The Inspiring Team Spirit Behind Apple TV's Ted Lasso
What can we learn about cultivating some of that spirit in our own organizations
Many of you have likely been following the immensely popular Apple TV series, Ted Lasso. Like us, you might be feeling a sense of disappointment now that the show has ended (although we all hope for more in the future, right?).
As part of getting to the end of the season, Apple has released a fantastic season finale video. In such a video, one might expect to see behind-the-scenes footage and bloopers. However, what truly shines through in this video is the remarkable team spirit that permeates the entire production, encompassing both cast and crew.
What we see in this video is yet more evidence that great products are made by passionate people — individuals who genuinely believe in what they are doing. These individuals inspire and unite each other, fostering an environment where remarkable achievements are made. In particular…
The Beacon of Inspiration: Jason Sudeikis, who portrays the charismatic Ted Lasso, embodies his team’s spirit. His unwavering vision for the character and undeniable passion for the show are evident throughout. It is clear that Sudeikis serves as a source of inspiration for those around him, motivating everyone to collaborate and produce the best possible end product.
A Culture of Humble Leadership: It is self-evident that the culture fostered by the Ted Lasso production team emphasizes humble leadership. Jason frequently acknowledges the contributions of other team members, praising their efforts and underscoring their significance.
The Power of Focused Effort: The team capitalizes on its camaraderie by working in focused bursts with very well understood common goals. They all know which mountaintop they’re aiming for and that singular vision creates energy, purpose and great collaboration.
Encouraging Diverse Contributions: Another key aspect of the team's culture lies in their unswerving belief that good ideas can come from anyone, regardless of their designated role. Many individuals involved in the production have taken on multiple roles - from writing and acting to directing. One standout example is Brett Goldstein, who was initially brought on as part of the writing team. While working on scenes for the character Roy Kent, Goldstein realized he had the potential to excel in portraying Roy himself. Despite the potential risks to his relationship with the team, he courageously submitted a video audition. His bold action was ultimately rewarded, leading to a stronger team and a richer end result.
In your organization, if you’re keen to help your team members become T-shaped and add more value in the long-term, you’ll want to start taking actions now to promote that. Firstly, we’d recommend discipline leads start to think about small, low-risk projects where people may start to venture outside of their usual roles…
Where might a back-end engineer be able to contribute some UX designs?
How could your marketing folks venture into marketing the organization as an employer (and not just the products/services your company provides)?
Do you have QA folks with basic coding skills who could work on an internal app?
While it might not deliver a lot of value in the short-term, this kind of cross-functional ‘bootstrapping’ is an investment both in the future of those individuals that participate and in a more deeply collaborative and agile company culture.
Let us know if you have comments or questions on the above and we’ll do our best to help.