A Leader's Guide to Ted Lasso

How often do you find yourself reaching out to people you care about and imploring them to watch a new show? I found myself doing exactly that after seeing the first few episodes of Ted Lasso as evidenced by the text below:

"I stumbled across a new show that is so sweet and inspiring I find it has me re-thinking my goals for a life well lived. I would love for you to check it out. Don’t let the comedic spoonful of sugar deceive, this is a heady show!"

So, what was it that made such an impression? Jason Sudeikis, playing the titular character, embodies so much of what I have been striving for as a leader, a father, and human being it was a wakeup call of the best kind. People can only reach for the highest branch they can see, and Ted had just showed how much higher we could go. Here are a few of the impactful leadership lessons Coach Lasso taught me:?

Believe: If there is a defining characteristic of Ted Lasso, it is that he is an eternal optimist. This comes through in virtually every action he takes. Whether it be his seemingly irrational decision to accept a coaching job in a sport he lacks knowledge, or in his approach to develop a relationship with a team owner who shows zero interest, he sees things in the affirmative. He chooses to see what is possible instead of what is missing.

Albert Einstein said, “The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe." Research has shown this to be true, those who cultivate an optimistic mindset live longer, happier, and more successful lives. Also, and perhaps more importantly, it is also true that as leaders, spouses, and parents, our mindset impacts those around us. Ted reminded me to regularly set my intention toward what’s possible for the people around me and my own benefit.?

Be a goldfish: Early in the first season Ted observes one of his players beating himself up for a mistake on the pitch. Ted coaches him up by asking if he knows what the happiest animal is on earth. Answer…a goldfish. Why? Because they have short memories! Ted knows that there is no such thing as perfection in performance and that time spent in the past limits one of performance potential in the present.

I recall being approached earlier in my career by a senior leader after I blew a sales pursuit. He was very brief when he said with a smile, “Don’t worry, Rob. We have short memories around here.” A few months later he was the first person I tracked down to share the news of a big client we had just landed. With the same smile he said, “Congrats, Rob. Remember, we have short memories.” Win or lose, giving our teams the space to learn and the encouragement to stay in the present is a powerful combination.?

Be ego-less (or at least less ego): I marvel at Ted for his ability to ignore insults and criticisms. He just stays focused on his process of bringing a team together undaunted by the outright hostility his players (not to mention the fans and media) show him. Believing in his system, he just sits back and wonders which one of them he will win over first. What stood out to me was how this restraint took the oxygen right out of the negativity. It never had a chance to take hold.

The ego’s constant chatter can be tough to escape, that voice in our head is downright relentless. I find myself thinking through how I am being perceived more often than I care to admit. On those days I am much more likely to be distracted from the plan I have in place, questioning my instincts, or just flat out feeding into negativity that would otherwise fade away. Ted provided a great example of the good that happens when I put my ego in its place (quietly on patrol, not in control).?

Be curious (not judgmental): In one of the most satisfying scenes of the first season we hear Ted share that he has been underestimated by others his whole life and that he eventually came to learn this was an advantage. This taught him a skill to short circuit that impulse to quickly judge and instead explore what was going on around him. With these keen powers of observation he came to know his team so well that he was able to give each player a book thoughtfully chosen in support of their unique opportunities for growth (thus winning some over).

It turns out there is a fool proof way to guarantee you engage the curious part of your brain while avoiding the snap judgements that limit true understanding. That is to ask questions! I know we have all been introduced to active listening in some form or another, yet this is a superpower we often neglect. In addition to rewarding us with with better understanding, a well-crafted question can help others come to the same conclusion we have reached.?

Be vulnerable: For all the good feels, we do get a growing sense that something is troubling our beloved Ted. We are shown he is a human after all when his life challenges descend and overwhelm him. As his character further develops, we see that sometimes his blind faith and constant witticisms are protection against fear and worry. Like so many of us, Ted is wearing a suit of armor. Watching him develop awareness of how this has impacted his life is a real gift from the writers.

The power of vulnerability in leadership is only now coming into broad understanding. Brené Brown says in her book Dare to Lead, “If we want people to fully show up, to bring their whole selves including their unarmored, whole hearts—so that we can innovate, solve problems, and serve people—we have to be vigilant about creating a culture in which people feel safe, seen, heard, and respected.” That sentence is a call to action, to take off our own armor and set an example. That takes courage indeed.?

Ted Lasso is a great story that has inspired me in all sorts of ways. After my initial excitement I began to wonder how anyone could measure up to his example. That Ted turns out to have some of our common frailties, making him a mere mortal like us, means that we can aspire to the heights of kindness and leadership he demonstrated. ?And, lucky for us, there is more of the Ted Lasso story to be told so we can look forward to more coaching coming our way. In the meantime, we just have to BELIEVE!

p.s. If you enjoyed this article please check out these others on What I Learned About Leading Innovation by Starting a Band and?Think Like a VC to Accelerate Corporate Innovation. Best, Rob