I have new favorite show. Ted Lasso, on AppleTV, tells the story of an American football coach who goes to England to coach a soccer (also football, everywhere but the US) club. That’s as much as I’m going to say about the premise and plot of the show for now because, you know…spoilers…but it’s surprisingly funny and heart-warming, and it’s shockingly smart. So smart that, as I watched episodes the first time through, I found myself thinking repeatedly about how I wanted to be more like Ted Lasso in my role as a high school principal. Every episode contains lessons that leaders can use in probably any work environment to help them support and therefore get the most out of their team members, and I’ve already begun to draw on these lessons in my professional practice. So, I did what I almost never do; I watched the series again. This time I took notes, and what will follow here and for the next few posts are my notes and thoughts about the leadership lessons of Ted Lasso and other characters from the show.
SPOILER ALERT: From this point forward, I will be writing about specific scenes and quotes from the show. Please make sure to watch the episode in question before reading on; it’s worth it. This post will include content from the title sequence that plays at the beginning of every episode as well as content from Episode 1: The Pilot.
CONTENT ALERT: Ted Lasso is written for adults. They use language I would never use in school or a work environment and there are sexual references in many episodes. None of it personally bothers me, but it might bother some viewers.
So, without further ado…
The Title Sequence: Culture Spreads
The learning here is subtle, but clear. Each episode begins with a title sequence that features some excellent original music from Marcus Mumford and a scene of Ted Lasso sitting down in the empty blue stands from the AFC Richmond stadium. As Ted sits, his seat changes color from blue to red, and then the adjacent chairs begin to change color as well until this spreads into a wide-shot of red chairs spelling the name Ted Lasso. Interestingly, as the chairs change color from blue to red they also lose their graffiti (which I think are the names of the show’s producers, actors, etc. but I didn’t check). And this, in one scene, is the wisdom of Ted Lasso. Ted’s genius throughout the show is that he knows himself and his purpose, and he leads by example. Over time (but not much), his message spreads from person to person and the Ted Lasso way becomes THE WAY for his organization. We’ll talk more about these traits and the Ted Lasso way in each episode, but if there’s just one take-away from Ted Lasso, this is it: kindness and culture spread.
The Power of Partnership
When we meet Ted Lasso we also (almost immediately) meet his Assistant Coach, Coach Beard. They are clearly close, different people but with the same mission, and they’re not above being a little silly with one another too. The lesson here is also important: leadership can get lonely, and it’s a whole lot easier when you have a partner whose vision you share and whose company you enjoy. This is especially true when your partner compliments your abilities. We’ll learn through each episode that Ted clearly has a vision and a method, but it’s Coach Beard who is in charge of the details. It’s Beard who learns the rules of the game, the strategy, the history, and the players. Each person in this partnership supports the other, is strongest where the other needs support, and recognizes that one can’t be successful without the other. There’s no room for ego if they are going to be successful, and both Ted and Coach Beard have clearly checked their egos at the door.
In my work, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have had many great partners over the years. This is especially fortuitous for me because, while I work hard to be good at what I do, I’m not at my best as a solo act. I’ve just always been more comfortable, and frankly better, when working with a partner(s). Currently, I am lucky to work with an amazing Assistant Principal who shares the vision and who is not afraid to be silly, but we also have a strong team of coordinators, counselors, and teachers who understand our common vision and work tirelessly to support our students. Like Ted, I have a clear mission: to help others be and become their very best selves. Also like Ted, I could never accomplish that mission without a partner(s) to help with the details and to add their own unique strengths to the mix.
Go Slow to Go Fast
I’m not sure who was first credited with this concept, or the very similar, “slow down to speed up,” but Ted clearly demonstrates this approach in the first episode. It’s played off for laughs as the result of jet lag, but aside from an unplanned press conference Ted surely would have chosen to avoid, his first day with the club is mostly spent watching. Ted knows the value of observation and the importance of getting to know his players and club before interjecting himself or any changes on the team. We see him learn about the team’s history, structure, and players before making any decisions about how to implement his vision. When he does act, he basically says a short hello and then waits for the players to leave before taking his first step…setting up his environment. Coach Lasso and Beard move their desks to face one another in a show of collaboration, hang inspirational memorabilia to set a tone, and hang a poster with a short but powerful message to the team (more on this below). The lesson: the best leaders take the time to get to know their organization, its stakeholders, and their needs before imposing change. That, and environment matters.
“Ain’t no such thing as last day jitters.”
It may seem like a throw-away line for laughs, but this quote from Ted actually speaks a very real truth: it’s ok to be nervous. Leaders get one shot at a first impression, and stepping into an unknown organization with unknown people who have unknown stories and problems is hard. Leaders shake off the jitters and do it anyway.
Believe
Back to that short, powerful message. Ted, in a touching scene with Keeley, hangs a hand-written sign above his office door: “Believe.” It’s simple really; leaders inspire. And, in order to inspire you need a very clear “why” (or vision, mission, or goal…whatever you want to call it). If your team needs a thesaurus or advanced degree to understand exactly what it is that you want to accomplish you’ve already lost. And don’t worry about sounding “cheesy,” belief never is. Nor is anything worth doing, and if people hear or read your “why” and think it’s cheesy then they’re probably not a good fit for the culture you want to build anyway.
So, that’s episode one. There are ten episodes in the first season of Ted Lasso and I plan write a post about each. I hope you enjoy the posts, but more than that, I hope you watch and enjoy the show. These are difficult times, dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, so if watching Ted Lasso gives you 30 minutes with a smile on your face and a laugh or two well, that’s enough. But maybe, like me, you’ll learn something too. Ted Lasso is sneaky smart that way, you learn without realizing and the next thing you know you’re planning Biscuits with the Boss…but more on that when we get to episode two.
Please Come to the Principal’s Office 