Believe: Lasso Leadership Article S1E1: Pilot

Spoilers ahead.

For those of you who know me in real life, you’ll know that I’m a passionate Ted Lasso fan. If you haven’t seen the show, I think it’s one of the best shows on television despite some acerbic television critics who thrive on being negative. More importantly, it documents steps, to?transform a team’s culture in a way that I’ve never quite seen. Team infighting becomes connectedness and mutual admiration. The main villain of the first season is turned into a hero (major spoiler).

The reason that I’m writing this Lasso Leadership series is because of the fundamental belief that doing things the “Lasso” way is a way to transform the lives of your employees, your co-workers, and those around you. I’ve facilitated these changes in team cultures and I will tie in examples from my own experience into this series. Doing things “the Lasso way” does not only lead to higher performance (over time), but also improves the quality of life for those around you.

When we first meet our protagonist , Ted Lasso?has successfully brought an American college football team from a poor performing college team to victory. He has been recruited to a Premier League football (soccer) club league, AFC Richmond. No one knows much about him but everyone?is?perplexed?as to why he was recruited to lead a completely different sport (more on that later). When we first meet Ted, we find this hokey, upbeat Midwestern with a penchant for dad jokes and a disarming sincerity. You want to believe in him, but quite frankly why would you?

Ted himself has some doubts, asking his assistant coach Beard if he’s “crazy for doing this.” It’s clear that Coach Beard believes in him. If Coach Beard didn’t believe in him, why would he follow him across the world. Coach Beard, we quickly find,?out is the quiet, strategic foil to the almost manic Ted. He is on the plane?working hard to learn the rules of soccer and the technical know-how for Ted to be successful. Coach Beard’s confidence is assuring to Ted and they settle in for the adventure.

At the club, you can tell immediately that there’s a toxic environment that Ted is walking into. He stumbles into the kitman, Nate, and it’s clear that he’s taken aback. “No one ever asks my name.” Ted patiently waits to learn it. When he meets Rebecca, the new club owner, it’s clear that she’s not the friendliest person as Nate scurries away. Referring to her assistant as the “current director of communications.” Ted despite the barbs still inquires about and expresses sympathy for Rebecca’s divorce. Then things get interesting.

His new boss, without warning, calls a press conference and on a club “tour” puts him right in the middle of it.?Reporters, fans, his players, and everyone makes fun of him. We learn that his moniker is “wanker.” After some aggressive insults and questions at the press conference, Ted begins to panic with the laughter and ends up spitting out his water all over the press circuit. Not particularly a great situation to walk into when no one believes in you!

But maybe Rebecca does. As she proudly comes to Ted’s defense saying that it’s time for a change and that she insists that AFC Richmond will be doing things “the Lasso way.” Her speech is enough to convince Higgins who expresses his support. And then we learn the truth: her hiring of Ted is not what it seems. She wants him to fail to make her ex-husband miserable. Suddenly, to the audience, the hiring decision makes sense! You feel for Ted though, who is literally being set up to fail.

After the press conference, Ted is eager to meet the team, where he’s most comfortable. He learns the details from Nate where he makes a special point to compliment his sports drink mixure. The rest of the team too: they’re?also?no walk in the park. You have Jaime Tartt who has a likeness to Cristiano Ronald and the ego to match! You can tell he is an egotistical, self-absorbed bully from the start. You have Roy Kent, based on Roy Keane, who is brash and?hates?Jamie. After practice (training), Jaime is quick to leave with his girlfriend Keely, a social media influencer. It’s clear that he doesn’t respect Ted or his fellow teammates.

Ted and Coach Beard then set up their office prominently displaying great athletes, accomplishments, even a “I believe in you” note from Ted’s son. But despite all of those things, no one but Coach Beard believes in Ted. Roy Kent, after receiving a compliment of his skills and career, profanely calls Ted “Ronald &*#&@* McDonald.” Ted is undeterred and says to Coach Beard “If he thinks he’s mad now, wait until we win him over.”

But Ted needs others to join in belief that things can be better to succeed, he affixes a sign above the coaches’ office that reads “Believe.” The sign however is crooked, Keely who is picking up Jamie’s phone which he forgot, sees?that Ted put tape over her naked breast photo in Jamie’s locker and decides to “help” by helping straighten the sign. ?Ted is quick to express appreciation even if Keely is messing with him. Keely, a social media star seems taken aback, is quick to give him advice on how to navigate Twitter.?

Outside in the parking lot, as Ted and Coach Beard leave, it’s clear that Higgins is having second thoughts about Rebecca’s planned betrayal of the club and of Ted. Rebecca, in a traditional power move, offers him a promotion to keep him on board. As we close out the episode, it’s clear that Ted is struggling in his marriage and?all is?not?ok as he talks to his stateside wife.

Lots of Lasso Leadership Lessons here to unpack! The story of Ted arriving into Richmond reminds me of any manager inheriting a toxic culture. And he handles a toxic culture in the best way a manager can: chilling the ice through small acts.

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Lasso Leadership Lesson 1:?Find your allies

No one would argue that Ted Lasso would be successful without his “first follower” Coach Beard. Ted’s skill is not in strategy like Beard’s, but rather in?people. Beard is also a ride or die for Ted and knows exactly how to balance him. Beard having been through what we assume is many trials and tribulations with Ted, knows what he is capable of. Additionally, he provides Ted the necessary reassurances and inside knowledge of the sport.

Coach Beard is an outsider though and?can never force cultural change. By Ted getting to know Nate, he opens up and reveals things about the team. By being kind to Higgins, he has some doubts about Rebecca’s plan. By respecting Keely (who is used to being objectified), she gives Ted advice about how to navigate social media waters. Ted is working at finding his allies that will help make lasting change.

Real life: I’ve encountered this scenario many times especially when trying to make a change in an area where I’m not in charge. One prime example is founding an Employee Resource Group called “Farmers Fit.” Leadership way more senior than me had expressed the need for Wellness Councils. You can imagine how much momentum there was for “Wellness Councils.” After orchestrating a rename of the initiative to?give?some sense of pride to “Farmers Fit,” really needed to set up programs that aligned. Instead of letting that situation define me, I imagined what?different things we could do that were low cost or no cost to the company (there was no budget at the start)?and?I came up with a couple of programs such as meditation (just playing a meditation at lunch time), a 5k, financial seminars, and a bike club.

No one could organize all of these things themselves. You spread the net wide and see who raises their hand. I would say out of 200 people, it’s normally about 3-4. These are your leaders to your cultural change movement. In the Farmers Fit example, I found people (leaders) passionate about each of these areas to drive?these initiatives. Each of these leaders then further expanded their influence and grew these programs and enabled other leaders.

Ted realizes his short-comings with the technical aspects of coaching and he already has Coach Beard. He still has several blind spots though and that’s where allies who know the modern press, or maybe those with deep ties to the club could help the transformation mission. Wonder who they could be?

Lasso Leadership Lesson 2: See other people

We will likely get much deeper into this one in subsequent episodes as it’s a big one, but the first step is seeing people around you.?Ted is very intentional about how he interacts with people. He always asks their name (Nate). He asks questions,?even uncomfortable questions, even?of?Rebecca. He expresses empathy. More than that, he points out small contributions like telling Nate that he made an excellent sports drink, saluting Roy Kent as a star player, and acknowledging that Coach Beard is way more technically savvy than he’ll ever be.

In real life: I like to call this the hello principle. I’m a semi-awkward guy (been referred to as a cool nerd more times than I’d like). I’ve learned names. I’ve learned backstories. The best way to do this leadership lesson is?simply?to be curious and care about what others are going through. We all have a fundamental need to feel “seen.” I actively look for things that are going well especially as I get to know someone and give genuine compliments where it’s deserved. Doesn’t need to be especially profound. It’s pointing out the obvious and how that person makes a difference.

Leadership Lesson 3: Acknowledgement of the present situation

By Ted hanging the “Believe” sign?he’s recognizing?something: that belief isn’t there. In order to get better, as a team or as a person,?you start?with a north star of where you want to go and an understanding of where you have to grow. To do this, you simply need to listen and be honest.

In real life:

As a product leader, this is my daily life as I’m constantly balancing the vision with what’s technically possible. People can always see through an act,?either now or eventually. The best way to do this is?to?acknowledge what could be better and vision around the end goal. The first step to improving is believing that improvement is possible.

Ted encourages us to believe that the worst days will soon be behind us and that hope is around the corner even if it’s only Ted and Coach Beard believe it at this point.

Ted Lasso is streaming on Apple TV+.