5 simple steps how Ted Lasso can make you a better leader

“Ted Lasso, really? ?? Isn’t it about soccer?”

When I started watching Ted Lasso, my husband couldn’t have been more surprised. Indeed, I’m not a big fan of (any) football and have cheered for the Finnish soccer team this summer only because of their breakthrough (and not because of the sports itself).

Apart from the genre (sports comedy-drama), I had no expectations. The premise was interesting enough, and I had a four-hour flight ahead of me.

Little did I know that the show would blow me away. Hard. It brought so much pure joy and hope in a very challenging period of my life. And overlapping with one (or two!) main character to a confusing degree was the signal I really needed to carry on.

Kindness and respect never go out of style. Also, anyone can rise to the occasion even if they are not experts in what they do (or coach). With many kinds of great leaders out there, my favorite way is the 'Lasso Way'.

Here are 5 Ted Lasso’s principles any of us can follow:

[Some mild spoilers ahead! ??]

?? Add a personal touch.

One of Ted’s superpowers is to make anyone around him feel special. He is genuinely interested in getting to know others and creating personal connections with them. There are no strangers for Ted, only friends he hasn’t met yet.

No wonder the coach is quite surprised when a (clearly unappreciated) team’s kit man hesitates to introduce himself to Ted and his colleague. And when Ted still remembers his name, the kit man is nothing less but astonished yet extremely flattered. To the coach, anyone working at AFC Richmond is doing equally important work for its success. He also gets a skeptical reporter to root for his coaching style by turning their interview into a conversation and sharing his 'why' for taking the job.

?? Bring out the best in people.

Why do you do (and hopefully love) what you do? Money? Awards? Social impact?

“Me? I love coaching. And I’ll say it again so that you don’t think it was a mistake the first time I said it. For me, success is not about wins and losses. It’s about helping these young fellas to be the best version of themselves on and off the field.”

By the time Ted shared this credo with the reporter, he’d already done quite a lot for the team’s well-being. It includes having a long-running shower issue fixed, learning what makes each person on the team tick and then giving them tailored food for thought.

Ted knows he needs to foster the right environment where the players are comfortable and supercharged for future practices and games. As a result, the team captain chooses to hold himself more accountable, while the narcissistic superstar slowly becomes responsive to shifting his mindset from 'me' to 'us'.

?? Shake it off with optimism and perseverance.

Starting a new job is supposed to be exciting. Unless you know there is no required expertise under your belt. Unless your boss is scheming to sabotage your hard work. Unless the whole fan base and town are calling you names and can’t wait to see you fail.

In such circumstances, I’d have a seriously tough time to put a smile on my face and keep showing up. But not Ted Lasso.

Ted shows how pursuing a higher purpose is the right thing to do even when odds are against him. He also knows that being pleasantly persistent is another must at a new place. The coach doesn’t change himself or his quirks to be liked by his boss or players. Instead, he starts consistently creating social routines and ceremonies centered around others. And yes, he does win everyone over!

?? Team up with someone different than you.

To avoid any ambiguity, this one is about someone with more knowledge on a particular subject but with complementary personality traits. Opposites can attract in a professional setting, too!

In the series, Ted’s long-term assistant coach is the brain behind the heart. Unlike Ted, this character is a man of few words, but when he speaks, it’s 100% wisdom. He knows about soccer what Ted doesn’t and is aware of Ted’s blind spots. Finally, the assistant coach is the one who gives Ted a reality check at a pivotal moment and delivers a hard truth about a much-needed win for the sake of the team’s morale.

?? Be a goldfish.

Do you know what the happiest animal on Earth is? It’s a goldfish and it’s all thanks to its 10-second memory!

Ted mentions this fact twice during Season 1. When he is giving advice trying to cheer up and bond with a player in his classic Ted style. And then when he asks the same player to remind the whole team which animal has the shortest memory. The answer to Ted’s question (“What do you think we should all do once we get done being sad and/or angry about this situation?”) is simple.

Bonus!

?? Be curious, not judgmental.

This one from Ted was almost too easy to skip as it’s always been one of my main operating principles as well. As someone who goes through many applications, meets a variety of different personalities and sees how they can form a team together, I can’t highlight the principle enough. Maybe it should become a new motto for the EntryPoint program... ??

Which takeaway is your favorite? Are you watching Ted Lasso? Comment below!