S1 E13: Culture Defined - Greg Berge

This week on the Lead to Win podcast, we visit with Greg Berge–high school principal, basketball coach, author, and owner of GB1 Leadership. Greg has been in education for 29 years and has spent time as a teacher, coach, and school administrator. Currently serving as the high school principal and head boys basketball coach in Lake City, MN, Greg is also the owner of GB1 Leadership and a Licensed Sports Leadership Facilitator through the Janssen Sports Leadership Center. Throughout his career as a coach, Greg’s teams have enjoyed much success–300+ wins, 11 conference championships–including 9 consecutive, 2 section championships, as well as many more accolades during his time as an assistant coach. Over the course of his career, Greg felt called to begin speaking and writing to share what he has learned with others in the hopes of growing the coaching profession and helping coaches build Great Teams and Better Leaders. Takeaways Culture is not just about surface-level activities, but about the day-to-day interactions that shape a community or team. Culture is defined by what you allow and emphasize every day. Leadership can be taught and developed, and it starts with a choice to lead. Building a positive culture requires defining your values, communicating them, and addressing issues as they arise. Developing leaders is crucial for creating a player-led team and sustaining a positive culture. Dealing with self-inflicted pressure and criticism requires focusing on your why, celebrating small wins, and taking care of yourself. The coaching profession faces challenges, including blame and criticism from parents and a shortage of coaches and officials. It is crucial to work towards making coaching a better profession and encouraging more parental involvement. Personal growth is a continuous journey, and it is important to keep learning, growing, and embracing new opportunities. No one has it all figured out, but by taking action and persevering, you can open up new opportunities and experiences. Greg Berge's Links: X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/gb1121 Website: https://www.gb1leadership.com/ *Music by Alex Grohl on Pixabay