Newport, RI — [Month Day, 2025] — XBInsight, a leading provider of AI + Science-powered talent intelligence, has released a new research study analyzing leadership performance within the high-stakes environment of NFL officiating. The study examines how leaders maintain clarity, confidence, and decisive action under extreme pressure, and identifies the behavioral patterns that drive consistent performance. Insights from this research help organizations understand how proactivity, conviction, and authority translate into stronger leadership across any industry.
The study, titled “Leading Courageously: The Effect of Leaders’ Proactivity, Conviction, and Authority on Team Performance,” analyzed the decision-making and leadership behaviors of NFL officials working under the most demanding, high-visibility working conditions. Findings show that leaders who consistently take initiative, act decisively, and project confidence give their teams a measurable performance advantage, demonstrating that courageous leadership directly drives accuracy, trust, and results.
“NFL officials make rapid, high-stakes decisions in real time, with every move scrutinized by millions,” said Kathi Graham-Leviss, Founder and President of XBInsight. “By studying their leadership behaviors, we’ve uncovered valuable insights that extend far beyond sports, revealing what truly enables people to perform under pressure.”
Courageous Leadership, Quantified
The research evaluated three core leadership dimensions—Proactivity, Conviction, and Authority—and their correlation with individual and team performance across multiple NFL seasons. Using our customized scientifically validated competency framework and performance data, XBInsight identified two key predictors of elite team performance:
- Leads Courageously: Leaders who demonstrate conviction and composure under scrutiny elevate team confidence and collaboration.
- Accuracy & Precision: Leaders who value quality and drive for perfection help their teams maintain focus and excellence even under pressure.
Referees scoring higher in Leads Courageously and Accuracy & Precision consistently led higher-performing crews, proving that confident, proactive leadership behaviors are not outcomes of success. They are the drivers of it.
Beyond the Game: Lessons for Every Leader
While the study focused on elite officiating performance, the implications reach across every industry. From Fortune 1000 boardrooms to fast-moving startups, leaders face constant high-pressure decisions that demand clarity, conviction, and composure.
“Whether you’re managing a crew on the field or a team in the boardroom, the same principles apply,” added Graham-Leviss. “Leaders who stay composed, act decisively, and use their authority constructively create environments where people can think clearly and perform their best.”
Building Confidence and Leadership Mindsets in Business
XBInsight’s NFL Leading Courageously study offers a clear playbook for business leaders: confidence drives performance. Just as referees must make instant, high-stakes decisions, executives face pressure to act decisively and maintain composure. Leaders who project confidence in leadership inspire stability and trust, while a loss of confidence in leadership can weaken performance and morale across teams.
Modern organizations are embracing confidence coaching and leadership mindset development to strengthen these traits. Coaching builds self-confidence and leadership resilience, while cultivating a growth mindset and leadership approach helps leaders recover from mistakes and act with conviction, mirroring how NFL officials reset after tough calls.
Embedding these principles into leadership hiring and talent development ensures companies select and grow leaders who balance conviction with composure. By focusing on leadership skills, confidence, and sound leadership & hiring practices, organizations can build leadership confidence that sustains performance under pressure. Whether on the field or in the boardroom, courageous leadership, rooted in confidence, clarity, and accountability, remains the ultimate competitive advantage.
XBInsight’s Talent Decision Platform integrates these behavioral insights into its AI + Science talent decision platform, including XBRecruit, XBDevelop, and XBOnboard, helping organizations identify, coach, and develop leaders capable of thriving under pressure.
About the Study
The research reviewed NFL officiating data between 2017 and 2020, leveraging XBInsight’s proprietary leadership competency framework to statistically analyze how leadership traits predict measurable team outcomes.
The study found a significant correlation between an official’s Leads Courageously competency and their crew’s average performance score, offering one of the few objective, data-backed demonstrations of how leadership behaviors translate directly to team effectiveness.
About XBInsight
XBInsight is a leading provider of AI + Science-powered talent intelligence solutions that help organizations make smarter decisions across the employee lifecycle, from hiring and onboarding to leadership development and succession planning. Combining advanced analytics with 20+ years of I/O psychology research, XBInsight delivers predictive, science-backed insights that align people strategy with business performance.