GA 641 | What Makes a Good Teammate with Eric Reveno

GA 641 | What Makes a Good Teammate with Eric Reveno

Author: Ron Pereira: Lean Thinker & Co-Founder of Gemba Academy July 16, 2026 Duration: 35:33

Most organizations spend enormous energy developing leaders and almost none developing teammates. Stanford Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach Eric Reveno has spent 30 years watching what actually determines whether a team wins or collapses, and his answer is not the coach. The conversation moves from college basketball to NIL compensation to Michael Jordan to what you should do first when you walk into a struggling team. The thread running through all of it is the same uncomfortable idea: the people in the room are more responsible for the culture than anyone standing at the front of it.

In this episode you’ll learn:

  • The quote that reframes what culture actually is (3:19)
  • Why leadership is overtaught and teammate behavior is undertaught (6:07)
  • What NIL is and why it changed the dynamics of building a team (13:52)
  • What showing up as a great teammate actually looks like day to day (18:35)
  • Whether a player like Michael Jordan was truly a good teammate (21:55)
  • Why talent alone does not produce connection on a team (27:24)
  • How to identify and address the real problems when a team is struggling (30:15)
  • Why every person’s ability to change their future depends on being a great teammate (33:49)

“Everyone’s true agency and true ability to change their future and create the world they want, it lies in their ability to be a great teammate.” – Eric Reveno

Keep Learning

If Eric’s point about teammate behavior being undertaught resonated, the School of Leadership is a direct next step for practitioners who want to build the kind of team culture he describes rather than just study it.
Learn More About School of Leadership at https://www.gembaacademy.com/leadership

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What Do You Think?

In your organization, who carries more responsibility for the team’s culture: the leader at the front of the room, or the teammates deciding what they will and will not tolerate?


Hosted by Ron Pereira, a lean thinker and co-founder of Gemba Academy, the Gemba Academy Podcast is a deep and practical resource for anyone looking to build a better organization. The conversations here move beyond theory, focusing on the real-world application of methodologies like Lean Six Sigma and Toyota Kata. You’ll hear from practitioners and leaders who share stories from the front lines, detailing how they tackle complex problems, foster genuine productivity, and develop effective teams. Each episode feels like a candid workshop, breaking down concepts into actionable steps you can apply immediately. This isn't about abstract ideals; it's about the tangible work of improvement, from the shop floor to the executive suite. Tune in for a learning experience that challenges conventional wisdom and provides the tools for meaningful change. The Gemba Academy Podcast turns the philosophy of continuous improvement into a clear and accessible path forward for business professionals and educators alike.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Gemba Academy Podcast: Lean Six Sigma | Toyota Kata | Productivity | Leadership
Podcast Episodes
GA 619 | Don’t Walk By a Mess with Chad Bareither [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:50
This week's guest is Chad Bareither. Ron and Chad discussed making culture changes in the workplace, powerful aspects of Japanese culture, the importance of cleaning up, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is…
GA 618 | MORE Is Better with Kathy Miller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:02
This week's guest is Kathy Miller. Ron and Kathy discussed manufacturing, Kathy's new book "MORE Is Better," optimism, psychological safety, and the art of making high-quality connections. An MP3 audio version of this ep…
GA 617 | What Alignment Looks Like with Hanna Bauer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:09
This week's guest is Hanna Bauer. Ron and Hanna discussed the role of emotional intelligence in success, balancing empathy and accountability, navigating love languages, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is…
GA 616 | Teaching Lean with Noah Waech [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:56
This week's guest is Noah Waech. Ron and Noah discussed Noah's experiences teaching lean, what happens when things don't go as planned, Value Stream Mapping, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available fo…
GA 615 | Radical Product Thinking with Radhika Dutt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:20
This week's guest is Radhika Dutt. Ron and Radhika discussed OKRs, Toyota Kata, the target mentality, the OHLA puzzle framework, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this epis…
GA 614 | Getting Lean to Stick with Joel Hugghins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:21
This week's guest is Joel Hugghins. Ron and Joel discussed dealing with CAVE people, intellectual property, getting lean to stick, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this ep…
GA 613 | Revealing Hidden Truths with Billy Taylor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:23
This week we're ringing in the New Year with Billy Taylor. Ron and Billy discussed strategy and KPAs, hidden truths, clarity, being hard on the process, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for dow…
GA 612 | Gratitude, Giving, and Growth with the Gemba Academy Team [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:47
This week, we're sharing a special Christmas episode featuring insights from the Gemba Academy team. Each individual answered the question: What does continuous improvement mean to you in your own life? An MP3 audio vers…