👋 Good morning! ‘Great Teams Better Leaders’ is written by Greg Berge. Have an idea or something to share? Just hit reply. I read and respond to every message.
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Most teams say they want leaders. But when the moment actually arrives, most athletes freeze, not because they don't care, but because they've never practiced it.👇
💭 ONE THOUGHT
Leadership Shows Up In Small Moments
Most teams say they want leaders.
But leadership rarely appears in big speeches or dramatic moments.
It shows up in small situations that happen every day.
A teammate skipping reps in practice.
A player frustrated about playing time.
A negative comment in the locker room.
A teammate being left out.
Those moments test leadership.
The problem?
Most athletes want to lead…
They just don’t know what to say or do when the moment arrives.
That’s why leadership development cannot just be motivational talks.
It has to be practical.
Leaders need to practice leadership before the moment happens.
Leadership Is a Skill That Can Be Trained
Think about it.
We practice offense.
We practice defense.
We practice special situations.
But we rarely practice leadership.
Yet leadership situations happen constantly.
Great programs prepare their leaders for these moments.
They talk through them.
They role-play them.
They discuss the right responses.
Over time, confidence grows.
And when the moment comes…
Leaders are ready.
25 Leadership Situations Every Team Faces
To help coaches train leadership in a practical way, I created a FREE resource called:
25 Leadership Scenarios for Team Leaders (free download)
It gives coaches real situations leaders actually face during a season.
Each scenario includes:
• A realistic team situation leaders may encounter
• A leadership tip focused on mindset and strategy
• A sample response that a captain could confidently say
• A coach debrief with reflection and discussion questions
These scenarios help athletes think, discuss, and practice leadership before the moment arrives.
It becomes a powerful activity for:
• Leadership councils
• Captains meetings
• Team culture discussions
• Preseason leadership training
And the best part?
Players start realizing leadership isn’t complicated.
It’s often about doing simple things well:
Speak up.
Encourage teammates.
Protect the culture.
Do the right thing when it’s uncomfortable.
A Simple Leadership Activity You Can Use This Week
Here is one way to use the scenarios with your team.
Gather your captains or leadership group.
Present one leadership scenario.
Ask them: “What would you do in this situation?”
Let them discuss possible responses.
Debrief as a group.
This type of conversation builds confidence, accountability, and communication skills.
And those three traits drive strong team cultures.
Final Thought
Leadership rarely announces itself.
It shows up quietly.
In locker rooms.
On bus rides.
During tough practices.
In moments when something needs to be said.
The teams that prepare their leaders for those moments…
Are the teams that build cultures that last.
And cultures that last…
Win.
Good luck!
Greg
P.S. The 25 Leadership Scenarios is free and a great starting point. If you want the full system for developing leaders in your program: captain meeting plans, training modules, culture-building tools, and so much more, that's what the Team Leader OS is built for… and it is 25% off for a limited time! ⬇️
Team Leader OS
Stop leading alone. The Team Leader OS gives coaches a proven system to develop captains who actually lead, so your players hold each other accountable, and your culture builds itself.
📜 ONE QUOTE
“Average leaders have quotes. Good leaders have a plan. Exceptional leaders have a system.”
🔗 LINKS FOR LEADERS
🎥 Video: Sean McVay on Leadership [LINK]
🆇 ICYMI: It Only Takes One [LINK]
📰 Article: 10 Principles Great Coaches Live By
👀 LOOKING FOR MORE?
My website has all my products and resources → gregberge.beehiiv.com.
Contact Greg for a Culture or Leadership workshop for your team or school.
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Contact Me: Greg Berge, [email protected]