Why Every Executive Should Mimic Ted Lasso’s Leadership Style

“Believe” as a Mantra

Ted Lasso– it’s the ultimate fish out of water story. Why has this beloved show earned 11 Emmy’s? Perhaps it was due to the  twists and turns of soccer, or the countless witty pop culture references, or perhaps the unrelenting positivity. However, Ted Lasso’s ability to inspire his team (win, lose, or tie–yes, they have those in England!) is only part of the formula for both the show’s success as well as Ted’s. His bravery as a mustachioed American in England isn’t in his ability to adapt, but rather to create growth opportunities, inspire camaraderie, and  graceful ability to hold a mirror to the triumphs of the human spirit. The top 6 lessons to learn from his leadership tactics are as follows: 

Be A Goldfish

In a world dominated by fleeting attention spans and unforgiving memories of mistakes, Ted Lasso imparts a timeless lesson – be a goldfish. Embrace the imperfections that come with humanity. Let the little mistakes dissipate like ripples in a pond, for it is in accepting our flaws that we find true freedom.

The “Lasso Way”

Without giving too much away about the ending of the 3 season hit, “The Lasso Way” becomes a prevalent theme as a journalist studies Ted in order to figure out his success. In reading his review, Ted’s only commentary was, “It was never about me.” Any great leader can look at that singular moment and realize that their own position is not one that was created to inspire their own greatness, but rather their team’s greatness. 

Stepping Back So Others Step Up 

For the Jamie Tartt fans of this show, you all may remember how awful (albeit hilarious) he was for team culture. A team can’t function when there is one player who believes he is above the rest. How did Ted solve this timeless head scratcher? He simply stepped back. In doing so, he made senior Captain Roy Kent get angry and solve the issue himself. As tempting as it is to parent your team and solve it yourself, a more fruitful resolution lies in letting them reach the conclusion without you.  

Slow to Anger; Rich in Kindness

One could argue that beside unrelenting positivity, Ted’s superpower is his patience. In every episode of this show, we only see Ted get angry with his team once. His continued patience with the team weaves into intrinsic motivation, which is much more effective than extrinsic motivation. 

Creating Opportunities for Growth… Even if it’s Uncomfortable. 

Ted Lasso challenges the status quo. He creates discomfort to fuel growth, urging players like Jamie Tartt out of their comfort zones. In this discomfort, true potential is unearthed, and individuals discover strengths they never knew they possessed. Ted reminds us that growth often sprouts from the seeds of discomfort.

Hope As A Motivator 

It is surely a combination of these wonderful lessons that caused this show to be a hit, or perhaps it’s the pure serotonin a viewer gets from each episode. However, in a time when hope was limited (2020), this show shined like a beacon of light. The takeaways from such an experience? Every executive can emulate what our beloved goofball of an American football coach was able to accomplish as the ultimate fish out of water. After all, there’s a home you are born into, and then there are homes you build along the way. Believe!

 

Which lessons do YOU think will help your team the most?