I recently stumbled on an article titled “10 Leadership Lessons From Ted Lasso,” and you better know I’m going to share it with you. If you don’t know who Ted Lasso is, read my last Blog. And if you haven’t seen the Ted Lasso show… shame on you! Here are the 10!

1. Everyone is worthy of your attention

In episode one, when Ted arrives at Richmond Football Club (FC), he walks around and takes it all in. He passes a young guy, Nate, who is a kit man (one of the lowest ranking jobs in a football club), but instead of walking right past him on his way to the director’s office, he stops to say hello. Nate is genuinely surprised that Ted took the time to do this.

Then, in episode three, Ted decides to give the players some gifts. Instead of splashing the cash on something blingy, he splashes his time, energy and attention – priceless things. He gives each player something meaningful.

We often best communicate what we value through what we choose to pay attention to. While many things in life demand our attention, our conscious choices to spend mental and emotional energy send clear signals to those around us.

2. Learn peoples’ names

In that first, same episode, he learns Nate’s name. He doesn’t just hear it, he makes sure to remember it and he uses that knowledge, later on, to begin building their relationship. Nate is astounded that Ted remembers his name as it shows a level of care he isn’t used to.

3. Invest in relationships

In the early episodes, Ted begins his relationship with Rebecca, owner of Richmond FC, by creating moments that matter. He asks her about the first concert she went to and her favorite concert. He really wants to get to know her and share more about himself.

Specifically, in episode two, Ted receives a care package from his son in America. It includes peanut butter and some toy soldiers that are very precious to Ted. One of the footballers, Sam, is having a hard time, and Ted opts to give Sam one of the soldiers, showing Sam how precious he is.

4. Leverage rituals to build camaraderie

In the early episodes, we see Lasso create a ritual around tea and biscuits with his manager. He brings her biscuits each day, and they chat. This creates a bond between them almost instantly.

Then, in episode six, he encourages the players to come together for a ritual talk about an item that means a lot to them. Ted knows that storytelling and vulnerability are a great way for the team to bond.

5. Family first – always

In episode five, when his family arrives from America right in the middle of a practice, he gives his family commitments absolute priority and ensures his team understands that he’s doing so.

Though we generally expect people to act this way, leaders can often forget that they need to set a good example. There are often intense pressures on a leader’s time and, as such, it’s even more important that they are seen to reinforce the importance of family over work. This gives others in the organization the confidence they need to make the right decisions for their families.

6. Strong teams learn and win together

Ted believes Nate has a lot of potential, so, in episode seven, he decides to give him an opportunity to help him grow. Nate delivers the pre-match talk for a big game. He might fall flat on his face, but Ted knows that experimentation is critical to learning.

When Richmond FC plays Manchester City in episode six, he chooses to bench one of his star players for unsportsmanlike behavior even though it might cost them the game. He sends a clear signal that how they play together is much more important than whether they win a particular game.

Without humility, a top player will quickly find themselves overtaken by others who know that they still (and will always) have a lot to learn.

7. Make others look/feel good

In episode four, when Nate is coming to meet Ted as his guest for a gala (which is yet another way Ted makes him feel special), Nate is worried he has shown up too early. Ted makes a comment that eases any potential awkwardness and normalizes the situation to ensure that Nate feels comfortable. He redirects the conversation to ask Nate for some advice.

In general, Ted orients his mind around gratitude, so he frequently finds things to be grateful for. Most importantly, he always gives voice to that gratitude, benefiting those around him.

The core of Ted’s mindset is the recognition of the unique value of each human being. This value is not based on what they can do but, rather, who they can be. When someone fails or does something embarrassing, that doesn’t compromise his sense of their fundamental worth. When leaders have this perspective, it makes it much easier to build inclusive, supportive, encouraging teams.

8. Be open – good ideas can come from anywhere

In episode three, when Nate has an idea for a strategy, Ted could pre-judge that idea based on Nate’s youth and inexperience. Instead, Ted encourages him to share and it turns out to be a great idea. Ted puts his ego aside again and again.

As a sports coach, Ted understands the value of a level playing field (both metaphorically and literally). As such, when it comes to ideas, he knows that it’s foolish (and divisive) to put meaningless barriers in people’s way. To fail to listen to someone because of their age or status would mean discarding the potential value of their contribution and ruining their sense of safety in making it.

9. Play like a child

In episode three, when the team visits a local school, they set up a challenge in the playground to encourage the kids to participate. Ted could easily stand back and watch – his team has it under control. Instead, he embraces the value of play and joins in.

In the same episode, he goes out for dinner with a reporter to an Indian restaurant. He brings his sense of adventure and lets the waiter choose the food and spiciness level. He’s not afraid to try something new.

Play is a liberating mindset that takes joy in the journey and quiets our obsessions about the destination. In a playful state, we are vastly more creative and open to unexpected value. Play is fundamentally how we learn our deepest lessons and form our closest friendships. Leadership without play is merely management.

10. Don’t take yourself too seriously – be vulnerable

In every episode, we see him using self-deprecating humor. He’s constantly projecting the reality, “I’m human, I’m vulnerable and everything’s okay”.

He frequently admits his mistakes and sends a clear message that it’s more important to do the right thing than be right.

When he’s talking to the press before the team goes to play at Everton, he openly admits to not knowing about relegation. His honesty about his gaps is refreshing and it disarms the journalist who was out for blood, causing that journalist to warm to him.

We create an emotionally and intellectually brittle mental state when we take ourselves too seriously. Instead of adapting to new information and embracing failure as a learning opportunity, we begin to take offense at ideas that challenge our beliefs or our sense of self. Anger, resentment, pomposity, defensiveness and disengagement are all milestones along that path. By contrast, embracing our silly, flawed nature as human beings means sharing perhaps the most fundamental parts of our experiences and so connecting most deeply with each other.