Lead It Like Lasso

by Marnie Stockman, Nick Coniglio

TBA

Genres: Leadership, Nonfiction, Business, Professional Development, Self Help, Psychology

237 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2023

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I received this book as a gift, I thought it would be a cute gimmicky book but no more than that. I was wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the first page to the last one. The authors are personable and light-hearted and apply Ted Lasso well, but more than that, they have brought many ideas on leadership together in one book and give readers an opportunity to grow and learn more about themselves as well. As a high school Leadership teacher, I can't wait to apply some of these concepts to the classroom.

[Demi Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book! Not only is the content connected to one of my all-time favorite shows, but the authors make this an amusing and interactive way to learn about leadership in the real world. A perfect read for someone just starting out, and for industry veterans who feel jaded after reading too many "fluffy" leadership books with no substance. I particularly enjoyed seeing the leadership styles of various Lasso characters explained, and learning how to address the weaknesses that come along with those strengths. It's a non-threatening way to dig into how great leaders think and continue to grow. Also love the little graphics throughout. First time a business book has made me laugh out loud. Multiple times! Stockman and Coniglio really know how to walk the edu-tainment walk!

[Dave Hambleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the TED LASSO series finished, I tweeted that I wasn’t ready for the show to be over and that I needed Trent Crimm’s fictional non-fiction book, THE LASSO WAY, to actually hit the shelves so I’d at least have that. Sadly, that never happened. But LEAD IT LIKE LASSO by Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio comes close!

[Maci · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! If you're a fan of Ted Lasso and want to enrich your leadership practices and relive the amazing series then pick this book up.

There are so many resources throughout the book - including their very own website with great templates to use with your team.

This might become a Leadership Bible for me! Lots of annotations and tabs throughout the book.

So glad this came across my Instagram feed for me to quickly buy it! 🙌🏼

[Amber Hale · Rating 3 out of 5]

One Big Lasso-ism of a Book

Fans of the show Ted Lasso will appreciate the parallels that Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio make in Lead It Like Lasso.

The book stays true to the sports motif by dividing into four parts: The Rules, The Players, The Training, and The Game. The book emphasizes the importance of vision and values and leads readers to create their own profiles with plenty of examples from characters in the series (Ted, Rebecca, Keely, Roy, Beard). Each chapter features some pretty helpful play-like graphics, and it walks you through the image of a leader from start to finish (literally retirement or death).

I like the diagrams, and I love the list of leadership books tailored to individual player styles, which are helpful for any leader regardless of amount of experience. The book looks into the concept of forming a "Diamond Dog" team, that is both useful and game-changing.

The book overall does seem to be geared more toward leaders who are new to the role rather than more experienced. Some of the information will ring as common sense to seasoned leaders. However, there are nuggets that are valuable for every level throughout the book. Non-show watchers - beware - you will experience FOMO at times.

Overall, this is a fun and lighthearted leadership book that will get you in the game. If you want to develop from it, you will need to put in the training and strategizing to score.

[Terry Combs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great blend of light-hearted show references, and valuable insights which make it quite an enjoyable read. Those insights also prompt you to think, and connect the dots in your own story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who aspires to be a better and more well-rounded leader. All the better, if you are a Ted fan! Believe!

[Josh Herold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully and engagingly written. If you are a fan of Ted Lasso, this book wonderfully weaves the sitcom into leadership lessons we can all apply at work and in life. This is a book for everyone.

[Kathleen Forsell]

AMAZING WONDERFUL SPECTACULAR. If you loved the series you will LOVE this book. The authors took the lessons they saw in the series and applied it to the company that they were building during the same three years the series was on in first run. The book includes a self assessment for your leadership style based on the beloved characters in the book, the latest research in leadership, and suggested leadership books based on the chapter topics so that you can keep reading about the topics that interest you the most. Did I say I loved this book?

[Carson Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!! The authors write in such an impeccable way that they emanate Ted Lasso through their words. I felt empowered and valued throughout the entire book. If you love Ted Lasso and you want to take a good look at yourself then this is the perfect book! The way they use the characters from Ted Lasso makes it that much more engaging and personable. I genuinely gained deep insight and learned more about myself from this book. Thank you Marnie and Nick!

[Nate Dissmeyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and easy book to read. I enjoyed many of the show callbacks and leadership points that I overlooked when watching the show for entertainment purposes. If/when I rewatch the show, I'll definitely try to look at it with a leadership lens. The book took a high level/general take on things. Hard to say I learned anything unique/new.

For those playing at home, here's my scoring for the leadership style:
4 points Sam
3 points Keeley and Ted
2 points Rebecca
0 points Roy

;)

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As a fan of the show and looking to restart my physical reading book goals for the year, I'm looking forward to this book!

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Arguably solid advice, but the delivery was tough for me. Useful if you've never read a nonfiction before, you don't know common sense business leadership principles, and you need to be dragged along by the constant inclusion of fictional characters to make it interesting.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read plenty of books on leadership, and I’ve studied the leadership of Ted Lasso, but “Lead it Like Lasso” brilliantly blends the two together in an unforeseen way. The authors help reveal new insights through the lens of a beloved show. This is the first time I’ve felt sad to finish a leadership book. It is fun, well written, personable, and I look forward to continuing my growth with their website resources.

[Tim Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Lead it Like Lasso – A Leadership Book for Life. Your Life." by Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio is an insightful and engaging guide to leadership, inspired by the beloved Ted Lasso character. The authors brilliantly blend storytelling with practical leadership principles, making the book both accessible and impactful for readers at all levels of leadership. Drawing on Lasso’s signature optimism, empathy, and belief in people, Stockman and Coniglio present a refreshing take on what it means to lead with heart and authenticity. Their approach encourages readers to embrace vulnerability, foster trust, and create environments where teams can thrive—whether in business or personal life.

What sets this book apart is its engaging narrative style, weaving in humor and real-world examples that make leadership lessons easy to digest and apply. The authors emphasize that leadership isn't just about strategy and decision-making—it’s about relationships, resilience, and emotional intelligence. Whether you’re a seasoned executive, an aspiring leader, or simply someone looking to inspire those around you, Lead it Like Lasso offers a compelling roadmap for leading with kindness and confidence. Fans of the show will appreciate the nods to Ted Lasso’s wisdom, while newcomers will find timeless lessons that transcend pop culture.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many would agree that our corporate culture is one that has taken the humanity out of being professional humans, and this book dove into the necessity of leading with human kindness. Lead It Like Lasso was funny and charming and I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors shared well written insights on leadership, and compassionate, mindful communication based on the content and character development from the show, Ted Lasso.

Included in the text are several exercises such as recognizing and developing your own personal operating system, core values, communication style, and vision. Taking the leadership style assessment was fun and educational - I’m a Roy Kent (to those that have known me well for a long time that may not be much of a surprise 😂), but I like to think I’m a little Rebecca too. And I aspire to bring more Ted into my style - he just makes me want to be a better human. ❤️

If you’re looking for a new, fun and educational leadership book to read and enjoyed the show Ted Lasso (or just enjoy reading about being a good human) I encourage you to grab this one!

[Ryan Rodriquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need you to understand that I don't give 5 stars to a book unless it changes my life moving forward. It could change the way I think, it could introduce a new framework for how I think of things, or it could emotionally impact me in a way that I filter things through the experience.

This book was a great examination of the amazing leadership lessons played out in the insanely popular appleTV show, Ted Lasso. The reason for the show's success is clear if you just invest in watching it. The characters, the leadership lessons, and the experiences you get to witness by watching the show have changed my view of people and processes.

Lead It Like Lasso is the unofficial (& uncensored) guide to the leadership lessons that can be taken away from the show and applied to your life as a leader, whether you're a leader at work, home, or within private groups.

If you're a Ted Lasso fan and are interested in exploring more of the leadership side of things, then this book is for you! Don't miss it!

#BarbecueSauce

[Dax · Rating 3 out of 5]

First and foremost, DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ALL THREE SEASONS OF TED LASSO.

There are too many references to the show for the book to make sense without knowing the characters.

That said, I really enjoyed the way the authors presented the material in the context of the Richmond Way. I would recommend this book to anyone who 1) watched the show, 2) loved the show, and 3) thought many times that there are some great leadership lessons to be gleaned from Ted Lasso.

I only gave a three-star rating because the authors cover so much material, they by necessity can't go too deep into any one facet of the book. They do however, excel in referencing material that supports what they are presenting. The number of books mentioned in the body of the work is very impressive. In fact, I am about to flip page by page through the book and build a pretty impressive leadership TBR.

[Jeremiah Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of the show Ted Lasso. I have watched the entire series multiple times and recently just completed the series again. My wife blessed me with this book as a Christmas gift this year. I aspire to lead the way Ted Lasso does and seek to grow in the fashion each year.

This book has great advice that is made even better if you are familiar with the show. Most of the advice is not all that different from other leadership books, but I did find some of the topics more approachable in this book than in some others.

With leadership books I always look for one take-away from the book. There were many with this one, but my favorite was the idea that your vision and mission are like the bumpers on a bowling alley. The better they are, the more you follow them, the more you will reach your goals.

Highly recommend this read.

[Sydney Mathis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly did not know what to expect when I purchased this book. I recently binged Ted Lasso and was looking for something to satisfy my cravings for more!! This book definitely did that. 👏
I was hooked from page one. The content was, as they even mentioned in the book, common sense but “common sense ain’t all that common”, and they made the content funny, relevant, and so easy to follow. I throughly enjoyed “The Game” as the activities and questions really got me to reflect on who I am and who I want to be. Overall, I’d recommend this book to anyone who is a Ted Lasso fan and wants to learn more about leadership in a unique and witty way.

[Ashleigh Mattern · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tie-in to the television show seems a little bit gimmicky, but the lessons are solid. This is a great book for people new to the business development genre, drawing from many of the best titles. Some unique ideas help make the book stand out, like having a personal operating guide and communications guide. It might be a bit hard to follow if you haven't watched at least the first season of the show, and it does make references to events that happen throughout all three seasons. I only watched the first season but was able to follow the thread, even if a few of the specific references from later seasons didn't hit home for me.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does a solid job translating the charm and optimism of Ted Lasso into practical leadership lessons. The tone is upbeat and encouraging, and there are some genuinely insightful takeaways about empathy, trust, and team culture. Fans of the show will appreciate how the book ties key moments and quotes to real-world leadership principles and there are some good resources offered from their website.

That being said, the book has a lot of repetition and not a lot of depth. It’s good read for fans of the show, or people looking for motivation, rather than instruction. However, it’s not a must-read leadership book.

[Brenda Hicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of the show, this cleverly written book adapts the principles of leadership to the Ted Lasso television series. If it serves to get a new generation visiting Leadership classics like Stephen Covey's 7 Habits, Brene Brown's Daring to Lead, Susan Cain's Quiet and James Collins' Good to Great, then it is all right by me.

A workbook of sorts, the book guides the reader through the creation of a leadership operating system which is a clever way of defining who you are and envisioning the type of leader you aspire to be.

Quick read.

[Abby Cona · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5! ⭐️

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and easy to follow, especially since I’m a big fan of the show!

The book is divided into four main parts: the rules, the players, the training/core values/vision/legacy, and the game. Throughout the story, there are self-guided examples and workshops that helped me gain a deeper understanding of what I can improve on both as an individual and as a leader.

I would have rated this book higher if I were currently in a leadership position, but it would still be a great read for a book club with coworkers!

[John Maurer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s important to first mention: I LOVE Ted Lasso. The show is among my top favorites. So it then pains me to give this book anything lower than 5 stars. While the show mentions and connections were fun and most definitely enjoyable in the book, the majority of the book was more references to other leadership techniques, books, ideas, etc. And while the authors did try their best to make the book universally equal in all leadership positions, it is hard to not notice the focus being in the office/company space than anything else.

[Matt Salas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lead It Like Lasso was a terrific read. It truly was a blend of many leadership ideas merged into one map to focus on your personal journey to becoming an improved leader. This book was balanced with actionable advice, visuals, humor, and activities to move to step 1 and change your trajectory. Well interpreted, genuine use of Ted Lasso and real world examples to convince you and light the path even brighter for you to follow. Unique concept and executed in a meaningful, humorous, and actionable way. Thank you, Marnie and Nick!

[Jim Wharton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an excellent compilation of established best practice that would be appropriate for new/novice leaders/managers. Not a lot new in here and not sure the Lasso theme adds anything (tho it doesn’t detract either). Was hoping to learn new approaches/perspectives inspired by Ted’s leadership style…this is more learning existing practices (smart goals, core values, etc) *thru* Ted Lasso examples.

[Earl Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that has practical applications to all aspects of life: professional, personal and more. It is easily accessible and entertaining, as well as informative. As a classroom teacher, I can apply it to my teaching practice. As a father, I can apply it to my home and family life. As a professional, who is always seeking self improvement, I can apply it to that area of my life too. This is a must read for a wide range of people!

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ted Lasso... I do not love this genre of book, but it came up at the corporate book club, and I gave it a read.
I can say with certainty, that if you approach reading this book like Ted Lasso, and you, also, in fact, love Ted Lasso) or at least Ted Lasso, then I think you'll have a pretty good time with this book.
I even did some of the exercises, and found it a good New Year's Resolution season experiment. Plus, a lot of great resources at their actually very good website.

[Christa (cj) Jimenez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the show, this book is something you can come back to and find hidden treasures- again and again! I loved the straight forward and immediately actionable information, sprinkled with bonus chuckles throughout. In the end, the book accomplished both a reminder of how deeply touching the show is, and a connection to improving our own lives in a tangible way.

[Daniel Bastardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will be a fun and informative read for Ted Lasso lovers. The leadership concepts are pretty basic; I didn't find anything particularly original to the authors. The book often sounded like a summary of many other books, which the authors called out and cited. If you are looking for a light read into leadership, then this might be a good start.

[Matt Winfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Ted Lasso's positivity, vulnerability, and humor. This book felt hokey to me, repeating a lot of general leadership advice, and then layering on how it is demonstrated on the show, or even worse, writing hypothetical stories and situations for the characters. This book is the closest thing I've read to fan fiction.