BOARD PERSPECTIVE
BY MARK WILLIAMS , AAMD EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
A Lesson from Lasso : Empowering Your Team
In this issue of Who ' s Who , we asked leaders from throughout the Denver multifamily industry what TV Show best describes their management style .
The number one answer , by far , was Ted Lasso . It makes it easy to recognize that the name of the show is also the name of the star - an American college football coach hired by a fictional Premier League club in England with the intention of seeing the club fail . Despite knowing nothing about soccer , Ted and his assistant coach , with the help of the clubhouse assistant , Nate - leads the club to success through a demonstration of exceptional leadership . How does he do it ? Empowerment .
Ted creates leadership opportunities , often in unexpected ways , and then empowers people - independent of what their role or title might be . Through his leadership style and broad regard for everyone , he often will go out of his way to solicit the opinion from unexpected people . Never is this more evident in Lasso ’ s relationship with the unassuming “ kit man ” or “ clubhouse attendant ”– Nate . Nate is responsible for cleaning cleats , the locker room , and some ground maintenance ( which is just one of the perfect analogies / examples that work well with the apartment world ).
In his initial encounter with Nate , Ted Lasso does several things . He validates him as a person , and that his job of maintaining the pitch is important . Lasso immediately defines his relationship with Nate , and that it will be one of mutual respect and recognizing each of their future potential .
As time goes on in Season 1 , Nate becomes more of a part of the team culture , much to the disapointment of the players , who seem him as lowest on the totem pole .
There is a scene where Nate is disrespected by players in the locker room . While he tries to ignore it , the harassment continues . Lasso doesn ’ t put an end to the bullying himself ; rather he recruits the team Captain to shut it down , illustrating a management style which cleverly gets all of his players to respect one another - including Nate . Ted didn ' t interfere with the harassment- he artfully motivated a team member to put a stop to the hazing , a fine lesson in delegation .
As the relationships between Lasso , Nathan and the Team evolves , Lasso continues to create chances of credibility for Nate . Nate has a lot of ideas , most of which go completely ignored by the coaches and team . In order to give creditibility his ideas , he tries out a set play Nate designed , and it works - growing Nate ' s confidence and opening up new possibilities . This willingness from Lasso to try out a fresh idea is significant to the relationship , and it also shows the trust he is willing to give to his people in order for them to grow .
How often do we as leaders embrace new ideas from unpredictable sources ? Even the willingness to listen to new ideas can have everlasting impact .
As Season 1 progresses , we see Nate become more confident in sharing how he really feels - and in one instance - sharing his feelings about player ' s shortcomings with Ted .
Ted realizes Nate ’ s evaluation of the team will be more powerful coming directly from Nate , versus himself . In a nonchalant way , Lasso tells Nate to give the pre-game talk and address some of the player ’ s shortfalls .
Nate evolution during the speech is remarkable . He proceeds into the locker room extremely hesitant at first , but very quickly find his voice and delivers a litany of lessons ( which the impact certainly will go beyond this game ). The “ tough , but fair ” roasting as Danny Rojas calls it - uncovers the team ’ s weaknesses with brutal truth , and ignites their aging star ’ s “ super power ”. Lasso lets it all play out without saying a word .
This is the crowning moment of Lasso taking a chance on Nate … bestowing to “ Nate the great ” a much greater authority in the clubhouse , and an opportunity he ’ s earned - a defining moment for the relationship between Ted Lasso and Nate- and for the show as a whole .
Through Lasso ’ s ability to shine the light on this originally unassuming character , Nate experiences this dramatic advancement within the organization , earning the players respect , the owner ’ s respect , and of course he had Ted ’ s respect from the beginning !
Nate ’ s journey through the first Season of Ted Lasso – from “ kit man / groundskeeper ” to Assistant Coach … is a powerful lesson for us all . Think of the potential Nates that might exist in your company . With some respect , some empowerment , some trust , and some humility … your team can find and elevate a “ Nate the Great ” as well !
Now , for those of you who have watched Season 2 of Ted Lasso , we see Nathan turns on Lasso , but I ’ d bet all the tea in England , that Season 3 will have more about this relationship and certainly more “ Lessons from Lasso ”.
Ted Lasso on Apple TV +
6 | TRENDS NOV / DEC 2022 www . aamdhq . org