Transformational Leadership Lessons in Ted Lasso
What is transformational leadership?
Transformational leadership is a style of leadership in which a leader works with their team to identify needed change, create a vision to guide the change through inspiration, and execute the change with the commitment of the team.
A transformational leader focuses on the growth and development of their team and helps them to become more innovative, creative, and successful in their work. The leader encourages their team to think outside the box, take risks, and work together to achieve their goals.
Transformational leadership is based on trust, respect, and communication between the leader and their team.
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Who coined the term transformational leadership
James V. Downton was the first to coin the term “transformational leadership” around 1973 with publication of his thesis Rebel leadership: revisiting the concept of charisma. However it was further developed by James MacGrefor Burns in 1978 where he described transformational leadership as “leaders and followers make each other advance to a higher level of morality and motivation." (Wikipedia)
Goals of Transformational Leaders
Transformational leadership is a style of leadership that focuses on empowering and encouraging people to reach their highest potential. It is based on four main pillars:
1. Inspiring Vision: Leaders set a clear, inspiring vision and communicate it to their team. They also create a sense of purpose and direction that motivates and excites people.
2. Developing People: Leaders help their team members develop their skills and abilities to reach their full potential. They provide coaching, feedback, and support to help them reach their goals.
3. Facilitating Change: Leaders are able to identify and manage change effectively. They are able to create an environment that is conducive to growth and innovation.
4. Promoting Collaboration: Leaders foster collaboration and trust among their team members. They create an atmosphere of respect and understanding where people are comfortable working together.
5. Encouragement: Leaders encourage their teams to work collaborate and to put forth their best efforts. They encourage growth outside of the workplace and want the best for their employees.
As Higgins says, "a good mentor hopes you'll move on, a great mentor knows you will."
By following these goals, leaders can create a workplace that is focused on growth, development, and success.
4 Types of transformational Leaders
Transformational leaders are those who motivate and inspire change in their followers. There are four main types of transformational leadership that have been identified by scholars:
Idealized influence – This type of leader is seen as a role model, exuding confidence, enthusiasm, and trustworthiness. They set high standards and expectations for themselves and their followers, and strive to be a source of inspiration.
Inspirational motivation – This type of leader is able to inspire enthusiasm in their followers by providing a compelling vision and creating an atmosphere of optimism. They encourage their followers to take risks and stretch their capabilities.
Intellectual stimulation – This type of leader encourages followers to think critically and creatively. They create an environment of inquiry and debate, and challenge followers to think outside the box.
Individualized consideration – This type of leader focuses on developing individual followers by providing support, guidance, and feedback. They nurture and develop talent, and help followers reach their potential.
Characteristics of transformational leaders
Transformational leaders are characterized by several key traits.
They demonstrate strong vision and display high levels of enthusiasm and passion for their work.
They are highly motivational and able to inspire others to think creatively and strive for success.
They are excellent communicators and display strong interpersonal skills to foster collaboration and trust between team members.
They are adept at problem-solving and are able to get the best out of their team.
They are highly organized and have a clear understanding of the goals and objectives of the organization.
Types of leadership styles
Some of the other types of leadership styles include Autocratic, Democratic, Laissez-Faire, Transactional, Charismatic, and Servant Leadership.
Autocratic leadership is a type of leadership style where the leader makes all of the decisions without consulting the team.
Democratic leadership is a style that encourages team members to make decisions together.
Laissez-Faire leadership is a hands-off approach where the leader provides guidance but doesn't interfere in day-to-day operations.
Transactional leadership is focused on setting goals and providing rewards for meeting them.
Charismatic leadership is a style of leadership that is centered around a leader's personal charm and charisma.
Servant Leadership is a style of leadership that focuses on the leader serving the team and providing resources to help them succeed.
Ted Lasso The Show
Heads up, there will be spoilers within the next section of this blog post!
Ted Lasso is about an American football coach who is hired under somewhat false contexts by Rebecca Welton, the newly divorced owner of the Richmond football club. As the show goes on, Lasso’s job is sabotaged but he continues to overcome the obstacles by being an amazing leader.
As his purpose is to be a leader through coaching, he makes a difference throughout the team, and everyone within the organization. For more, watch the trailer below:
10 examples of transformational leadership in Ted Lasso
Idealized Influence
Lasso is nothing without his go lucky attitude filled with pop culture jokes and empathy for those within the team. As an idealized influence for his team, Lasso “walks the talk” by truly caring about his players and everyone within the organization. Consistently showing up for the players and others within the football club.
Including his interview with Trent Crim where he takes Crim on a field trip to an elementary school where the team captain is volunteering. Between dropping plenty of inspirational quotes throughout the interview to eating overly spicy food to feel “like family” of the Indian family restaurant they go to, Lasso inspired Crim to change his mind about him. He showed him who he was knowing that his true transformational leader-self, would win him over. Just watch the scene below of Crims’ finished article:
Inspirational Motivation
This show utilizes Sudeikis’ natural flow of pop culture references, “folksy anecdotes,” and use of metaphors to rule Lasso’s humor. He uses these to present his subtle coaching skills in moments the team understands.
For example, Sam Obisanya is upset about his playing at practice, and Lasso asks him, “do you know what the happiest animal in the world is?” Slightly confused, Obsianya asks, while Lasso presents it’s a goldfish because their memory is only 10 seconds. We can only learn from our mistakes if we don’t let them get to our head. Being a goldfish becomes Obsianya’s go to phrase throughout the series.
Individualized Consideration
Lasso constantly is worried about his team and those within the organization. He’s one of the few to constantly check on Rebecca Welton, as she’s going through divorce and making her “biscuits” from her childhood.
I believe this is a psychology technique. He brings her treats from her childhood so she associates “biscuits with the boss” with the treats. A little dopamine hit in the morning to go along with Lasso’s friendly smile.
Also, telling Jamie Tart after the first game:
“you’re so sure that you’re 1 in a million, that sometimes you forget you’re just one of 11. If you figure out some way way to turn that me into us, *whistle* skies the limit for you.”
With positive reinforcement, this is Lasso’s leadership style to help Jamie.
Intellectual Stimulation
In the spirit of making the team look at things from a different way, this infamous video originally from then-Philadelphia 75ers’ player Allen Iverson during an interview in May 2002.
I believe Lasso uses this tactic, not only to come across as stern while pushing why it’s so important to the game. His point was to cause emotion within the team. Especially since it was geared towards the issue player on the team.
Inspire
During his first day as coach, he tapes a big yellow sign with blue letters that state BELIEVE above his office door that’s easily visible to the players. This will be a consistent rhetoric throughout the series for the players to believe, not only in him, but themselves.
"So I've been hearing this phrase y'all got over here that I ain't too crazy about. 'It's the hope that kills you.' Y'all know that? I disagree, you know? I think it's the lack of hope that comes and gets you. See, I believe in hope. I believe in belief."
Create meaningful change
Lasso is not shy about what being a coach means to him. Whether he’s talking to Crim about not caring if the team wins or losses or arguing with Coach Beard about ruining Kent’s self-esteem by telling him it’s time to retire.
Lasso is on the side of his players and creating meaningful change on and off the field.
As Lasso mentions in his interview that he’s there to make the players their best selves on and off the pitch.
“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.”
Empathy
One of the greatest keys to emotional intelligence that can lead to transformational leaders, is empathy. Empathy is within this show many times. Lasso is the only one who sees Welton’s ex-husband Rupert for who he is and continues to show up for Welton. Even after she tells him she’s been plotting against him to get back at Rupert, he immediately forgives her.
"I think that if you care about someone and you have a little love in your heart, there ain't nothing you can't get through together."
This is an emotional scene if you watch the growth of the relationship.
Emotional intelligence
Emotional regulation shows up multiple times throughout the series. Especially when Lasso doesn’t allow the constant chant “wanker” to ruin his mood or when he sees Welton for who she is rather than what she’s done out of revenge from the confession.
Another scene is when Lasso is in the process of coaching Roy Kent to his fullest leader potential. Kent is in the process of courting Keeli Jones and they come across roadblock in the start of their situationship. A very emotionally intelligent response from Lasso, but watch the scene for full context.
(start at 3:29 for quick context)
Roy: I can’t control my feelings
Lasso: So by all means let them control you
Learning from mistakes
Lasso tends to help those around him to face their fears and their mistakes. A great example is at the end of season 2 when Nathan, the previous kit boy turned assistant coach, turns into the antagonist of the next season where he wants all the fame and recognition he’s not receiving from Lasso.
Not only does Lasso have empathy and emotional regulation before the confrontation, he goes straight into the conversation with Nathan by asking what his lesson is there and what he can learn for the future.
Also, when he starts having panic attacks and instead of hiding them once Nathan leaks it to the press, he decides to change the conversation about mental health within the field of sports instead of hiding it.
“Y'all need to get together and woman up”
You’ll just have to watch the show to see how Lasso handles mistakes…as it’s one of his superpowers!
Curiosity
One of Lasso’s greatest gifts is his ability to be nonjudgmental and curious about what makes people tick. He likes to get to the core of the people he interacts with over a period of time. Even when he’s coming at you with silliness, it comes from the most sincere place.
He gives so much of himself to other people and how they are doing within their lives, that his leadership really sneaks up and bites ya in the butt. You never would suspect he is really just curious about each person as a human to be able to individually lead them into their highest potential.
Walt Whitman “Be curious, not judgemental”
I would arguably say this is one of the best scenes in the show Ted Lasso. This is when Welton flips the script and finally learns to appreciate Lasso for who he is while he stands up for her. However, the lesson is deeper than that. It dives into what built his character and what makes him an incredible leader.
