Lessons from Ted Lasso: Building High-Performance Teams with Microsoft Viva

Key Takeaways

• Ted Lasso builds high-performance teams through empathy, authentic leadership, and genuine belief in his people—principles that translate directly to how organisations can use Viva Engage and Viva Connections to create psychologically safe, high-performing cultures.​
• Viva Engage’s Leadership Corner makes leadership visible and accessible through real conversations rather than broadcasts, while Viva Amplify ensures strategic messages cascade consistently across Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, and Engage so teams understand how their work connects to organisational direction.​
• Viva Connections surfaces relevant information in a single feed, breaking down silos and enabling collaboration across departments, while Viva Engage communities create spaces for peer learning and knowledge sharing that drive continuous development.​
• Viva Pulse lets leaders listen to their teams, gather feedback, and understand sentiment—enabling the kind of genuine responsiveness and adaptability that builds trust and psychological safety, the foundation of Ted Lasso’s high-performance approach.

In the world of television, few characters have captured the hearts of viewers quite like Ted Lasso. This American football coach turned British football manager for fictional club AFC Richmond brings a unique blend of positivity, empathy, and unyielding optimism to the screen, inspiring not only his team but also audiences worldwide.

Working with clients at Silicon Reef, I’ve noticed something interesting: the leaders we work with are hungry for the Ted Lasso approach—they want to build high-performance teams through empathy, connection, and trust. But they often lack the tools and data to do it at scale.

When Ted Lasso arrives as the new coach of AFC Richmond, the team is struggling both on and off the pitch. However, through his unique leadership style, positive attitude, and unwavering belief in his players, Ted transforms the team into a cohesive unit that not only improves their performance on the pitch but also strengthens their bonds off the field.

As we delve into the world of “Ted Lasso,” through the series we uncover valuable lessons on leadership, teamwork, and the power of human connection—lessons that are not only applicable to the football pitch but also to the modern workplace.

The Ted Lasso Approach to Leadership

For those that don’t know the show, at the heart of “Ted Lasso” lies its titular character, whose leadership style serves as a beacon of inspiration for leaders everywhere. Ted Lasso embodies qualities such as empathy, authenticity, and a relentless focus on building relationships with his team members. His unwavering positivity in the face of adversity sets the tone for the entire club structure (and the shows sub-plots), creating a culture where individuals feel valued, supported, and trusted to perform at their best.

In the realm of modern work, effective leadership is paramount to driving organisational success. And effective leaders lean on the right tools to help them get the job done. Tools like Microsoft Viva. The Microsoft Viva applications are a suite of tools that provide leaders with invaluable data and insights into their teams’ wellbeing, productivity, and collaboration patterns, enabling them to make informed decisions that build engagement and drive performance. By embracing the Ted Lasso approach to leadership and using tools like Microsoft Viva, organisations can encourage a culture of trust, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Nurturing Wellbeing and Inclusivity

“Ted Lasso” not only celebrates the triumphs of its characters on the field but also delves into their personal struggles and triumphs off the pitch. From Rebecca Welton’s journey of redemption to Roy Kent’s pursuit of purpose beyond football, the show highlights the importance of supporting the holistic wellbeing of team members and building a culture of inclusivity and belonging.

Microsoft Viva Engage serves as a powerful tool for organisations seeking to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Communities in Viva Engage is a safe place to express your individuality within your organisation and even use it as a platform to promote your expertise and skills amongst peers. Asking for help from others across the organisation using Answers in Viva can provide a huge benefit to your colleagues old and new so that you’re building a repository of available knowledge and reducing time to onboard new staff. Using Viva Engage as a social and knowledge sharing tool, it will provide access to information and insights that help facilitate the culture that many hybrid organisations miss today.

Just as Ted Lasso champions the individual strengths and talents of each team member, organisations can leverage Viva Engage, empowering employees to bring their whole selves to work and contribute to the collective success of the team.

Effective Communication and Collaboration

Central to the success of any team—be it on the football field or in the boardroom—is effective communication and collaboration. “Ted Lasso” exemplifies the power of clear, open communication and the importance of building strong relationships built on trust, respect, and mutual support (and home baked shortbread to keep stakeholders onboard).

Microsoft Viva Connections provides organisations with a centralised hub for internal communication and collaboration within the Teams app. It streamlines the flow of information in the form of documents in your feed, and enables connections among team members globally through news roll-ups and social feedback. Just as Ted Lasso builds a sense of camaraderie and unity among his players, organisations can use Viva Connections to break down silos, facilitate knowledge sharing, and promote a culture of collaboration across departments and geographies.

“Ted Lasso” offers a masterclass in leadership, teamwork, and the transformative power of human connection. By embracing the principles exemplified by Ted Lasso and adopting the capabilities of Microsoft Viva, organisations can build high-performance teams that thrive in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business landscape. Whether you’re navigating the challenges of the football pitch or the complexities of the modern workplace, remember the lessons from Ted Lasso: Believe in yourself, lift-up those around you, and never underestimate the power of a little kindness.

Using Microsoft Viva to Build High Performance Teams

Let’s dive a little deeper. Here’s a breakdown of how each aspect of a high-performance team aligns with specific functionalities offered by Microsoft Viva, highlighting the role of technology in supporting and enhancing teamwork, communication, and leadership within organisations.

Leadership

Ted leads by example—empathy, integrity, resilience. The stuff that matters.

In Viva Engage, Leadership Corner is where this happens. Leaders can share updates, run Ask Me Anything sessions, and post about what matters to the organisation. It’s real conversation, not broadcast. For communicators trying to make leadership more visible and accessible, this is where you do it.

Combine this with Viva Amplify to ensure leadership messages cascade consistently across the business, so teams understand the strategic direction and see how their work connects to it.

Teamwork & Collaboration

Ted’s teams work together because they feel connected—both to each other and to the mission.

Viva Connections surfaces the information that matters, bringing news, resources, and recent documents into a single feed right in Teams. It breaks down silos by making it easy for people across departments to stay in the loop. When collaboration happens, it’s because people actually know what’s going on.

Communication

Clear, open communication. No mixed messages. No ambiguity about who does what.

Viva Engage lets you post video updates, clarify strategy, and build conversations around what matters. Leadership Corner keeps executives visible. Viva Amplify then takes that message and cascades it across Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, and Viva Engage simultaneously—one message, multiple channels, consistent delivery. You measure what lands and what doesn’t, then adjust.

Personal Development

Ted invests in his players. He believes they can grow, and he shows them how.

This is where Viva Learning fits in—though it’s worth noting it sits outside the core Communications & Communities bundle. If your organisation is serious about development and learning in the flow of work, it’s worth exploring separately. For most internal comms teams though, the real development happens through shared knowledge and peer learning in Viva Engage communities.

Resilience & Adaptability

Ted’s teams bounce back from setbacks because they’ve built trust and psychological safety.

Viva Pulse lets you listen to your people—gather feedback, understand sentiment, spot emerging issues before they become problems. Leaders can use those insights to adapt and respond. It’s not about “data-driven decision-making” in some abstract sense; it’s about actually hearing what your team needs and adjusting accordingly.

Be More Lasso: Building a High-Performance Culture with Microsoft Viva

Ted Lasso succeeds because he genuinely cares about his players. He listens. He shows up. He believes in them even when they don’t believe in themselves.

Technology alone won’t build that culture. But the right tools can make it easier. Viva Connections brings people together around shared information. Viva Engage creates spaces where real conversations happen—between leaders and teams, across departments, around knowledge that actually matters. Viva Amplify makes sure important messages land consistently, not just in the echo chambers they happen to start in.

Put those together, and you’ve got the infrastructure for high-performance teams. The rest is down to leadership, authenticity, and genuine belief in your people. The stuff Ted Lasso gets right.

Yours sincerely,
The Silicon Reef football team coach
Alex