Inside Out Leadership: The Key to Overcoming Obstacles and Building Championship Teams
Robb Holman
Global Speaker & Best-Selling Author who inspires leaders to lead from the inside out.
There’s something special about a team that overcomes obstacles, works hard, stays focused, and ultimately achieves the goals they set out for.
This is exactly what my Philadelphia Eagles did in winning Super Bowl 59! ????
My family and I will cherish this memory for a lifetime as we watched our team demonstrate that when talent meets hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.
But here’s the thing—this isn’t just about football. Winning teams in sports, business, and leadership all share a common trait: They master the mental game first.
The Battle Begins in the Mind
As with any challenge in life, progress begins with awareness—and awareness starts with mastering our mindset.
Think of it like this: Your mind is like a playlist that runs on repeat 24/7. The question is, what song is playing? Is it lifting you up, or tearing you down? Does it empower your team, or create doubt and division?
The Inside Out Leadership approach is all about developing the right mindset from within so that leaders and teams can overcome obstacles and operate at their highest level.
Bridging the Gap Between Rational and Emotional Thinking
Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves, authors of Emotional Intelligence 2.0, explain that everything we experience must travel through the emotional centers of our brain before reaching the rational part. This means our emotions often shape our decisions before logic even kicks in.
So how do we ensure that our emotions serve us instead of working against us?
It Starts With a Thought
Every great team—whether in sports or business—must first win the battle within. It’s not the external challenges that define us, but how we think, respond, and lead in the face of them.
Negative thoughts, doubt, and limiting beliefs can create mental roadblocks that keep us stuck. The best leaders and teams recognize these thoughts, replace them with truth, and cultivate a culture of confidence and trust.
From Championship Teams to Championship Cultures
One of the key dynamics of a high-performing team is honoring different perspectives and valuing each individual’s contribution. In my experience working with leaders and organizations, I’ve found that the teams who consistently encourage, trust, and elevate each other are the ones who achieve the most success.
Think about it—at a memorial service, people don’t focus on someone’s mistakes or weaknesses. They honor the best of who that person was.
What if we led with that same mindset in our teams?
What if we honored people’s strengths while they were still here, rather than waiting until it was too late?
Inside Out Leaders Build Inside Out Teams
Living a life of honor, self-awareness, and purpose starts from within. The most effective leaders invest in themselves first so they can pour into others.
The Philadelphia Eagles didn’t win the Super Bowl just because of talent. They won because they trusted each other, stayed resilient, and believed in the vision.
Great teams are built from the inside out.
Whether you’re leading a company, a sports team, or a small group of individuals, the principle remains the same:
? Master your mindset ? Honor the people around you ? Turn obstacles into opportunities
That’s how championship teams—and championship cultures—are built.
Reflection:
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About Robb Holman
Robb Holman is a sought-after Global Keynote Speaker and Author of four transformational leadership books, Lead the Way, All In, Move the Needle, and his upcoming book, Lessons from Abdul. In recognition of his expertise, Robb was named one of the world's top 30 leadership speakers by Global Gurus for four consecutive years (2022-present). His innovative Inside Out Leadership philosophy has gained significant recognition and has been featured in publications like Inc, Forbes, and Fast Company. You can visit Robb by going here.