Ep #34: The allure of Ted Lasso

In this episode I want to reflect on three themes of the TV show Ted Lasso that I think make up part of how alluring I believe it is, and what’s happening in our culture and world right now that make it such a compelling set of stories for so many people.

This is probably most relevant for folks who have seen it, but only very mild spoilers, if any, in this, so probably safe for people who haven’t seen all of it or any of it as well.

These three threads are:

1. Really excellent coach-based leadership
2. Community, belonging, and identity to a shared mission or purpose.
3. The good intentions of most of the characters, and the capacity for acting on those good intentions, and the awareness that people have of others’ good intentions.

These reflections offer some fun and interesting insight into how we interact with other people, but also how we think about designing more effective and humane workplaces, organizations, and communities.

Additional Links:

• TV show Ted Lasso:
  • https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10986410/
• Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam
  • https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/478.Bowling_Alone
• John Vervaeke’s Meaning Crisis
  • https://vervaekefoundation.org/what-is-the-meaning-crisis/
• Yuval Noah Harrari’s Sapiens
  • https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23692271-sapiens
• Alain DeBotton:
  • Alain De Botton – Religion For Atheists (Ideas at the House)
• Johann Hari’s Lost Connections
  • https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34921573-lost-connections
• Interview with Adam Kleinbaum from Dartmouth’s Tuck School:
  • https://hanoverhappenings.castos.com/episodes/what-happens-in-our-brain-when-having-consensus-building-converastions-a-converastion-with-tuck-associate-professor-of-business-administration-adam-kleinbaum
• Several sources of information about local community planning:
  • Revitalize or Die: https://revitalizeordie.com/
  • Climate Town on problems wit suburbanism: The Suburbs Are Bleeding America Dry | Climate Town (feat. Not Just Bikes)
  • https://www.planning.org/blog/9227411/active-living-opportunities-through-cluster-housing/