Muhammad Ali’s Leadership Habit That Set Him Apart
Undefeated boxing champion and entrepreneur Laila Ali takes us ringside, then into the heart of what it means to belong.
In this episode of Essential Habits, we uncover the deceptively simple practice her father, Muhammad Ali, modeled again and again: looking after the person no one else notices.
Through Laila’s stories, from waiting in queues of adoring fans to earning her father’s reluctant blessing to box, we learn how true leadership is less about spotlight and more about presence. By tuning into the quiet moments and the people at the back of the line, we tap into a habit that transforms culture, boosts trust, and fuels high performance.
In this episode, we explore:
- Why 'the last person in line' matters more than the loudest voice
- The neurobiology of inclusion and how exclusion literally hurts
- Three simple shifts to build social awareness every day
- How Laila earned her father’s respect and claimed her own greatness
- What high-performing teams gain when everyone feels seen
Whether you lead a team, a family, or just want to notice people more fully, this episode shows why the smallest acts of attention can have the biggest impact.
Listen to the full episode with Laila Ali: https://pod.fo/e/265de7
Here is a link to more information on the studies referenced:
1. The Good Samaritan Study (Darley & Batson, 1973)
2. Ingroup Bias and Empathy (fMRI Study, 2006)
3. The Spotlight Effect (Gilovich, Medvec, & Savitsky, 2000)
4. The Bystander Effect (Darley & Latané, 1968)
The High Performance Podcast
Welcome to High Performance. Through fascinating conversations with remarkable guests, Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes uncover the secrets behind High Performance and explore how we can all become the best version of ourselves.
We focus on uncovering the learnings from top performers in every field, from sport to entertainment, business, health and wellness. No matter where our guests have excelled, they all have first-hand experiences and lessons to share.
On High Performance we find out what non-negotiable behaviours they employed to get them to the top and keep them there.
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You’ll get instant access to insights from the world’s best, will receive daily motivational boosts and can create your own personalised High Performance playlists.
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- No. of episodes: 578
- Latest episode: 2025-06-18
- Society & Culture Sports
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