If, like me, you shed a tear at the season finale of Emmy-winning ‘Ted Lasso’, you’re certainly not alone. The feel-good story of an American football coach hired to manage Richmond AFC has captured our hearts whilst teaching us valuable life lessons that are just as applicable in the workplace as they are on the football field. But don’t just take my word for it, take inspiration from Coach Lasso himself to help you raise your coaching game and empower your team to achieve the extraordinary.
“There’s two buttons I never like to hit: that’s panic and snooze.”
A great coach understands the importance of helping their team break out of their comfort zone and into their learning zone which is where the magic happens. It’s about encouraging your team to face their fears and set SMART goals that move them into their area of best performance without tipping them into their panic zone where they feel stressed and out of their depth.
“Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn’t it? If you’re comfortable while you’re doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong.”
What doesn’t challenge us, doesn’t change us. Changing behaviour is difficult – your role as a coach is to set the appropriate level of challenge for your team whilst giving them the support they need as they develop new skills and manage challenging situations.
“You know what the happiest animal on earth is? It’s a goldfish. You know why? It’s got a 10-second memory. Be a goldfish.”
When things don’t turn out as planned it’s easy for people to get stuck in a downward spiral of negative thinking. Rather than dwelling on past mistakes, encourage your team to adopt the Lasso way and draw on their resilience to take the learnings from the situation and get back in the game.
“As the man once said, the harder you work, the luckier you get.”
As every sports person will tell you, it takes hard work and commitment to be at the top of your game. The same is true in the workplace, the more effort you put in, the greater the rewards. Keep your team on track by motivating them to achieve their goals and holding them to account as they journey forward.
“I believe in hope, I believe in belief”
The ‘Believe” poster in Richmond’s changing room is a constant reminder of the power of positive thinking. Follow Coach Lasso’s example and encourage your team to develop a winning mindset. It’s about fostering your team’s optimism and self-belief so they have confidence in who they are and what they do.
As we bid Ted Lasso a final farewell, let’s embrace the transformative power of coaching once again by remembering that, “Success is not about the wins and losses. It’s about helping these fellas be the best versions of themselves on and off the field.”
