Like many of us Michigan folks, I am beyond excited about the Detroit Lions.

After watching and cheering for the Lions my entire life, it is incredible to see them doing so well, having won two playoff games and having just one game between them and the Super Bowl.

Immediately following their most recent game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow was part of an on-field interview. In the interview, he had this to say about Coach Dan Campbell’s leadership: “He authentically loves his team and is the same guy every day.”

That speaks volumes about Campbell’s leadership.

Let’s break it down.

I’ve said repeatedly how important authenticity is in leadership. People see right through going through the motions and doing things because it is what leaders are “supposed” to do. In those cases, leaders are simply checking boxes. Tell my team I appreciate them, check. Walk through the office once a day, check. Ask people how they are doing, check. When someone in a leadership role is not authentic in their leadership, it is clear they are in the role for the wrong reasons. That leads to uninterested and dispassionate team members.

Doing those things with authenticity feels different. It feels real and not forced. It looks different. The leader is in the moment and not distracted by others around them or other things on their mind. I remember someone in a prominent leadership role who wouldLike many of us Michigan folks, I am beyond excited about the Detroit Lions. After watching and cheering for the Lions for my entire life, it is incredible to see them doing so well, having won two playoff games and having just one game between them and the Super Bowl.

Immediately following their most recent game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions Center Frank Ragnow was part of an on-field interview. In the interview he had this to say about Coach Dan Campbell’s leadership, “He authentically loves his team and is the same guy every day.”

That speaks volumes about Dan Campbell’s leadership. Let’s break it down.

I’ve said repeatedly how important authenticity is in leadership. People see right through going through the motions and doing things because it is what leaders are “supposed” to do. In those cases, leaders are simply checking boxes. Tell my team I appreciate them, check. Walk through the office once a day, check. Ask people how they are doing, check. When someone in a leadership role is not authentic in his or her leadership, it is clear he or she is in the role for the wrong reasons. That leads to uninterested and dispassionate team members.

Doing those things with authenticity feels different. It feels real and not forced. It looks different. The leader is in the moment and not distracted by others around him or her or other things on his or her mind.

I remember someone in a prominent leadership role who would, when talking to one person, be looking around continuously to see who else was in the room. It made me feel like he was always looking for someone more valuable. That’s a bad look for a leader. Authenticity shows up in the way someone makes you feel, his or her attention to the details, in him or her listening to truly understand, and his or her realistic perception of reality.

Inauthenticity shows up as deception, distraction, an unrealistic view of reality, and a need for external validation.

The quote indicates that Campbell’s team feels his authentic care for them and their wellbeing. They can appreciate his realistic perception of situations and genuine desire to be a coach (and not an ego-driven desire to be in a position of power).

The second part of Ragnow’s statement, “… and is the same guy every day,” may not sound like a strong leadership quality, but it is.

Consistency in a leader is necessary for effective leadership. Knowing the type of person someone is, his or her quirks and reactions to emotions, his or her typical behaviors and what gets him or her fired up is valuable to creating a strong team. When a leader is unpredictable, it causes problems.

The Lions can trust that their coach is authentic in his behaviors. They know what responses he will have to their actions and behaviors. They can predict outcomes from the coach and act based on what outcomes they desire.

When a leader is inconsistent with his or her actions, response, and emotions, it leads to unnecessary anxiety, confusion, and makes communicating increasingly challenging.

Also important to consistency is being consistent in effective leadership qualities. Being consistently a jerk is better than being inconsistent as to when you will be a jerk, as that becomes unpredictable and difficult to prepare for, but it is far from ideal. Much better is being consistent in positive leadership qualities, like having an even temperament, being a good listener, and having a fair approach.

If Campbell truly is the leader that Ragnow described, then it is no surprise the Lions are doing well this year. He has put the right people in the right positions, has earned and given respect, and is authentic and consistent. That is a winning combination for a winning team.

If you are in a leadership role, how does your team describe you? If authentic and consistent in an effective way are not on that list, why aren’t they? What can you change so that, next time someone asks your team about your leadership, those words make the list?

I’m looking forward to witnessing more of Coach Campbell’s leadership this weekend as we continue to cheer on the Lions.