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🏆 The 5 Trusts of Teams
Greg Berge
July 03, 2025
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💭 ONE THOUGHT
The 5 Trusts of Teams
Every coach wants their team to trust each other.
But trust doesn’t come from a team dinner or a motivational quote on the locker room wall.
It comes from consistent, intentional actions, day after day.
Over the years, I’ve realized something important:
Great teams don’t just have trust. They have five specific types of trust working together. And when you have all of these, you have something special.
Here’s what those are and how to build each one.
“Great teams have trust at the heart of their success. If you don’t trust each other, you’ll play safe. Trust makes it possible to aim higher. To leap further and to know someone has your back if you fall.”
1. Trust in Leadership
Players need to believe in the people leading them.
And as a coach or leader, that starts with you.
They don’t have to agree with every decision, but they do have to trust your integrity, your process, and your commitment to their growth.
How to build it:
Be clear and consistent in your messaging
Own your mistakes
Show that you care about people more than outcomes
If your players don’t trust your leadership, nothing else sticks.
2. Trust in Each Other
Championship teams aren’t just close; they count on each other.
It’s knowing your teammate will rotate, dive, communicate, and sacrifice, no matter the moment.
How to build it:
Create shared experiences where players must rely on each other
Celebrate the “we over me” moments
Address selfishness and drama immediately
When teammates trust each other, they play free, loose, and together.
3. Trust in the System
The best teams believe in the structure, roles, and plan they execute, even when it’s not flashy.
When doubt creeps in, trust disappears. And with it, execution falls apart.
How to build it:
Define roles clearly and positively
Show film or data that reinforces the plan is working
Stay steady. Don’t reinvent the system after every loss.
Trust in the system creates clarity and confidence under pressure.
4. Trust in Communication
A silent team is a disconnected team.
A team that over-talks or avoids honesty is no better.
Great teams communicate clearly and trust that communication leads to connection, not confusion or criticism.
How to build it:
Create times for honest, direct conversations
Model and teach how to give and receive feedback
Emphasize listening as a leadership skill
Trust grows when players know they can speak and be heard.
5. Trust in Effort
This might be the most underrated kind of trust.
Can I trust that you’ll bring it today? Will you work, compete, and empty your tank?
When effort is inconsistent, frustration builds fast.
How to build it:
Make energy and effort part of your daily standard
Catch players doing it right. Point out the grinders, not just the stars
Keep everyone accountable, regardless of role
Teams thrive when effort isn’t optional, it’s expected.
Reflection
Coaches, think about each of these five trusts. Think about your team. Reflect on the following:
Which of the five trusts is strongest on your team right now?
Which one needs the most attention?
What will you do this week to build that trust?
Looking for more? Watch this PGC video on how to earn trust with your teammates.
Good luck!
Greg
P.S. Want to build a stronger culture in your team? If you’re ready to make a high-trust, high-performance culture, don’t guess. Get the Culture Wins OS.
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📜 GREAT QUOTES
“A team is not a group of people who work together. A team is a group of people who trust each other.”
“Trust starts with trustworthy leadership. It must be built into the corporate culture.”
🔗 LINKS FOR LEADERS
🎥 Video: Hold the Rope [LINK]
🆇 ICYMI: The Leadership of Ted Lasso [LINK]
📰 Article: It Only Takes One
𝐗 POSTS FROM OTHERS
A veteran coach told me early in my coaching career, and it has always stuck with me:
Try to end practice on a positive note no matter how you’re feeling
It goes a long way to a positive program environment
— Matt Hackenberg (@CoachHackGO)
5:00 PM • May 11, 2025
The combination of playing for someone you love playing for, coaching someone you love coaching, and coaching with people you love coaching with is such a powerful combination.
It is so powerful, I have seen it make or break seasons and careers.
— Coach's Diary (@ACoachsDiary)
1:23 AM • May 12, 2025
“One thing she always taught me was-
No matter what happens she is always going to love me. The people that matter most in my life are going to treat me the same way, no matter what happens out there. That gives me tho ability to trust my work,” Shai Gilgeous Alexander— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1)
1:18 AM • May 12, 2025
📚 LOOKING FOR RESOURCES?
The Team Leader OS: The Team Leader OS is a simple, powerful leadership system for coaches who want to build real leaders. It’s packed with short videos, ready-to-use tools, and practical strategies you can implement immediately. Whether you're starting a leadership program or looking to strengthen your team culture, this gives you a clear path forward without adding to your workload. |  |
Better Coach OS: Better Coach OS is a practical masterclass for coaches who want to grow beyond the X’s and O’s. It covers everything from leadership and communication to culture, motivation, and handling tough situations—delivered in short, actionable lessons. Whether you're a new coach or a veteran, it's built to help you lead with confidence and clarity. |  |
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Contact Me: Greg Berge, [email protected]
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