Be more Ted Lasso: 4 ways to be a good human
What can a comedy series about an American coaching an English football team teach us about being good humans?
We have two words for you: Ted Lasso.
The award-winning series has a lot of laugh-out-loud moments, but under the surface, it’s about what it means to be human, the importance of growth, and the power of kindness.
Ted, played by Jason Sudeikis, is a hapless coach who is clueless about football, full of corny jokes, and with unshakable – often misplaced – optimism.
Yet he manages to win over his team, the press, and even die-hard fans who despise him.
How does he do it?
Simply by being a good human.
Ted is always patient, kind and willing to listen, never rising to the nastiness and manipulation thrown his way.
So, how can we become more Lasso-esque? What are the soft skills Ted teaches us to put into action?
Let’s dive in.
4 ways to be a good human, the Lasso way
1. Be kind (even when people aren’t kind to you)
If there’s one thing that almost everyone can agree on, it’s that to be a good human, you need to be kind.
Psychologist and author Harriet Lerner said, “Kindness is at the centre of what it means to be good. It may require very little from us, or the opposite. It may require words and action, or restraint and silence. Everything that can be said can be said with kindness. Every tough position we have to take can be taken with kindness. No exceptions.”
But kindness isn’t always easy.
Ted Lasso is faced with constant pushback. He is repeatedly undermined, doubted and insulted by his team, manager, fans and media. But the fictional coach is the true definition of kindness: he is motivated by seeing others doing well and desires to do good because he can.
“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.”
This is a great lesson in one soft skill on particular: emotional intelligence (EQ).
Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions as well as recognise and influence the emotions of others.
Ask yourself:
Do you go out of your way to demonstrate small acts of kindness?
When faced with the choice of how to act, do you choose kind?
How do you bring more giving into your work life?
2. Be curious, not judgemental
One of Ted’s best traits is his curiosity. He’s curious about every person he interacts with and their experiences. He asks lots of questions to learn about their views and understand what makes them tick. But most importantly, he listens without judgement.
Curiosity is one of the top soft skills employers are looking for, according to the Future of Jobs Report 2023. Curiosity fuels problem-solving, adaptability and creativity, prompting us to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and explore new ideas without judgement.
Understanding where others are coming from by exploring why they believe what they do is a powerful soft skill. It helps you to actively look for and debunk biases to ensure they’re not misleading your views or stopping you from making real connections.
One thing driving Ted’s approach is his awareness of when people have been judgemental about him, and how that made him feel. In one episode, he’s challenged to a darts match by the vindictive former owner of the team, Rupert, and offers this speech as he plays:
“Guys have underestimated me my entire life and for years I never understood why – it used to really bother me. But then one day I was driving my little boy to school and I saw a quote by Walt Whitman, it was painted on the wall and it said, ‘Be curious, not judgmental.’ I like that.” (Throws triple 20)
“So I get back in my car and I’m driving to work and all of the sudden it hits me – all them fellas that used to belittle me, not a single one of them was curious. You know, they thought they had everything figured out so they judged everything and they judged everyone. And I realised that their underestimating me – who I was had nothing to do with it. Because if they were curious they would’ve asked questions. Questions like, ‘Have you played a lot of darts, Ted?’” (Throws triple 20)
“To which I would have answered, “Yes sir. Every Sunday afternoon at a sports bar with my father from age ten until I was 16 when he passed away. Barbecue sauce.” (Throws triple bullseye to win)
Ask yourself:
Do you ask questions from a place of curiosity, not judgement?
Are you conscious of your unconscious biases before making decisions?
3. Own your mistakes
Good humans hold themselves accountable. They own their actions and acknowledge the impact they have on others.
This is a major theme in Ted Lasso. The characters are human and make mistakes. They hurt each other and sometimes get things very wrong. But they own their mistakes and apologise in a way that feels real and meaningful.
Accountability is a powerful soft skill. It means you assess a situation and take responsibility for your behaviour and outcomes — in other words, you own it.
As Ted Lasso’s characters show, being accountable for your mistakes can feel uncomfortable – often really awkward – but you can use it as an opportunity to learn, grow in confidence, and build relationships based on trust and respect.
Ask yourself:
Do you take responsibility for the things you do and the impact they have?
Do you offer a genuine apology when you cause hurt or harm?
4. Keep trying
Being good doesn’t simply run in Ted Lasso’s blood – we see him constantly working on it.
The truth is we can’t be perfect, but we can become a better human with some hard work.
Kindness is a personable skill you can develop. Being curious is something you can practise by asking more questions. You might not always get it right, and it might not always feel easy, but remember this one last Lassoism:
“Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn’t it? If you’re comfortable while you’re doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong.”
To start developing your human skills today, simply download the Hodie app, or explore Maxme’s menu of human skills programs for organisations or schools.
Prefer to talk through your options? Contact us at any time.
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