Television viewers have been obsessed with the sports comedy drama series, Ted Lasso, mainly for its feel-good attitude and realistic take on the important bonds formed within every workplace.
The show has been a massive hit since it premiered on Apple TV+ in 2020, running for three series to date, comprising 34 episodes, with an announcement in March 2025 of a fourth series.
It stars Jason Sudeikis as American college football coach Ted Lasso, from Kansas, who is hired to coach the English soccer team, AFC Richmond. Initially not taken seriously because of his inexperience with the sport and his unbridled optimism, Lasso gradually wins over the London based team, fans and media with his compassionate and kind approach to leadership.
Despite his limited knowledge of English football, he manages to build confidence and camaraderie with the players and coaching staff, making them stronger on and off the field. In addition to being great entertainment, the series has become useful for business people looking for ways of becoming better leaders in their chosen field.
Benefits of a positive workplace
Adapting Ted Lasso’s style and skills could bring greater success to any organisation wishing to improve confidence among its workforce, teaching managers how to create a positive culture in the workplace.
The show reveals how Ted’s approach to leadership, comprising encouragement, kindness and focusing on individual growth, can be transferred to other environments. His positivity builds trust and loyalty within his team as he fosters a supportive and inclusive environment.
Ted teaches us how to lead by example at work, remaining positive, even in the most unfortunate situations. At first, this confuses his colleagues, but over time, his approach inspires and motivates the team to succeed, spreading to the fans and changing their attitude to be more positive.
Studies show strong leadership impacts significantly on engagement, with 70% of employees saying their performance and work ethic ultimately depend on their leader. According to a Gallup poll, they are more likely to feel engaged with supportive leadership.
Ted’s strong leadership bonds the team and encourages them to root for each other professionally and personally. His example inspires them to approach challenges with optimism, displaying a willingness to succeed, even in the face of adversity and during periods of change. The key takeaway is that leading with a positive attitude creates a more optimistic, resilient and motivated team who will go the extra mile.
Empowering employees
Employees feel more valued and consequently empowered, as Ted introduces new responsibilities each day for the players and club staff. The benefits of employee empowerment are multiple, as giving them more autonomy and decision-making power increases engagement, motivation and job satisfaction, fostering a positive work environment. This leads to the players feeling more in control, with Ted’s idea of regular meetings and in-person interactions making them think more about what they are doing.
Whatever the industry, the advantages of working in a collaborative and flexible environment, such as serviced offices in London, are clear. Having an impromptu meeting face-to-face and discussing the way forward if your team is feeling down is a great way of lifting their spirits and finding a way forward.
The previous mood of apathy, with the members of AFC Richmond resigned to their negative performances on the pitch, is replaced by one of optimism, thanks to Ted’s leadership. As they become more creative and begin to think outside the box, their demeanour and ultimately their performance begin to improve as his new strategies lead to a more effective all-round performance.
Praise and recognition
One of Ted’s most important leadership skills is his consistent use of praise as he recognises his team’s achievements, both publicly and privately. In every industry, solving problems at work can be positively impacted by something as simple as celebrating achievements, no matter how small.
Rather than focusing on negative aspects of the workplace and employee behaviour, building confidence by giving praise when due can create a positive environment. Even when facing challenges, Ted has an ability to maintain optimism, encouraging resilience and a problem-solving mindset in his team.
According to research, around 80% of employees report that recognition and praise will influence their motivation and engagement at work. Many say they tend to work harder when their efforts are recognised, as it inspires them to achieve higher goals.
Finally, never become so focused on working hard that you never have any fun. Ted is well aware that most people spend eight-plus hours at work each day, so there should be a time for fun, as well as getting the job done. In the TV series, this means cracking a joke with a teammate or having a chat over a soft drink during a break in training. In other environments, it can be something as simple as having a coffee break or setting up a social video chat with someone at lunchtime.
Having fun with fellow team members also encourages camaraderie, which spreads into work related activities. While you may not have realised initially that Ted Lasso is so deep, delving into the series’ key takeaways means translating the leadership traits into other industries and using them to your advantage.
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