24 June 2026
Read Time:
08 April 2026
How to be a good leader, Ted Lasso style
What can the beloved coach teach us about leadership?
The news that a new season of Ted Lasso is landing this summer sent me hurtling into a three-week binge of all the previous seasons - laughter, tears, and tea and biscuits included.
If you haven't come across it, Ted Lasso is a heart-warming watch with brilliant performances, and even if football isn’t your thing, the storyline will hook you from the very first episode, and the characters will melt your heart as you get to know their personalities.
But there’s so much more to this series than entertainment. In a world that often equates leadership in the workplace with authority, expertise, or technical know-how, Ted Lasso - the endlessly optimistic American football coach turned English soccer manager- offers a humbling reminder of what authentic leadership really looks like. The programme offers multiple lessons on how to improve leadership skills in the workplace and why, even in competitive, cut-throat, ego-driven environments, leading with heart, curiosity, and humanity first will ultimately triumph over time.
Here are some of the leadership principles Ted Lasso teaches us that apply just as well in business, teams and organisations as they do on the pitch:
1. Believe in your purpose – even when the odds are against you
Ted’s signature “Believe” sign in the locker room became a powerful symbol of his unwavering faith in the team from the very beginning. His immediate commitment, backed by consistent actions, reflected this belief and gradually influenced those around him to adopt the same mindset. When a leader is fully committed to a purpose and aligns their actions, that conviction becomes contagious, and others naturally follow.
2. Be curious, do not judge
Ted’s instinct is to remain open-minded and ask questions. He listens carefully and takes the time to learn about people and their preferences, which later becomes one of his greatest assets. Although he is often met with rejection, he chooses not to judge those who oppose him. Instead, he demonstrates determination in the face of adversity and seeks to understand what motivates others - an essential skill of effective leadership.
3. First ask "what is it that I can do for you?"
Ted adopts a people-first approach, placing kindness, understanding, and the needs of others at the centre of his leadership. This compassionate and selfless style creates an environment of psychological safety, trust, and deep interpersonal connection. Great leaders quickly learn that ego only gets in the way; when it is set aside, people are able to perform at their best together.
4. Make time for the underdog
Ted measures his success through the actions and achievements of others, understanding that a team is only as strong as its weakest player. By helping individuals shine, he elevates the entire team. Leadership is not about personal glory or being the most celebrated; great leaders actively champion others and prioritise collective success over individual recognition.
5. Wabi-sabi
Wabi-sabi is a Japanese philosophy that encourages us to embrace and find beauty in imperfection. Ted embodies this philosophy time and again - from openly apologising when he is wrong to showing genuine authenticity when he is confronted about his deeply personal panic attacks. He reminds us that situations happen and they affect us, but they do not have to define us. As he famously says, “Be a goldfish, Sammy,” encouraging us not to dwell on mistakes, but to let go, move forward, and start again - just like a goldfish.
6. Take your eye off the ball (no, that’s not a typo)
Beyond daily practice, Ted’s approach to building a team has surprisingly little to do with football itself. The players of AFC Richmond are recruited for their skills, so rather than micromanaging, Ted trusts them to do what they do best. Instead, both on and off the pitch, he focuses on building relationships, companionship, mutual respect, and the ability to work well together. Winning is not his first priority; developing well-rounded individuals is. Through this approach, the team becomes capable of achieving what others believe to be impossible.
7. Growth
It quickly became clear that Ted knows very little about “soccer,” but what he does know is how to see opportunities where others don’t. Challenges can be chances to learn, failure or loss can be embraced as humbling and motivating, and feedback can be a tool to improve rather than a personal attack. He demonstrates that putting in extra effort - even when you’re at the top of your game - creates a powerful growth mindset and an unstoppable attitude to succeed.
8. Dust yourself off – every lining has a silver cloud
Positivity is productive. Ted’s optimism is a deliberate choice, not just a trait. He shows that after failure or a setback, we can bounce back with resilience and renewed determination. Positivity is contagious: when we choose it as our default, we inspire others to do the same, building energy, momentum, and performance across the team.
You might be thinking of other qualities that make great leaders—rigor, agility, logical analysis, persistence, adaptability, and a dedication to winning—and you’d be right. That’s where Coach Beard comes in, Ted’s right-hand man. Beard is everything Ted is not: pragmatic, realistic, and deeply knowledgeable. He quietly steers Ted toward the best decisions, and their partnership, built on trust and mutual respect, has stood the test of time.
The underlying message of the programme is clear: leadership isn’t a title or a job - it’s a privilege and a philosophy, one that can profoundly influence others with just a few words, for better or worse. Whether you hold a formal leadership position or work as part of a team, you have the power to choose the type of leader you want to be.
So choose wisely - it’s all within your control.
If you would like to know more about our approach to leadership development, follow this link.
Or, even better, let us talk you through it
Our areas of specialism.
Coaching.
-
Self-awareness
-
Resilience
-
Personal Development
-
Change
-
Decision making
-
Growth mindset
Team development.
-
Hybrid team working
-
Communication
-
Meetings
-
Feedback
-
Collaboration
-
Trust
Leadership development.
-
Leadership styles
-
Psychological safety
-
Leading change
-
Mission, vision, values
-
Culture
-
Mentoring