?? Leadership Inspiration from the AFC/NFC Conference Championships
One of the reasons I love sports is the inspiration it gives leaders. Leaders in sports have to do what a lot of great leaders do - manage various stakeholders, do hard and impossible things, stay inspired in the face of obstacles and challenges, and witness and inspire superhuman talent.
Watching this year’s final four teams (while missing my Texans), I’m struck by the combination of confidence and humility they have. In fact, most of the teams are likable - outside of the Chiefs and that's mostly due to their extreme dominance and overexposure.
Leading with confident humility is one of Possip's core values, so it may be a combo that uniquely stands out to me.
This reflection, after reading an article about Washington Commanders Coach Dan Quinn who went to Salisbury State led me down a fascinating rabbit hole. I
How many of the Final Four coaches came from big, powerful football college?
Surprisingly, the answer is ZERO.
Here’s a look at where the Final Four coaches started their journeys:
Even in the Final Eight, only two coaches—Demeco Ryans of the Houston Texans (Alabama) and Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions (Texas A&M)—attended powerhouse programs. They are both former NFL players at those colleges. John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens and Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams both went to Miami University of Ohio. And as a Black head coach, Demeco Ryans has to navigate his own challenges that require his confidence and humility.
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And what about the QBs?
Outside of Patrick Mahomes, the other 3 had significant odds stacked against them:
So What? They remind me of a few things:
1?? Great leadership and talent often come from unexpected places.
These coaches and players embody what Josh Allen’s dad told him as a young football player: “Bloom where you are planted.” They underscore that worthwhile insights and ideas can come from anywhere—not just those with positional power or prestigious pedigrees.
2?? Confidence + Humility = Special Success
Often, when you are overprivileged, it can be hard to hold onto humility. And if you let someone keep their boot on your back, it can be hard to develop confidence. Humility helps you learn from failure, overcome obstacles, and keep going.
Confidence allows you to brush off setbacks, get back up, and thrive.
Balancing both is especially tricky. But the truly great find a way to do it.
See how Possip can help here.