I just got finished watching the first season of Built in Birmingham: Brady and the Blues. I also watched the first couple of seasons of Welcome to Wrexham until life got in the way and I stopped watching, at least for now.
For those of you who don’t know, both are documentary series on European soccer teams looking to make their way to promotion to the coveted Premier League. Both have celebrity power behind them. Birmingham has Tom Brady and Wrexham has Ryan Reynolds.
As I watched both series, I became intrigued by the different approaches Team Brady and Team Reynolds have taken in trying to turn their respective franchises around. Neither is right, neither is wrong, but I think both are really good.
Why do I think both leadership approaches are good despite being wildly different?
Because both are sticking to exactly what they know and not pretending to be something they are not.
Two Very Different Leaders, Both Playing to Their Strengths
I’m a huge fan of both Tom Brady and Ryan Reynolds, but I don’t want to diminish the roles of Brady’s and Reynolds’ partners in the endeavor to move to the Premier League. For Reynolds it’s Rob McElhenney. For Brady it’s Tom Wagner. For the purpose of this article, however, we’re going to stay with Brady and Reynolds.
Ryan Reynolds is an actor of Deadpool fame, as Wrexham fans like to constantly remind him. He is engaging, he is funny, he is handsome, he is wealthy, he is a marketer and promoter. And that is what he brings to the table as he leads the Wrexham initiative.
Tom Brady is a legendary 7-time Super Bowl–winning NFL quarterback. He is also somewhat engaging, sometimes funny, wealthy, and handsome. But this is not what he leads with. He leads with his focus on winning: culture, processes, planning and execution, consistency of effort, and intensity are his staples.
Both Brady and Reynolds lead with these characteristics because they are what brought them success in their own personal endeavors. Reynolds is not trying to be intense. He is not focusing his attention on detailed planning and execution or intensity and culture. Likewise, Brady is not trying to use his charm to market his team.
They’re both playing their natural position.
Tom Brady vs Ryan Reynolds: Authentic Leadership in Action
“Authenticity” is a term thrown around these days that has lost its impact. Nevertheless, it is still an important term as it relates to leadership.
Ryan and Brady are seeing success in bringing their teams toward the Premier League because they are leading with true authenticity. Neither is trying to be something they are not, including being soccer experts.
If we break it down simply, it looks like this:
- Ryan Reynolds: storytelling, promotion, brand-building, emotional connection with fans
- Tom Brady: culture, process, planning, preparation, standards, consistent performance
Both Brady and Reynolds are learning quickly about the business of European football and will become experts in no time, but that won’t be why they both find the success for Birmingham and Wrexham they are chasing.
They are honest about what their strengths are and are leading with them in an area that they are both fundamentally unfamiliar with.
That’s leadership.
Honesty.
Authenticity.
Victory.
What This Means for Your Leadership
You don’t need to be an expert in every arena you lead in. You need to know who you are and lead from there.
If you’re a strategist, lead with process and planning.
If you’re a communicator, lead with clarity and connection.
If you’re a culture-builder, lead with standards and behavior.
The mistake most leaders make is trying to copy someone else’s style instead of doubling down on the strengths that actually got them where they are.
Tom Brady didn’t become a comedian and marketer overnight to lead Birmingham.
Ryan Reynolds didn’t pretend to be Bill Belichick to lead Wrexham.
They stepped into a new domain and brought their proven leadership identities with them.
That’s the move.
One Question to Take With You
If you want to put this into action, start here:
Where are you trying to lead like someone else—instead of doubling down on what actually makes you effective?
Answer that honestly, and you’ll know your next leadership adjustment.
Honesty.
Authenticity.
Victory.
That’s still the formula.
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Errol Doebler is a former Navy SEAL platoon commander, FBI terrorism investigator, and founder of his leadership consulting company, Ice Cold Leader. He can be contacted at Hello@Icecoldleader.com.
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