3 Leadership Lessons You May Have Missed From ‘Ted Lasso’

Anyone who has seen the award-winning Apple+ series Ted Lasso knows that it’s more than a show about sports. The heartwarming episodes about an American coach’s incursion into English soccer leave invaluable wisdom for coaches and leaders in any field. In effect, it’s a blueprint for effective leadership and coaching. From embracing change and focusing on emotional intelligence to fostering vulnerability and building a positive team culture, the show offers unique lessons for anyone looking to make a significant impact in their field.

1. Coaching is founded on relationships.

Much like my experience playing basketball overseas, Ted Lasso’s arrival in England represents a journey of adaptation. In Lasso’s case, the adjustment isn’t only cultural but also professional–he’s never coached soccer before.

Upon his arrival, Lasso struggles to understand the offside rule in soccer, humorously highlighting his unfamiliarity with the sport. Yet, as seen later in the series, his strength lies not in technical expertise but in his innate ability to coach humans before athletes–to inspire, lead, and help his players become a better version of themselves, on and off the pitch.

Ted Lasso teaches us that effective coaching transcends technical knowledge and that the person comes before the professional. It’s about understanding people, guiding them through challenges, and helping them grow. The focus as a leader, therefore, should be on genuine connection and emotional intelligence. The heart of coaching and leading is not in the playbook, be it business or sports, but in the relationships we build.

2. Vulnerability is a source of power.

Lasso’s struggles with anxiety mirror my journey through burnout and depression at the end of my professional sports career. In one episode, Lasso experiences a panic attack mid-match, initially dismissed as a stomach bug. Only later does he reveal the true cause to his team and staff, an important gesture of trust and vulnerability.

This particular scene highlights the importance of recognizing and confronting mental health issues, both in ourselves and those we guide. It serves as an essential lesson for leaders and coaches in any field.

A leader who bravely confronts their vulnerabilities not only allows for deeper connections with others but also navigates team challenges with enhanced understanding and effectiveness. Concealing difficulties is never a sustainable strategy, as ignored problems tend to grow, becoming too big to overlook.

At the same time, openly embracing one’s vulnerabilities sets a powerful example. It encourages team members to do the same, promoting a culture where strength is redefined as the ability to ask for help, creating unity through trust.

3. A leader’s job is to foster the organization’s culture. 

Ted Lasso’s optimism and positivity, rooted in the courage to believe, stand as a guiding light in the face of adversity throughout the entire series. This is symbolized by the iconic yellow and blue sign hanging tall in the locker room: “Believe.”

The sign isn’t just a word, it’s a mantra, a call to have faith even when the odds are stacked against you. This ethos is especially crucial when despair looms; Ted’s consistent message is to trust the process. We often hear that it’s the journey, not the destination, that matters, but living this truth is often difficult. Ted exemplifies this, demonstrating the importance for leaders to not only preach but also practice this belief. He embodies the principle that with the right effort and conviction, anything is possible.

This style of football isn’t possible with just talent–it requires players to buy into an idea, a set of values, and a culture of trust and collaboration. The show brilliantly exemplifies the power of nurturing and promoting a solid culture as the foundational element of building your team, both in sports and in business. A culture that uplifts each team member to their highest potential, transcending individual talents, can achieve seemingly miraculous results.

Jamie Tartt’s journey in the series illustrates this perfectly. Despite the star player’s immense talent, he learns that individual skill is insufficient without a collaborative spirit and a willingness to buy into the team’s culture. It’s a powerful reminder that true success, whether on the field or in the boardroom, comes not from “brilliant jerks,” but from a group of individuals who believe in a shared vision and work together as a cohesive unit.