I’m a lifelong soccer enthusiast (or football, for the purists). I love the sport because Football is Life, not just because Dani Rojas says it, but because what the game represents. The Beautiful Game mirrors life, and provides numerous leadership lessons. It’s about the team over the individual, being accountable to others, practicing communication is key, and sometimes you need the courage to take action. I could go on, but there are already numerous articles, blogs, and books on the subject.
I’m also a huge fan of Ted Lasso. In my opinion, it might be one of the best shows ever made, not just because its so damn entertaining (which it is), or because we need optimism and positivity, which seems to be lacking as of late. Yes, these are reasons why its an amazing show, yet another reason is for it’s leadership lessons. The themes of leadership, empathy, and growth are woven throughout the series, and they are so important to have in our lives now than ever before. For anyone who wants to become a better leader, they would benefit from watching it, more than once. Several times really. And then a few more times after that.
Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success quietly flows through much of the show. You only see the actual Pyramid a few times, and it’s rarely mentioned outright, however the philosophies are everywhere. As you read through Wooden’s building blocks, you start to recognize how Ted Lasso reflects them throughout the show; its subtle and it never hits you over the head. But they are always there in the background.
This blog is my attempt to understand these connections, to explore Wooden’s Pyramid a bit more deeply, discuss how it’s exemplified in Ted Lasso, and reflect on how these ideas relate to real-world leadership. Bare in mind that I’m not a leadership expert, I don’t even like to call myself a leader. But like anything we wish to be better at, growing into leadership takes practice, it takes work, patience, and the willingness to keep learning.
In soccer, when the ball goes “into touch,” it means it’s gone out of play, its crossed the touchline (the sideline). The game pauses before restarting. The player picks up the ball and takes a moment to reset, refocus, and plan the next move. Leadership is in a way much the same. Sometimes, you have to step out of the day-to-day, to pause, reflect, and realign. And then you can return to the field of play a little better than before.
I’m not a writer, though I do have a book/journal “Circle Back Later Note” (yup, shameless plug), and I don’t consider myself a particularly cerebral thinker. This blog isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about discovery and learning.
To be successful in life and leadership, we just need to keep training, keep showing up, and keep moving toward being better every day.
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