Jimmy Johnson was the first ever football coach to win both a National Championship (Miami Hurricanes) and a Super Bowl (Dallas Cowboys). In his Hall of Fame speech, he recalled how many people doubted that his players at Miami would graduate. But he believed in them and communicated that belief clearly. Ninety percent earned their college degrees.
Johnson followed that story with a quote that defined his approach:
“You treat a person as he is, he’s going to stay as he is. Treat a person as if he were what he could be and should be, and he’ll become what he could be and should be.”
Empathy and Belief
It’s easy for us to lead based on assumptions; from how they’ve performed, how they’ve shown up, or how we’ve perceived their ability. Then, we adjust how we give feedback, communicate, and spend our time, energy, and attention. Those assumptions, good or bad, reinforce themselves.
Leadership requires both empathy and belief together.
Leading with empathy alone means accepting someone as they are currently and allowing them to stay there. Leading only with belief means constantly pushing others forward without understanding their current reality. Both extremes limit growth.
Leading to Potential
Great leaders meet people where they are AND believe in where they can go next. They don’t demand a leap to extraordinary or enable stagnation. They don’t choose between empathy or belief, but calibrate both together. Empathy creates connection and trust. Belief fuels motivation to grow. Together, they unlock potential.
