Inside-Out Leadership Circles
Lead from the center out — self first, then one-on-ones, teams, and the business — because external fuel cracks.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time to result
- ~ongoing to results
- Steps
- 4
- Confidence
- 85%
Countering the user-centered instinct to put everyone else first, Lichaw argues effective leadership starts with you at the center of concentric circles and radiates outward: lead yourself, then one-on-one relationships, then groups and teams, then the business. Starting with self isn't selfish, it's purposeful — the mission-fuel has to come from within, because leadership powered from the outside is like an eggshell ready to crack.
Origin
Lichaw credits the concentric-circle model to Ken Blanchard ('Ken Blanchard has a great model for this'), applying it against the user-centered design mindset she brought from product.
Core principles
- 01The user-centered instinct (build for others first, it's not about you) does not work for leadership — you must flip it.
- 02Start with you at the center, then extend outward in order: self → one-on-one → teams/groups → business.
- 03Leading from the inside out is purposeful, not selfish — humans are driven by mission and purpose.
- 04Fuel from within empowers you to connect with others; fuel sourced externally is unstable ('an eggshell ready to crack').
How to run it
- 1
Start with you
Put yourself at the center of the equation. Get clear on your own mission, purpose, and what fuels you before trying to lead anyone.
Watch out Don't mistake this for selfishness — it's the sustainable source of energy that lets you empower others.
- 2
Lead yourself
Establish the ability to manage and direct yourself as the first ring outward from the center.
- 3
Lead one-on-one relationships
Extend leadership into individual relationships once you can lead yourself.
- 4
Lead groups and teams, then the business
With self and one-on-ones handled, extend outward to leading groups and teams and finally the business as a whole.
Pro tip Coming from the inside out makes the outward leadership 'much much more powerful' because it's purpose-fueled.
In the wild
Lichaw contrasts internal versus external fuel: 'you need fuel from somewhere, and if it comes from without it's like an eggshell that's just ready to crack — it's not sustainable if it comes from outside.' She frames this as the reason leadership must begin at the self-center rather than the user-centered outer ring.
→ Illustrates why the direction of the circles (inside-out) is load-bearing, not decorative.
Common mistakes
Applying user-centered design to your own leadership
Building 'for the customer first' is right for products but wrong for leading yourself; putting everyone else at the center leaves your leadership externally fueled and fragile.
Is it for you?
Best for
New or scaling leaders who feel depleted from putting everyone else first and neglecting their own mission and energy.
Not ideal for
Situations calling for pure servant-execution with no leadership dimension, or anyone who'd use 'self first' as license for genuine selfishness.
From the transcript
“when you start with you first at the center of the equation”
“Ken Blanchard has a a great model for this where you start with you it's the inner Inner Circle then you are able to lead…”
“it's not selfish like I would have thought years ago but it's purposeful”
“if it comes from without it's like a an eggshell that's just ready to crack”
From the episode
How to discover your superpowers, own your story, and unlock personal growth
Donna Lichaw (author of The Leader’s Journey)