On Second Thought, What Would Ted Lasso Do?

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^{LOS ANGELES, CA. March 07, 2023: Hannah Waddingham, Jason Sudeikis, Brett Goldstein and Charlie Hiscock at the season 3 premiere for "Ted Lasso." Picture: Paul Smith-Featureflash}

Last year, I attended the SHRM Convention in Chicago, which is one of the largest gatherings of human resource professionals in the world, with over 25,000 attendees. I’ve been to this event before as a breakout speaker, but that time, I went simply as a participant. I walked the expo floor, attended sessions, and soaked in the energy of people who care deeply about workplace culture.

Jason Sudeikis, the actor who plays Ted Lasso, was scheduled to speak. My first thought when I saw him in the lineup was "Well, that will be fun, but just like the "actor who's not a doctor, but plays one on TV" guy, I wasn't sure he was qualified to give lessons in leadership to a group of seasoned human resource professionals. 

Still, I understand the draw of celebrity. Even now, I'm having serious FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) because I'm unable to make it this year and Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey, aka The Office Ladies, will be there! I love them and their rewatch podcast. 

But back to last year...

There was a last-minute announcement: Jason Sudeikis wouldn’t be coming after all.
And then, lo and behold, photos surfaced of him at a basketball game nearby, at the same time he was supposed to be delivering the opening keynote speech. 

It didn’t ruin my experience, but I definitely rolled my eyes.

In my 26 years as a professional speaker and consultant, I’ve canceled or rescheduled only a handful of times. For instance, when my dad was dying, when I was hospitalized with pneumonia, when my late husband was in the hospital, and once when laryngitis left me literally voiceless. Every single time, I either rescheduled or found a top-tier replacement before ever calling the meeting planner.

So yeah, blowing off a speaking engagement felt like “privilege.” I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. It rippled through the crowd, and everyone had an opinion.

So imagine my surprise when SHRM announced he’d be returning as a keynote speaker this year.

Oh, the opinions online! Oh, the opinions in my own mind! My first response? Not exactly generous. “Really?? What does he have to teach us about leadership when he can’t even keep his commitments??” More eye-rolling. More judgment. I was firmly in the “why are they doing this?” camp.

And then, I read many more of the online comments and, as I read, something shifted. Sure, there were critics. But there were also voices of grace:
“Everyone deserves a second chance.”
“Let’s extend civility.”
“Maybe there’s more to the story.”

It gave me pause.

After all, isn’t that what my mission is really about?
Yes, at my company we teach customer service. Yes, we help organizations create exceptional  employee experiences.

But the message underneath it all? Empathy. Caring. Compassion. Inclusiveness.

Would I ever tell a leader to fire an employee because they made a mistake?
Of course not. I’d talk about accountability, yes, but also second chances.

So while I’m unable to attend the conference this year, I’m making a different choice.
I’m giving Jason Sudeikis the benefit of the doubt.

I expect he’ll address it all with humor, humility, and a good dose of Ted Lasso charm.
And perhaps he’ll share what he learned through the experience. I hope so. 

I trust that the team at SHRM knows more than we do.
And I can’t wait to hear what this year’s attendees take away.

What about you? Have you ever made a snap judgment or held onto a harsh opinion, only to realize later there might be more to the story? We all have. It’s human. But what if, just like in leadership, service, and life, we chose curiosity over criticism, compassion over assumption, and grace over grudges? Maybe the real leadership lesson isn’t just about keeping commitments, but about how we respond when others fall short. Because the way we extend understanding to others often reflects the kind of leader, and human being, we truly are.

If I’ve learned anything from Ted Lasso, which is one of my favorite shows, it’s that people are more than their worst day, and that the best leaders lead with heart. Ted would probably forgive Jason and so will I. 

If you’re going to the SHRM Conference this year, let me know what you think of his presentation and say hi to the Office Ladies for me!