he frames them as opportunities for improvement. In any organization, problems are inevitable; great leaders use them to sharpen their people’s resolve.
• Persevere and trust the process. When you’ve laid a strong foundation of authenticity and high standards, you can trust it through the toughest moments. Keep pushing forward, knowing that resilience is formed in challenging times.
• Remember why you started. Campbell’s passion for the game and love for his players is what fuels him through both the ups and the downs. When you reconnect with your purpose, setbacks become stepping stones.

Sometimes, to get to the ups, you have to endure the downs. It’s the leader’s job to guide people through challenges so they come out stronger and more unified on the other side.

Closing

Whether you’re a die-hard Lions fan or simply an admirer of unique leadership styles, there’s plenty to learn from Dan Campbell. When you embrace authenticity as a leader, you earn trust. When you breathe life into your people, you unlock their fullest potential. When you coach to the standard you expect, you create a culture of excellence. And when you show resilience in the face of adversity, you discover how going through the downs gets you to the ups.

Most of all, take a page from Dan Campbell and remember: you can learn from others, but authentic leadership wins because everyone else is already taken.

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About the Author: John Eades is the CEO of LearnLoft. He was named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices. John is also the author of Building the Best: 8 Proven Leadership Principles to Elevate Others to Success. You can follow him on Instagram @johngeades.