Leadership Lessons from Ted Lasso (#136)
Ted Lasso is a comedy show on Apple TV that was very popular last summer. Written by Bill Lawrence, Jason Sudeikis, Joe Kelly, and Brendan Hunt, the show follows Ted Lasso (played by Jason Sudeikis), an American football coach who is hired to coach an English premier league (AFC Richmond) soccer team. I recently watched Season 1 and am excited to see the new season of 12 episodes when Apple releases it on July 23, 2021.
In addition to the humor, Ted Lasso has a great series of leadership lessons. Here are five of my favorites that any manager or leader can apply to their situation:
Humility. Coach Ted Lasso coached the Wichita State Shockers to a Division II National Collegiate Athletic Association football championship. However, he had never coached soccer before. When Ted arrives in England, he understands very little about soccer and its rules. He also has a cultural hurdle to overcome. His challenges as a coach creates criticism of him, his coaching style, and his team from the athletes, the fans, and the reporters. But Coach Lasso remains humble, treats everyone with respect, and admits his shortcomings. He leverages his strong people, culture, and team building skills, while relying on the players and other coaches to help him with his soccer knowledge.
Listen to Everyone. Every professional soccer team has a “kit man” or equipment manager. The Richmond Football Club’s kit man is Nathan Shelley (played by Nick Mohammed). Coach Lasso is the first coach to learn Nate’s name. Realizing that he doesn’t know everything about the game, Coach also asks Nate for advice on the game and uses his recommendations.
People are the Most Important Part of Any Organization. Coach Lasso’s skill as a coach is that he values each of his players, the staff, and his boss as people. He tries to motivate each as individuals.
Be a Goldfish. Coach Lasso uses this analogy with one of his players who is struggling. Which is the best animal to embody when you make a mistake? A goldfish has a memory that lasts between 5 – 10 seconds. Next time you make a mistake and need to get back to a high level of performance...remember, be a goldfish, forget the mistake, and move on.
Believe. At the beginning of the season, Coach Lasso puts a sign that says “Believe” above his office door. Throughout the season, through victories and defeats, the Coach’s optimism and belief helps carry the team. Always remember that your optimism as a leader can have a profound impact on your team.
Conclusion
Liked this post? Want more? Then check out:
Leadership Lessons from John Wooden
Leadership Lessons from Ted Lasso, Season 2
John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success
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Go on the offense and lead your team using some of Ted Lasso’s principles, like humility, being a goldfish, listening to everyone, or believing.
