Welcome back, Ted Lasso!

Were you a fan of the Apple+ television series TED LASSO that ran from 2020 to 2023? If yes, then you’ve anxiously been waiting for the show's return! Well, your wait is over because the series arrives today on Apple Television - and I'm also excited to be re-introduced to the series' memorable characters and Ted's inspiring leadership lessons.

According to Foster School Business Professor Bruce Avolio, "Leaders like Indra Nooyl (former CEO of Pepsi), Eleanor Roosevelt, and Nelson Mandela, similar to Ted Lasso, seek to instill a belief that everyone matters." What a wonderful leadership lesson and take-away from the series for all leaders.

In anticipation of season four of TED LASSO, I've chosen snippets referencing the series from five marketing and leadership experts who've appeared on my Blog since the series launched in 2020. Enjoy!

AMANDA HAHN-PETERS: "There's something so refreshing about Ted Lasso's leadership style — he's humble, vulnerable, self-aware, and, above all, joyful. Early in the series, when Ted, a former American football coach, takes over as the head coach of an English Premier League soccer club, he isn't afraid to be vulnerable and admit that, despite being one of the organization's higher-ups, he's a soccer newbie. Instead of being embarrassed by his lack of soccer knowledge, Ted accepts suggestions from others in the organization to help make the team better. A specific example is when he seeks input on game strategy from AFC Richmond's kit manager, Nathan Shelly. As kit managers don't usually contribute to a team's strategy, this stood out as a moment of transformational leadership. This is also a good reminder to all current and aspiring leaders that great ideas can come from anywhere and at any level of an organization.“

ZEN YINGER: "Ted Lasso's approach to leadership is a refreshing departure from conventional portrayals. In a world often fixated on success at any cost, Ted stands out by emphasizing the human side of leadership, creating a memorable and uplifting experience for viewers.”

JOSEPH MICHELLI: "Ted was a resoundingly optimistic, ethical leader, who cared about developing the people around him. He overcame a lack of experience coaching soccer through folksy wisdom, a clear vision for the future, genuine compassion, and kindness. I believe we need more examples of leaders like Ted Lasso – those that are authentically caring, unpretentious, and other focused.”

GREGG VANOUREK: “The Ted Lasso series is brilliant on many fronts, including the way it showed the human aspects of leadership and the complex dynamics of being part of a team and community. For leaders (and others), it has powerful lessons about heart, humanity, dignity, love, hope, belief in people, and the transformation of pain and hardship. Ted connected with others - and inspired them - while proving the naysayers and cynics wrong. He reminded us that love and humanity are at the heart of great leadership. Even though Ted admitted, "You could fill two Internets with what I don't know about football," his keen sense of observation and unique approach brought so much to the team."

ERIC STONE: "Ted Lasso really stands out for me with his leadership style. Have you ever watched someone handle a challenging situation so well that it inspires you to be better? Whether it's navigating a tough conversation with an employee or teammate, or presenting to senior leadership, you walk away thinking, I wish I could communicate like that. That's the kind of leader Ted Lasso embodies; someone who connects with both the head and the heart. While he's a bit quirky at times, he proves that you can lead with high character without sacrificing high standards. He balances optimism with accountability, making people feel valued while pushing them to be their best. His ability to build trust, transform team culture, and inspire loyalty is something every leader can learn from. Just like some companies rally around slogans like Just Do It or Play Like a Champion, Ted's guiding principle is simple but powerful: Believe."

What new leadership lessons will we learn from Ted during season four? We'll have to tune in to see. In the meantime, my gratitude to Amanda, Zen, Joseph, Gregg, and Eric for sharing their thoughts about Ted Lasso the character and series.

And lastly, I highly recommend the book "Lead It Like Lasso" by Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio, because, as the authors explained, it’s "a leadership book for life, your life."

SHARE THIS: Great ideas can come from anywhere and at any level of an organization. ~Amanda Hahn-Peters #TedLassoSeason4 #TedLasso #PersonalBranding #LeadershipTips #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: Ted Lasso’s ability to build trust, transform team culture, and inspire loyalty is something every leader can learn from. ~Eric Stone #TedLassoSeason4 #TedLasso #PersonalBranding #LeadershipTips #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Apple TV via Twitter/X.