Ted Lasso’s Agile Lessons
In the immortal words of Ted Lasso,- “If you care about someone, and you got a little love in your heart, there ain’t nothing you can’t get through together.”
As a devoted fan of Ted Lasso and an enthusiast of Agile principles, I’m here to illustrate how the profound lessons from this inspiring series can elevate your leadership or coaching skills.
- Vulnerability is strength, not a weakness- Often envisioning leaders or coaches, the image of a superhero in a cape often comes to mind but we forget they are humans or is it their intention to hide that side? Simon Sinek talks about — “Ability to be vulnerable is one of the greatest and most difficult leadership lessons we all can learn.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvakdHlrFTM
And Brene Brown in one of her talks said that vulnerability is birth place of emotions like Love, Belonging, Joy and Empathy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO6n9HmG0qM
Leaders who demonstrate and normalize vulnerability and are authentic (like Agile’s lean agile leadership says) encourage their teams to empathize and connect on a deeper level.
2. Be a goldfish — Fail fast, learn fast. Don’t let a small defeat define you, forget it like a goldfish. Like Phil Knight said about his journey early on in his book Air-
“But my hope was that when I failed, if I failed, I’d fail quickly, so I’d have enough time, enough years, to implement all the hard-won lessons. I wasn’t much for setting goals, but this goal kept flashing through my mind every day, until it became my internal chant: Fail fast.”
This lesson resonates deeply with Agile principles, urging us to quickly adapt and grow from failures.
3. Everyone differs from everyone else- Leaders and coaches must acknowledge and respect the uniqueness of individuals and the power these differences bring. Comparing everyone on the same scale is akin to judging a fish by its ability to climb a tree. Embracing diversity fosters a more inclusive and dynamic team environment and psychological safety which encourages teams to bring out the best in themselves and each other.
4. Stay Teachable — Perhaps my favorite lesson! As Brian Herbert wisely stated, “The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.” Be a sponge, always ready to absorb new knowledge. A teachable mindset ensures continuous growth and adaptability. This resonates with Agile belief in lifelong learning as one of the leadership traits.
In conclusion, the wisdom gleaned from Ted Lasso and Agile principles can transform leaders and coaches into compassionate, adaptable, and resilient individuals who inspire and uplift their teams. And in the end remembering what Ted said
“Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing” — Ted Lasso
