3 Things Ted Lasso Has Taught Me
3 Things Ted Lasso has taught me
Ted Lasso is one of the best comedies out now and if you have Apple TV, I highly recommend it for your viewing pleasure. The multiple Emmys-awarded show has been a hit with critics and viewers alike since its release in 2020. The show centres on a mythical mid-table London Premier League football club, AFC Richmond, and its hiring of a small fry American football coach, Ted Lasso.
What Ted lacks in his knowledge of the “beautiful” game (offside rule anyone?) could fill an encyclopaedia, but his can-do attitude, optimism and good nature wears down even his harshest critics. He is the embodiment of Ned Flanders from the Simpsons with a bit more spunk so many of the jokes write themselves.
I won’t say anymore to avoid inadvertent spoilers but let’s just say the show was so good I even committed to watching the latest season on a weekly basis, which any TV aficionado recognises is a sign of true commitment in today’s era of binge-watching.
One of the things that has caught my attention is how the show is filled with nuggets of management/leadership wisdom. 3 lesson we can all take from Ted are as follows:
- Start with the small stuff: As one can imagine, the Premier League footballers at AFC Richmond were not impressed to find out that their new manager had never coached football and did not understand all of its rules. While Ted is busily learning all he can about the sport, he also takes the time to find out what small things grate the players. In so doing, he discovers that they have low pressure in the showers which annoys them and fixes this. Many of the players still disparage him but there is a palpable shift in attitude towards him from this small gesture. Often leaders and managers feel they need to tackle every big issue in the workplace and become overwhelmed by the task and end up achieving very little. We can all be encouraged by Ted; starting slow and small helps build momentum and engenders trust.
- Be vulnerable: There are many times on the show where Ted is painfully honest about his failings as a human being, let alone as a manager, and it is so disarming. His earnest manner helps break down the barriers of hardened “me-oriented” players and their increased transparency leads to moments of genuine connection in the team. By the end of the first season, AFC Richmond’s dressing room is almost unrecognisable. While they may be fighting for their Premiership dreams to stay alive, there is a cohesiveness and genuine affection amongst the squad which I’m sure many wish they could replicate in their workplaces. Ted’s vulnerability created a top-down phenomenon which changed AFC Richmond’s culture. Leaders and managers should take note – we need to show our frailties before others will be willing to drop the façade and be open to asking for help when needed (as well as giving it).
- Sometimes your golden goose is right in front of you: One of the things Ted does upon arrival is to review the existing staff at the club to find out what they do. He then uncovers some hidden gems such as the talent of the much ignored and disrespected assistant, Nathan. Whilst Nathan’s character has gone through quite a metamorphosis during the series, his talent and abilities are undeniable. However, previous managers failed to see that because of his meek and painfully introverted ways. Often, employers make staffing decisions based on how people present themselves and this can favour the more extroverted in the crowd. If organisations are prepared to take the time to critically analyse their existing talent pools, they may discover that they do not need to recruit for certain roles. Instead, they could save the recruitment costs, training time and risk of a poor hire by fully utilising the skill-set of their existing staff members.
I will be waiting with bated breath for the next season. In the meantime, come on you AFC Richmond!
Written by Fudia Smartt