How can Ted Lasso help global mobility?

The internet and social media platforms are buzzing with Ted Lasso talk these days. The show has appealed to a huge number of people, tapping into our psyches to provide some very much needed positivity and empathy at a time when so much around us is negative and self-centered. The show's success may have re-instilled a belief in us that things will work out ultimately and that people are actually good, if not flawed and just a tad lost at times. While Ted isn't perfect, he models some behaviors that we could all probably benefit from incorporating into our lives, both at home and at work. It's no wonder that the show received 20 Emmy nominations, a record showing for a first-year show, which as Inc.com states is "really quite remarkable when you consider almost no one had any idea what the show was about when it first arrived. The premise, itself, seemed pretty absurd." The show’s total haul of Emmys turned out to be seven.

The show has been loaded with lessons that can be (and have been and are being) translated across every job function in every industry out there. Go ahead and google (the verb) "lessons from Ted Lasso" and see what you get. Too many articles (and videos) to go through in a week! But as of yet, when I googled "global mobility" and "Ted Lasso", I only saw one brief tweet (way to go Cornerstone!). So when I saw the article below by Tim Redd at Ford & Harrison LLP, I knew I wanted to share what was said, and take a stab at considering what global mobility leaders, teams, and programs can learn from "tapping into Ted."

If you are unfamiliar with the show and the character, I'll let you read Tim's article to get caught up on what Ted Lasso is all about. This Fortune article starts out by saying, "It’s not hard to see that Ted Lasso is a master class in modern leadership." So here are a few of those insights wrapped into three lessons from Ted Lasso that might benefit your Global Mobility program immediately:

Lasso Lesson One - Be curious, not judgmental: If you just had a thought bubble that said, "wait a minute, that's Walt Whitman, not Ted Lasso," then I want you on my next trivia team, because you're right. But the lesson is important regardless of who said it. Take this 3-minute YouTube video and watch Ted deploy this wisdom with the lesson being: Be open, because good ideas can come from anywhere. If you are about making your mobility programs as useful and as efficient as possible, then tap into those with interesting ideas and insights. Seek out those that think differently. Get opinions, make an effort to hear the "voice of the customer," and even seek insights from those outside mobility who bring different experiences and vantage points to the mix. The best solutions or answers come from asking the best questions. So, inquire and ask a lot of good questions. Curiosity is at the heart of design thinking, which we have written many posts on. Just go back to our Trending Topics page and search the term! Heck, without that intense curiosity, where would Point C have come from? Ultimately, consider taking this Lasso-ism to heart: 

• “Takin’ on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse. If you’re comfortable while you’re doin’ it, you’re probably doin’ it wrong.”

Lasso Lesson Two - Make sure to start with your "mates" and "Nates": OK so "mates" are teammates. Ted Lasso is all about relationships and recognizes that people are the most important part of any organization (group, team, division, company, etc.). He knows people's names, he taps into their unique strengths, he understands that everyone is worthy of his attention and he sees the potential in everyone. Ted invests in relationships and even seeks to make others look and feel good. At the same time, he is willing to remove the bad actors to protect the team and the culture.

"Nates?" That is the name of one of the characters, the "kit manager" whom Ted nurtures, develops and empowers, recognizing the strengths and value he can bring with his passion for the team. Many leaders would not have sought out game strategy from the "kit manager!" He gives Nate full credit without feeling insecure at all about from where the "great idea" came from. Ultimately, Ted is willing to take on some conflict, but in the lines of mutual respect and developing people and the culture. 

Since this is lesson two, here are two Lasso-isms for this lesson on putting people first:

• “For me, success is not about the wins and losses. It’s about helping these young fellas be the best versions of themselves on and off the field.”
• “I want you to know, I value each of your opinions, even when you’re wrong.”

Lasso Lesson Three - Make change your friend: There are many other lessons I debated about for this last one, but Ted's ability and willingness to look at change as positive, to embrace change, besides being the premise the show is built on, allows him the opportunities for growth and the chance to deploy numerous other valuable lessons for our benefit. Ted leaves a country (yes, he is an American expat living in the UK) to bite off a bold new challenge (he was a college football coach and moves to real football), and in the process leverages his humor, puts forth his infectious optimism, and challenges us to "be a goldfish," meaning to shake off our mistakes and keep going. All of these are individual lessons, but all are deployed in his efforts to make "change" his friend. In mobility, we bump into challenges and conflicts, and in our current environment, change is a constant. 

Lasso-isms? Here are three to support lesson three:

• “Smells like potential.”
• “I know change can be scary. One minute, you are playing freeze tag out there at recess with all your buddies. Next thing you know, you’re getting zits, your voice gets low. And every time your art teacher, Ms. Scanlon, leans over your desk to check and see how your project’s going, you feel all squiggly inside.”
• “I think that’s what it’s all about. Embracing change.”

If you haven't yet seen the show, odds are you will and you'll like it. In the meantime, feel free to tap into these Lasso-isms to stay positive, stay curious, get help, forget your mistakes and move on, be openminded, seek feedback and try things out. The journey won't be perfect, but it could be fun, and I believe things are heading in the right direction!