This past Sunday evening, NBC’s Rodney Harrison questioned how the 1-3 Philadelphia Eagles formed their team. During the off-season the Eagles spent millions of dollars on skilled position players. However, their offensive and defensive lines are incredibly weak. Harrison said, “You build a team from the inside out, not the outside in.”
Let’s contrast the Philadelphia Eagles with the Wisconsin Badgers. See the video for one of my favorite traditions in college football. On Saturday evening, I watched them dismantle the highly ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers 48-17. The Badgers have a long tradition of great offensive line play.
Star QB Russell Wilson visited Wisconsin’s weight room this past summer while on a recruiting trip. It was there that he met the team’s offensive line, his future teammates. Wilson told Sports Illustrated, “ Never seen anything like that before in my life. I couldn’t believe how much weight they were pushing. That pretty much made up my mind.”
The stronger a team is at the point of attack (near the ball), the stronger a team is. Though talking about sports teams, Harrison and Wilson teach us a lot about what is needed for effective leadership. Â
Great leaders are made from the inside out, not the outside in. Whether you are a pastor, coach, father, mother, executive, or in some other form of leadership, it’s what is on the inside of you that is lasting.
I’ve known many greatly flawed leaders in my life. Here are some lessons I’ve learned:
- We place too much emphasis on charisma and not enough on character.
- How a person treats their spouse and family are great indicators of how they will treat their team.
- We often exchange short-term success for long-term stability.
- Angry people eventually self-destruct.
- How male leaders view women, in general, is a great reflection of how they value all people.
- Just because someone is wealthy and has position does not mean they are respected.
- Leaders who lead by fear constrict creativity and unfiltered communication in their teams.
- There is a big difference between being able to help my leader and wanting to.
- In an absence of options, people are forced to put up with much to provide for their families.
- I still don’t know how some people got to be as successful (in the world’s eyes) as they are.
That list is a profile of a terrible leader..and none of us want to be that leader.
Leaders, you can’t give your team what you don’t have. Be a person of character. Value people. Be honest. Have dignity. Be generous. Love your family. Place God first.
Leaders, learn to lead from the inside out. If not, your charisma and talent will take you places where your character cannot sustain you.
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