I have a confession. I’m late to the party. For somebody who built their business and reputation on being the first to arrive at every party, that’s not easy for me to admit. On this occasion, however, I freely concede that I am behind the trend.
Having heard the noise about BBC’s hit series The Traitors, I decided to see for myself what all the fuss is about. Gripped from the outset, I binged-watched the latest series (and the previous two), and I have to say, it had me enthralled. And now, I hear a celebrity version is on the way.
I applaud the creators for an exceptional concept and a fascinating television piece that keeps improving. I’ve emerged reeling not just from the results but also from the tactics, deceptions, and mind games that were laid bare during the show.
Television can dramatically influence real life. This got me thinking about what The Traitors can teach us about business.
WHAT THE TRAITORS CAN TEACH US ABOUT BUSINESS
Much more than an absorbing social experiment, The Traitors can offer valuable lessons for operating in the business world. From strategy and leadership to teamwork and adaptability, the game mirrors many of the dynamics found in corporate environments.
I’m optimistic, so I have highlighted some more positive takeaways rather than dwelling on the deceptions, although I couldn’t avoid them altogether. Here are some valuable lessons The Traitors have for aspiring businesspeople. In my thoughts, I share what The Traitors can teach us about business.
ADAPTABILITY IS IMPERATIVE
Winners in The Traitors, and in business, usually approach with careful planning and a long-term strategy. However, nothing is certain in either scenario.
The game throws up countless twists and turns, so adaptability must be in your repertoire. Similarly, anticipating challenges and adjusting your approach are crucial for entrepreneurs and executives alike. Would you be ready and have the courage to take a new direction if circumstances outside your control created a business opportunity?
Look at how Charlotte approached the game in season three. She planned her entrance carefully, adopting a Welsh accent to make her appear more trustworthy. It almost paid off. She was the ultimate game player when converted to a traitor, until the ‘seer’ twist unveiled her true colours. She might have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for those meddling producers.
Charlotte demonstrated excellent adaptability and the ability to flex according to external circumstances. She didn’t win, but she gave it a damn good go.
What The Traitors can teach us about business is that, in business, we often see those who adapt and change according to external factors come out on top. Taking risks is important, but only if it is managed and thoughtfully.
THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUST AND TEAMWORK
The show demonstrates how trust can make or break a team. Even within the group of Traitors in Season 3, there was (to begin with) a trust between ‘the sisterhood’. Linda and Minah were thrown together from wildly different backgrounds yet formed a sweet relationship built on mutual trust.  It was a strong foundation that meant they slipped under the radar for a long period of time.
Although she was a traitor, Minah played the game with honour (amongst thieves), trying to save Linda when she was under suspicion and discussing the time when it may come to her voting against her. I believe this is a fabulous way to approach business. Sometimes, you will have to do things that feel uncomfortable. Approach them with honour, and you will emerge with self-respect intact.
Another illustration: the second team of Traitors—Charlotte and Freddie. Their relationship was formed on mistrust from the outset, and it fell apart immediately. Both exited the show in quick succession.
Like the Traitors, in business, a lack of trust creates dysfunction, inefficiency, and ultimately failure in business. Consequently, what The Traitors can teach us about business here is that transparency and collaboration lead to stronger, more productive teams.
UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOUR IS A KEY SKILL
Contestants who excel in The Traitors can read emotions, detect deception, and negotiate effectively. Understanding human behaviour is essential for sales, leadership, and conflict resolution in business.
Emotional intelligence is also important. Strong leaders in The Traitors know how to manage emotions—both their own and others’. Emotional intelligence helps with decision-making, leadership, and maintaining a positive work environment.
If you can understand why people on your team behave in a certain way, you can ultimately influence them. This results in a more productive, harmonious workforce. People management is really down to this key skill combined with the tools to communicate assertively and effectively.
PEOPLE ARE NOT ALWAYS THEMSELVES IN A WORK ENVIRONMENT
What shocked viewers in The Traitors was how easily some contestants could shrug off their ‘nice’ persona once given the green light to be a traitor.  Does that make them bad people? No. It is a game. They play the best game with the hand they are dealt.
We’ve previously seen some of the unpleasant sides of business laid bare on television programmes such as The Apprentice, from relentless backstabbing and one-upmanship to diverting blame on a task done badly.
The reality of life is that some people ARE relentless and ruthless in pursuit of their career goals. Do you have to be the same to succeed? No, you should stay true to your values. But you should be aware that people don’t always behave as themselves in a workplace situation.
Some find it easy to separate work goals from their values outside the office. There’s not necessarily anything wrong with that. Behaving in a Machiavellian manor to pursue a shared business goal is not always bad.
Of course, if this strays into the realms of lying, cheating, and claiming others’ work as your own, then I would not allow it. But strands of people management require some calculation and strategic manipulation.
Your core values will govern how far you would like to take this.
TRAITOR OR FAITHFUL
My final thoughts are on what The Traitors can teach us about business. Would I prefer to play as a traitor or a faithful? What are the pluses and minuses of both? And in the business world, which would give you the biggest advantage?
After thinking long and hard about the options, I decided, given the choice, that I would opt for Traitor. To be clear, I DO NOT have deceptive tendencies, but in a business situation, I prefer always to have the fullest picture possible. Guesswork in business leads to mistakes, just as in the show.
Only as a traitor could you be as certain as possible of the intentions of everyone in the game and develop a strategy accordingly. As a faithful, it requires a huge leap of FAITH, which I feel would be extremely difficult to take.
PLAYING THE GAME
At its core, The Traitors is a game of influence, alliances, and calculated decision-making—just like business. Whether leading a company or climbing the corporate ladder, mastering these skills can set you apart from the competition.
The psychology of business
If this topic has got you thinking about the psychology of business, then there are some further reading suggestions below: