What Ted Lasso can teach us about leading transformation

Unleashing the Power of Heartfelt Leadership

[Reading Time: About 9 Minutes]

As I eagerly welcome the start of the third season of “Ted Lasso,” one of my favourite shows on television, this week's article dives into the valuable leadership lessons we can glean from the series. Don’t worry—no major spoilers!

Read on to explore the transformative insights from this heartwarming and humorous journey, bridging the world of fictional soccer management with the real-life challenges of leading public sector innovation.

The show follows the story of Ted Lasso, an American football coach played by Jason Sudeikis, who is hired to manage AFC Richmond, an English soccer team, despite having no prior experience with the sport or knowledge of its rules. The team’s owner, Rebecca Welton, hires Lasso with the hope that he will fail, intending to use this failure to exact revenge on the team’s previous owner—her unfaithful ex-husband—who has a deep love for the team. Initially, Welton is portrayed as a villain: a jilted woman making poor decisions in her attempt to use Ted to get back at her ex.

The twist is that, unbeknownst to Rebecca, Lasso is an extraordinary leader. Although he has no experience with soccer, he becomes a catalyst for change, bringing about a positive transformation within the team. His unorthodox coaching methods, unwavering optimism, and genuine care for his players gradually win over the team, staff, and Rebecca herself.

Although the show is primarily a comedy, it offers many insights into leading large-scale transformations. I’ll explore three key insights. Of course, there are many more, and it took some time to narrow it down to just these three. I’d love to hear your thoughts on other lessons we can learn as well.

Let’s dive in.

Insight 1: Dealing with failure

Failure is a prominent theme in the show, beginning with the first episode, where Ted is brought in with the expectation that he will fail. The team itself experiences failure throughout Lasso’s first year at the helm, resulting in relegation from the top league. Nonetheless, Lasso’s approach provides valuable insights into how great leaders handle failure.

“I come bearing sweet treats to numb the sting of defeat.” -Ted Lasso

Learn from failure

Lasso sees failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. Indeed, AFC Richmond suffers significant setbacks and Ted and the team must face the consequences of these failures. Despite the challenges, under Lasso’s leadership, they are able to bounce back, showcasing their ability to overcome adversity and return to the top division.

What we can learn from Ted: Cultivate an organizational culture that treats failure as an opportunity to learn, iterate, and improve. This mindset encourages experimentation and innovation, which are crucial for driving change.

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas A. Edison

Stay Positive

Despite facing setbacks, Lasso maintains an optimistic outlook and focuses on moving forward. The iconic “Believe” sign he places in the AFC Richmond locker room symbolizes his goal to inspire his players to do their best, have faith in themselves, and trust the process.

What we can learn from Ted: Maintain a positive attitude when encountering failure, using it as motivation to persevere and find solutions. A positive mindset can boost morale, foster resilience, and keep the team focused on achieving its goals.

“Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.” – Truman Capote

Adapt and grow

Ted Lasso embodies a growth mindset, transforming failure into a springboard for learning and self-improvement. Receptive to feedback, he attentively listens to players, coaches, and even fans, skillfully refining his approach based on their input. Embracing thoughtful self-reflection with the assistance of his therapist, he uncovers opportunities for growth. This paves the way for him and the team to bounce back and achieve success.

What we can learn from Ted: Adopt a growth mindset, turning setbacks into learning opportunities. By actively seeking feedback and engaging in self-reflection, leaders can refine strategies and collaborate with others to identify areas for improvement.

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein

Insight 2: The importance of empathy and emotional intelligence

I admire Ted’s leadership style; it’s rooted in compassion and authenticity. He radiates kindness, sincerity, and vulnerability, effortlessly defying any misconceptions that these traits are “soft.” He shines brightly in a world where masculine-centric cultures often overshadow the power of benevolence and openness. Lasso stands as a testament to the transformative nature of kindness.

Making people feel valued is at the core of Ted’s approach. We see this through both big and subtle gestures: simple acts like remembering birthdays and apologizing for mistakes to investing in helping those around him, like Roy’s anger issues, Jamie’s insecurity, Nate’s low self-esteem, Keeley’s career aspirations and Sam’s homesickness. Ted magnificently demonstrates that the true strength of kind-hearted individuals should never be underestimated.

“I’ve never been embarrassed about having streaks in my drawers. You know, it’s all part of growing up.” -Ted Lasso

Lead with empathy

Ted makes a concerted effort to understand his staff and players’ feelings, needs, and perspectives. Instead of being authoritative, he listens to their concerns and creates an environment where everyone feels valued and understood. Ted also recognizes the importance of team members’ mental well-being and personal lives, demonstrating a genuine interest in their well-being and happiness.

What we can learn from Ted: Prioritize empathy so that you can understand various stakeholders’ needs and viewpoints. Actively listening to employees, peers, and stakeholders allows for the identification of challenges and solutions. This creates a collaborative atmosphere where everyone feels valued and included, resulting in more effective and lasting transformations.

“Empathy is a choice, and it’s a vulnerable choice because in order to connect with you, I have to connect with something in myself that knows that feeling.” – Brené Brown

Be authentic

Ted Lasso is consistently authentic in his interactions with others. He openly shares his feelings, beliefs, and vulnerabilities, allowing others to connect with him on a deeper level. This authenticity creates trust and connection between him and others. Ted’s sincerity and openness make it easier for those around him to feel comfortable expressing their own thoughts and feelings, fostering a culture of open communication.

What we can learn from Ted: Foster trust by being open and honest about intentions, goals, and challenges. This transparency encourages people to engage in candid dialogue, sharing their ideas, concerns, and vulnerabilities, ultimately leading to stronger collaboration and team dynamics.

“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” - Brené Brown

Foster a positive and inclusive culture

Ted Lasso promotes a positive and inclusive team culture by treating everyone with respect and ensuring that all voices are heard. He creates an environment where diversity is valued, and team members feel comfortable sharing their unique perspectives. Ted also believes in the power of encouragement and support, focusing on the strengths of his players and staff, and nurturing their growth and development. This approach helps to create a strong sense of belonging and unity within his team.

What we can learn from Ted: Create a positive, inclusive culture that values diversity, promotes open communication, and supports growth. This environment empowers individuals to share their unique insights, fostering collaboration and driving significant change within the organization.

“Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness.” - Ola Joseph

Insight 3: Create a captivating vision and bring people along

Ted’s vision for AFC Richmond is intriguing to contemplate. Undoubtedly, he wants to achieve the pinnacle of success: a championship win in England’s elite league, even though this may be impossible for a team of Richmond’s limited budget and size. More interesting to me is that I see a much more holistic approach to his thinking: his goals for the team extend beyond just accumulating wins and trophies. I’d argue that his true goal is to instill within his team a belief in their ability to succeed.

Lasso recognizes that true success depends on addressing various interconnected aspects: He strives to cultivate a positive and supportive team culture that values teamwork, respect, kindness, and enjoyment. He endeavours to aid his players and staff in overcoming personal challenges and realizing their full potential. He hopes to foster a loyal and passionate fan base that shares in the team’s philosophy and vision. Most importantly, he relishes the journey of learning and improving as a coach and leader.

“I’m not sure what y’all’s smallest unit of measurement is here, but that’s about how much headway I made.” -Ted Lasso

Communicate a compelling vision

Lasso articulates a clear and compelling vision for his team, inspiring them to believe in their collective potential. It’s simple: they are a contender in the top league. He communicates his goals and expectations in an easily understandable and relatable manner, ensuring that everyone is aligned and motivated to work towards a common objective. Ted also leads by example, demonstrating commitment and enthusiasm for the vision he has set forth.

What we can learn from Ted: Communicate a captivating vision that appeals to diverse audiences when managing large-scale change. Articulating desired outcomes while highlighting the benefits can inspire and motivate teams toward a common goal.

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Celebrate progress

Ted Lasso understands the importance of acknowledging and celebrating progress, no matter how small. In a season with many games, he uses the wins, draws, and losses as small milestones toward the bigger picture. He takes the time to recognize individual and team accomplishments, using these milestones to boost morale and reinforce the value of hard work and dedication. By celebrating progress, Ted fosters a positive and supportive environment that encourages continuous improvement and growth.

What we can learn from Ted: Regularly celebrate progress. Acknowledging milestones, both major and minor, cultivates a sense of achievement while sustaining momentum and excitement among staff and stakeholders. This positive reinforcement boosts motivation, commitment, and ultimately leads to more successful transformation outcomes.

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." - Robert Collier

Start with the end in mind and never forget it

Ted Lasso consistently keeps the end goal in mind, ensuring that every decision and action taken is aligned with the team’s ultimate objectives. He remains focused on long-term success, using setbacks and challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. By maintaining a clear vision of the desired outcome, Ted keeps his team on track and motivated to persevere through obstacles.

What we can learn from Ted: Stay focused on the initiative’s ultimate objectives. Never forget the answer to the question, “why are we doing this?” Keeping desired outcomes central to decision-making ensures that actions and strategies consistently align with the overarching goals, promoting a more effective transformation process.

"It's not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: what are we busy about?" - Henry David Thoreau

Embracing the Ted Lasso Approach

In the ever-changing landscape of public sector innovation, we find a surprising yet invaluable guide in Ted Lasso, an American football coach turned English soccer manager. Embodying resilience, empathy, and visionary leadership, Lasso's journey transcends the realms of television and offers us a blueprint for navigating the complexities of transformative change.

As we strive to lead beyond the status quo, let us embrace the lessons gleaned from this unassuming hero: harness failure as a catalyst for growth, foster empathy and emotional intelligence, and create a captivating vision that unites and propels us forward. By adopting these principles, we can redefine our approach to public sector innovation, igniting a spirit of unity, creativity, and excellence that transcends borders and reshapes the world in which we live.