Leadership Lessons From Ted Lasso: A Sit-down with Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio

Outside Insights

In the latest episode of Outside Insights, I had the pleasure of interviewing the dynamic duo, Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio, tech leaders, co-founders of Lifecycle Insights and co-authors of “Lead It Like Lasso“.

During our conversation, we dove into their unique approach to leadership, drawing inspiration from none other than the TV character, Ted Lasso. From their journey co-founding and scaling Lifecycle Insights, Marnie and Nick shared a wealth of wisdom.

Finding Inspiration from Ted Lasso

Who would have thought that a fictional soccer coach could provide profound leadership insights? Marnie and Nick did. They admired Ted Lasso’s positive, people-focused philosophy and saw many parallels to their own leadership experiences. Their book aims to help readers cultivate these qualities, encouraging them to become more effective and authentic leaders.

Marnie and Nick believe that effective leadership starts with leading yourself—aligning with your core values and being true to who you are. They highlighted that a lack of authenticity can create a sense of mistrust among employees, something that can tank your team’s morale.

In a past life I was a football coach who converted to a high school soccer coach. I was not technical enough to lead quite like Ted Lasso, but I did it in my own way! I blogged about it here, if you want to check it out.

The Importance of a “Personal Operating System”

One of the standout tools they mentioned from their book is the “personal operating system” exercise. This exercise helps team members understand each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and work styles, fostering better alignment and collaboration. It’s a practical way to nurture individual strengths, much like Ted Lasso does with his team. Longtime listeners know how much I value tools that help people understand themselves and their values—I absolutely loved learning about this one.

An Outside Insights Must: Balancing Work and Life

Marnie and Nick also stressed the importance of self-care to maintain balance. They engage in activities that rejuvenate them, such as exercise, learning new things, and spending quality time with family. Nick enjoys playing golf, while Marnie finds relaxation in knitting. These hobbies help them stay grounded and maintain their well-being amidst the demands of their professional lives.

This episode was a treasure trove of leadership wisdom and practical advice. Marnie and Nick’s book, “Lead It Like Lasso“, offers a refreshing take on leadership. For those seeking to enhance their leadership skills and become more authentic, empathetic, and effective leaders, this Outside Insights episode, and their book, are invaluable resources.

Book Recommendations

For other books to add to your summer reading list, check out a few other titles we discussed on the podcast below:

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