Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs have won 5 NBA championships between 1999 and 2014. To achieve consistent success, the Spurs have built an organization with a team-first mindset where all of the players, staff and management are focused on the same goals.

How do they do it? How does head coach Gregg Popovich create strong relationships with his players? How did he get his team to bounce back from a devastating loss in the 2013 NBA Finals to come back one year later and to win it all? How does he create a team culture where players from around the world are able to work together towards a common goal?

In this brief leadership case study, we analyze the methods and ideas that Gregg Popovich uses to get his team performing at a high level. By reading how a 3x NBA Coach of the Year manages his team, you’ll learn the following lessons:

- How to create solid, trustworthy relationships with your players and staff.
- How to exploit advantages and untapped resources before your competition
- Why it’s essential to build a strong foundation and not skip any steps in your development.
- What are the specific steps to focus on in order to persevere and bounce back from setback.

Although Gregg Popovich is an expert at coaching basketball, this case study isn’t focused on his playbook. Rather, it highlights the strategy, culture, and organizational development style of the San Antonio Spurs. Basketball coaches will find it useful for developing their squads, but other team coaches, managers, and leaders in all industries will find the lessons useful as well.

The lessons can be applied to any business or organization looking to create a strong team culture and achieve continuing success.