Ted Lasso, the popular series about an American football coach who goes on to coach a fictional UK football team offers many lessons in safety leadership. This is the first in a series of short posts about lessons we can apply from the show in safety leadership.
Above the door in the locker room of the Richmond Greyhounds is a simple handwritten sign “believe.” For the Greyhounds, it’s about being a team, doing the right things in the right way, becoming better teammates and ultimately becoming a winning team.
When it comes to safety, what do you and your team believe? Is it a simple message? Can your team rally behind it? Is it ambitious? Is it memorable? Can your leaders make it visionary? Do they “believe?”
In the locker room, the Greyhounds are initially skeptical. At one point the sign the sign gets ripped up. Ted doesn’t back down. He applies constancy and consistency in his message.
When it comes to safety, what’s your core belief? Do your leaders buy in? Are they consistent and constant? Do they (or you) bend in the face of resistance? Is the message motivating?
Have you linked the simplicity of the message to desired behaviors and what success looks like? Like Ted, winning was a destination, not the immediate outcome.
What’s your destination? What’s your simple message? Is it effective? How do you know? Wouldn’t this be a great discussion for your team?
