I’ll admit it: I’m a sucker for heartwarming comedies. Ted Lasso, the Apple TV + hit of the fall season, has captured my heart and unexpectedly taught me lessons on leadership that are just too darn good not to share.

For those unfamiliar with the show, the titular character of Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis, is an American collegiate football coach whose goofy dance moves during a victory celebration go viral. The video gets the attention of Rebecca (the talented Hannah Waddingham), the cynical and heartbroken team owner of AFC Richmond, a fictitious English Premier League football club in West London. Rebecca sees Ted as the perfect gaffer (English parlance for “coach”) to drive AFC Richmond into the ground and consequently destroy her lecherous ex-husband’s (Anthony Head) dreams. Unfortunately for Rebecca, Ted Lasso may be precisely the leader AFC Richmond needs to come together as a team and reach new heights.

Ted Lasso is a brilliant demonstration of the kind of simple and subtle storytelling that offers space to explore the deeper emotions driving much of our decision-making in both our personal and professional lives.

Maybe it’s due to the fact that I have loved virtually every character Jason Sudeikis has played since his days on Saturday Night Live, or maybe it’s the fact that he’s a Kansas City boy who just loves his barbeque (unlike Jason, I’m a Jack Stack bbq man), but Ted Lasso feels like the kind of beautifully written and sincere sitcom we just may need right now.

As I watched (and then rewatched) season one, I couldn’t help but appreciate the surprisingly subtle and thoughtful leadership of Ted Lasso as gaffer of AFC Richmond. Lasso works, episode after episode, with unrelenting kindness, to unify his players and tap into their individual personalities one small and patient step at a time. By the end of my second viewing, I had found ten critically important leadership lessons offered by Coach Lasso that go well beyond the football field (or “pitch”) and that ought to inspire leaders in all areas of sports and industry.

1. Believe in yourself . “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” The power of belief is one of Ted’s most powerful weapons for winning over the hearts and minds of everyone around him. Ted puts the word “belief” on a sign in the locker room and on his own bathroom mirror. Players roll their eyes at first. By the end, though, even the most cynical player taps the sign for luck.

2. Be humble. “You could fill two internets with what I don’t know about football.” Ted’s approach to his newfound role as gaffer is a classic lesson in the importance of maintaining humility. And when we’re introduced to Keeley as she walks into the locker room during Ted’s introductory speech, he greets her with positivity and an invitation to speak more. What’s more, when Ted is asked by Trent Crimm (aka“Trent Crimm, the Independent'' ) who came up with an especially great play on the pitch, Ted puts all ego aside and gives credit to Nate (aka “Nate the Great”).

3. Take criticism lightly (and never take yourself too seriously). Ted’s interactions with a very critical press are both refreshing and educational. Rather than acting defensively and placing blame on others, Ted shows both class and deference. His approach to grillings from the press is what my mentor, Steve, calls “taking criticism like water off a duck’s back.”

4. Be positive. “It’s the lack of hope (in something positive) that comes and gets you. Believe in hope. Believe in belief.” Ted’s most endearing quality is his ability to identify the positive in any situation. From his excited “first day of school” mentality in episode two to his positive reinforcement of Jamie after a hard loss, Ted’s belief in the power of positive thinking is both a redeeming and transformative quality.

5. Look for potential in others. “Leadership is about helping young fellas be the best versions of themselves on and off the field.” Throughout my career, my mentors have constantly reminded me to look beyond potential shortcomings in teammates to make way psychologically for their potential. Ted’s approach to leading in season one is chock full of examples of this mindset. From his “smells like potential” comment as he walks into the locker room with Coach Beard, to his views on Rebecca (“She’s got some fences, all right, but you just gotta hop over ‘em”), Ted’s leadership reminds us of something I often fail to remember in the real world: the best leaders aren’t always the ones with the best pedigrees. (Recall that the great Aaron Rodgers received relatively little attention coming out of high school and was recruited to play at Butte Community College before being discovered by Jeff Tedford at UC-Berkeley)

6. Be curious. “Those who think they’ve got it all figured out judge others.” The ability to check your ego and be inquisitive at the risk of exposing your weaknesses is not only a sign of vulnerability (one of the most important attributes of a leader), but it's also a superpower that is underutilized in the leadership ranks. I love asking questions (perhaps a little too much), and believe that the quality of an insight is directly correlated to the quality of the question being asked. Ted’s willingness to prowl for new ideas from Nate the Great is a wonderful example of this. However, his best moment may be in episode eight when he reminds Rupert of the importance of being curious and non-judgemental (a quote he attributes to Walt Whitman).

7. Be accountable. The ability to recognize and take responsibility for your own actions and short-comings is a gift that few people appreciate. Recognizing that something is broken (and owning your part in it) is a necessary first step in fixing a problem. Ted’s halftime speech in episode five and his apology to Nate the Great in episode seven underlines the importance of admitting your mistakes openly and honestly.

8. Learn from your past. “Don’t let the wisdom of age be wasted on you.” Rather than be entombed by past mistakes, Ted Lasso teaches us the value of embracing missteps as a means to uncover greater purpose and clarity in our own lives. Additionally, his belief that you cannot change the past, but you can honor it, serves as a testament to understanding we are all works-in-progress.

9. Lift up others ahead of yourself. Almost universally, people appreciate being appreciated. Far from being self-serving, Ted is focused externally at all times and genuinely complimentary to those he encounters. His willingness to go out of his way to acknowledge the efforts and good deeds of others (think Roy Kent at his niece’s primary school) serves as an example for leaders everywhere. Ted’s interaction with Rebecca outside the club in Liverpool is one of the more touching moments of selflessness in the midst of strife one could ask for in a sitcom.

10. Practice empathic leadership. “If you care about someone and you’ve got a little love in your heart, there ain’t nothing you can’t get through together.” Perhaps the most prevalent and important aspect of Ted’s persona is his genuine empathy. Take the time to get to know those on whom you will come to rely. Ted’s concern for Rebecca’s emotional well-being, his desire to learn what people are like, and his tireless effort in finding what drives his players is what is truly special about Ted. If you’re going to make an impact, start with the heart.

These 10 leadership attributes are a representative sample of what I believe Jason Sudeikis and Bill Lawerence were going for when they created these characters. I turned on Ted Lasso to laugh and unwind. The plan was not to think about work! But I found myself inspired almost immediately and decided to share these lessons with other leaders. That a show can be so innocent and simple, even familiar, and yet deliver a profound message of love and respect is a testament to the skills of everyone involved: the writers, producers, directors and actors. I will be eagerly waiting to see how Coach Beard, Ted and Rebecca show up in season two, and to see what more we can learn. Until then, remember to practice good manners (especially when holding a dart) and keep your homes and offices a Nein Schadenfreude zone.

Alan Wilson is a lover of all things British , one of the Packers faithful, and Hoosier by birth. He loves to find powerful and inspiring messages in unexpected places and to share his discoveries with fellow leaders. He also relates to Roy Kent’s character more than he’d like to admit. When he’s not trying to make people laugh, Alan runs Sugarbush Capital, a leadership-for-hire firm based in Colorado that works with family offices and private companies on mid-term engagements that require a balance of both emotional and practical intelligence.

Cover photo: Apple