Taylor Swift is an AGILE Leader!

In a poll last week I asked if you’d rather work for Carli Lloyd or Taylor Swift and the results were unanimous. You’d rather work for Taylor Swift.

Not surprising given the blame and shame directed at the Womens’ National Soccer Team by Carli Lloyd vs. the gratitude and generosity directed at the staff that make her tour possible by Taylor Swift.

Blame and Shame from Lloyd

The US Women’s National Team came into the World Cup soccer tournament hoping to become the first team, men’s or women’s, to win three consecutive titles. But they did not look strong in early games. For only the second time, the U.S. women finished second in the group at the World Cup, and they advanced with their fewest points ever.

That’s when former team captain Carli Lloyd laid into them.

“Winning and training and doing all that you can do to be the best individual player, that’s not happening.” She said.?

About player’s celebrating their advancement in the tournament despite tying the game she said "I have never witnessed something like that. There's a difference between being respectful of the fans and saying hello to your family. But to be dancing, to be smiling — I mean, the player of that match was that post’, she said referring to the goal post that blocked a goal by the opposing team. “You're lucky to not be going home right now."

As a sports commentator, it’s fair for Lloyd to critique the team’s performance, but that kind of derision seems tailored for Fox TV instead of designed to provide insight into the game from the perspective of an insider and expert.

Reaction to the tenor of her remarks was swift (pun intended).

Lloyd’s former teammate Ali Krieger said “"They're allowed to smile. They're allowed to enjoy the moment," Krieger said. "They're allowed to be happy that they made it into the 16 with, with a tie. Yeah. That's not something we love to celebrate because we're not used to that. We can say that in a way that's, that's not too arrogant."

And people in the twittersphere were quick to point out the lack of integrity and emotional intelligence in the rant:

“I don’t even disagree too heavily, but “these arrogant players are happier than they should be after a bad result” is insanely funny coming from Carli Lloyd who had like a nationwide farewell tour for herself while her club team went on a 14 match losing streak.”

“Carli Lloyd definitely would’ve blocked Carli Lloyd on twitter for what she said about the players.”

They pointed out this is pretty consistent with what we’ve seen from Lloyd in the past. Lloyd’s final moments of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after losing to Canada featured her running sprints alone. Perhaps that’s what Lloyd wanted to see from the USWNT.

Gratitude, generosity and Celebration from Swift

Meanwhile Taylor Swift has been running one of the most successful concert tours of all time - a retrospective on the many eras of her music career. The tour has made headlines for the positive impact it’s had on local economies, fans flocking from near and far to sold out shows and displays of fan loyalty and fan culture that have sprouted up organically - like dressing from your favorite era, exchanging friendship bracelets and cathartic displays of big feelings.

Taylor Swift has achieved success by putting words to the feelings so many have. She reminds us that growing up is messy and having a dream is powerful.?

On her path she has been shamed, mocked, manipulated and exploited. She has acknowledged, with great vulnerability, the pain in this and millions have been able to identify and found inspiration in her resilience and her success. There is an amazing feedback loop between Swift and her fans where Swift gives voice to feelings that resonate with fans who reverberate her lyrics and validate her experience.

Her tour reflects the values she expresses in her songs and that resonate so strongly with her fans.

She creates psychologically safe spaces for people to be themselves. Fans will tell you that they felt physically and emotionally safe at her concert even though there were 70,000 amped up, loud people present. Compliments flowed, bracelets were exchanged, strangers bonded in cathartic moments of vulnerability shouting lyrics like:

“Shake it off”

“We are never, ever getting back together”

“You forgive you forget but you never let it go”

“‘Cause shade never made anybody less gay”

She turns imperfection into moments of clever humor. When her stage trap door didn’t open and she had to make a mad dash for backstage to get herself ready for the next part of the show, she didn’t berate anyone publicly, she acknowledged it with humor and self-deprecating humor.

“Still Swift af boi,” she tweeted in response to people calling out the mistake.

She used her spotlight to showcase the talents of up and coming artists. Her opening acts are led by talented females who benefit from Swift’s endorsement. And, throughout the tour Swift has featured surprise guests she welcomes with warmth and humility.

She said thank you in the most authentic way. By now you have probably read about the life changing bonuses she gave the truck drivers on her tour. In fact, she spent $50 million from her own pocket ensuring everyone on her tour got above market bonuses. And it came with personal notes of thanks.

She makes sure the economic impact of her events reaches deep into the community. She has given millions to food banks in communities where she played.

Taylor Swift is an AGILE leader in how she is a life long learner (just listen to her songs!), she is emotionally intelligent and has integrity.

If you are interested in developing a leadership style that motivates and inspires rather than punishes, reach out to Ebb Tide.

Ebb Tide develops AGILE leaders who are:

Adaptive

Goal Oriented

Have Integrity

Are Lifelong Learners

And Emotionally Intelligent

rather work for her than Carly Lloyd