🧭How the Baltimore Ravens Built a Culture that Lasts

Inside the playbook that John Harbaugh uses to build high-performing teams and why he doesn't like the word "culture."

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The Growth Compass
June 01, 2025

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Here’s where we are headed today:

  • John Harbaugh on servant leadership⚡

  • 3 standards for building high performers and a great culture🥇

  • Favorite posts I found this week 🏆

  • Free mental fitness links 👇

This week on The Growth Compass Premium →

  • Rory McIlroy on pressure, visualization, and breathwork (Saturday)

  • 5 surprising lessons to learn about willpower (Wednesday)

  • 7 things to know about mindset from an Olympic goal medalist (Monday)

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Let’s dive in…

John Harbaugh on Servant Leadership

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How to Build a High-Performing Culture from John Harbaugh

You don’t stumble into a great culture. You build it on purpose, with intention, one standard at a time.

That’s why great leaders don’t just coach their organizations, sports, or teams - they coach identity, leadership, and belief.

Today, we talk about John Harbaugh and how he builds a high-performing team. Today’s post is based on his speech “How to Lead Winning Teams” at Maryland Business Summit in 2017.

Why this matters: Every coach, team, and company says they want a strong culture. But what separates words on a wall from actions in the locker room?

  • Standards.

  • Belief.

  • Ownership.

Harbaugh’s Ravens have lasted because they don’t build around hype.
They build around who they are - together.

🔍 What to know

1️⃣ Culture = Shared Beliefs + Consistent Actions
Harbaugh says culture isn’t just a buzzword. It’s “a shared understanding through standards.” But understanding alone isn’t enough.

Shared beliefs + consistent actions = real culture

That means aligning everyone, from the head coach to the last player on the depth chart around how you work, how you lead, and how you show up.

At the Ravens facility, those standards are everywhere:

  • “Take care of your family, your team, and yourself.”

  • “Work hard. Stay loose. Be accountable.”

  • “Life is short. Run to the ball.”

These aren’t slogans. They’re behaviors.
Culture isn’t what you say - it’s what you do, every single day.

2️⃣ The Foundation is Identity, Not Performance
Before Harbaugh talks football, he talks who you are.

Because identity drives behavior. And behavior shapes culture. If you want to win consistently, you don’t start with the scoreboard.

You start with your values. Your habits. Your character.

That’s why he tells his players: “To win a championship, you have to become a champion first.”

3️⃣ Ownership is the Standard
Harbaugh’s philosophy is simple, but powerful: Own everything.

No blaming refs. No pointing fingers. No excuses. If something goes wrong, the best leaders ask:
“What could I have done better? And what will I do next time?”

Ownership creates alignment. It builds trust. And it spreads. When one leader owns the standard, the team rises with them.

📚 So what can we learn from this and how can we use this?

Culture is the compound interest of leadership. The teams that win long-term don’t just work hard - they build belief and systems. Here’s what that looks like in practice:

  • Lead with Identity → Character before strategy

  • Establish Clear Standards → What do we expect? What do we tolerate?

  • Build Ownership → Everyone owns the mission, not just the title

  • Win the Small Moments → How you do anything is how you do everything

The best cultures don’t rely on motivation, they rely on consistency.

➡️ In this week’s premium newsletter, we break down his philosophy further and discuss how to implement it with your team. 5 tools you can use to align your team and raise your standard. Start your free trial today.

🧠Questions to Ask Yourself and Your Team

  • If you’re a manager or coach: Are your standards clear, consistent, and modeled daily? Do players know who you are before you talk about what you want?

  • If you’re a leader: Is your culture built on results or responsibility? How do you respond when things go wrong?

  • If you’re a parent: Are you modeling character and ownership in your home? Do your kids see you owning your mistakes?

  • If you’re an athlete: Are you showing up like a leader? Or waiting for someone else to go first?

Final Thoughts:

Culture isn’t a one-time meeting or a team slogan. It’s the daily decision to show up, own the standard, and serve the team. John Harbaugh builds culture the hard way: Through belief, identity, and discipline. That’s why it lasts.

Favorite Posts I Found This Week

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