Just over a week ago, I had the chance to catch up with an old friend who had recently begun watching Ted Lasso. As I’ve written before, I love Ted Lasso – the person and the show. I love its central themes of belief, kindness, leadership, trust, vulnerability, and redemption.
Disclaimer for any English majors who may be reading this: I don’t know that those are the official Ted Lasso themes; that’s just what I think they are. For the purposes of this post, that’s good enough. Onward.
After dinner, we came back to my house, sat on the couch, and watched an episode of this amazing show. It just happened to be one of my favorite episodes of the entire series and I found myself smiling at the TV as the show progressed. It felt good to have a little Lasso back in my life.
Earlier today, I began a book given to me as a Christmas gift from my brother-in-law, Ryan: Lead It Like Lasso. I’ve only just begun to read it, but the foreword seems promising and I love the title of the first chapter: Leadership is Life. After I put the book down, I found myself thinking back to all the brilliant moments from the show and the quotes that resonated within me enough to still remember them two years later. The first one I thought of might be my favorite line from the entire series:
I hope that either all of us or none of us are judged by the actions of our weakest moments, but rather by the strength we show when and if we’re ever given a second chance.
There’s something profound about this for all people, for sure. But, it goes even deeper for those entrusted with the responsibility of leadership. The best leaders, I think, know how to give their people second chances, oftentimes because they’ve needed those chances themselves. They know how to withhold judgment and encourage growth instead. They understand that people are more than their mistakes and that, with the right support, they can rise above their lowest moments.
They recognize that a second chance isn’t about ignoring failure but about believing in someone’s ability to learn and improve. And, most importantly, they model the very things they ask of others: resilience, grace, and the willingness to move forward.
This quote reminds us that leadership isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being present, being kind, and lifting people up when they need it most. That’s a lesson worth carrying into every leadership position we ever hold and one that’s incredibly important at this point in the school year.
I wonder: Who needs you to give them a second chance?
#ChooseToBeGreat
Angelo
CHOOSE TO BE GREAT 