Steven P. Cote

Gregg Popovich said, "Play the right way means play unselfishly, respect each other’s achievements, play hard, fulfill your role.” It means building trust as a team. Trust is earned, not given. • Communication builds trust. • Transparency builds trust. Great teams create a culture of trust, respect, and collaboration. They know that trust is essential to performance and production. People want to know that you trust them and they can trust you. How Gregg Popovich builds trust with his teams: 1. Build Relationships - He holds famous family-style dinners when the team is on the road. Everyone on the team goes out to dinner together (which isn't common in the NBA) for food and wine. These dinners are meant to bring everyone together, to get to know each other, to have fun, and to remember that life is bigger than just a game. Takeaway: People want to know that you care about them, that you trust them, and that they can trust you. That happens when you invest time with each other and build bonds. 2. Communicate Openly and Actively - He is known for his brutal honesty with players. Tony Parker said that he would balance being tough with being genuine to build his trust. Tony said he would be hard on him and balance it out by saying, "We can't pass up this chance to win. I can't help myself, Tony. You have to be ready. That's why I'm hard on you." Pop is always communicating. Takeaway: When you communicate actively and honestly, you establish a foundation of credibility and integrity. 3. Admit Your Mistakes - When Popovich was coaching LaMarcus Aldridge, he realized that he wasn't getting the best out of LaMarcus. Popovich took the blame before allowing LaMarcus to play more freely. Popovich said, "We broke bread a few times, talked about it, laughed about it, discussed what we thought needed to happen, and frankly 95 percent of it fell on me because I made an error in trying to change him too much." Takeaway: Acknowledging your mistakes and taking responsibility demonstrates honesty, humility, and builds trust because people know you will do what is right. 4. Lead by Example - After the Spurs lost the heartbreaking 2013 NBA Finals to the Miami Heat, Popovich kicked off training camp with some military training and then turned on their Game 6 collapse. He played the game and they watched together. It was a defining moment to help them accept the loss. These moments helped them mourn and bond together, it gave them purpose for 2014. Takeaway: When you lead by example, your actions align with your words and you build trust through your consistent behavior. 5. Be True to Your Word - Popovich's motto throughout the years has been, "Get over yourself." He builds relationships with players and gives to the team, but he doesn't do it for himself or the spotlight. He says, "You have to throw your ego out the door. It's all about the win. It's all about the work. It's about treating the people the right way. Period." Pop stays true to his word and his commitment to the team. Takeaway: Keeping your promises and following through on commitments establishes reliability and fosters trust. 6. Be Consistent and Authentic - He is consistent in his approach and authentic to who he is. Bernie Bickerstaff said, "There's unique personalities everywhere and in every business and that's why everything is not the same. He's a very unique personality. The thing to me that you see it and you watch it is he'll cuss Tim Duncan out and then in the next situation, they're sitting down laughing. There's no grudges held. There's no ill intent. It's all about winning." Takeaway: Consistency in your actions and character builds predictability, dependability, and trust because people know who you are and the values you stand for. "We believe in people executing their role and caring about the team more than anything individually." - Gregg Popovich