What Kind of Teammate Are You?
When it comes to high-performing teams, most people think of elite skills, tactical brilliance, or technical excellence.
But according to Simon Sinek, the Navy SEALs—the pinnacle of elite teams—don’t select their best operators based solely on performance.
They choose based on trust.
Let that sink in.
They’d rather take someone with average performance and high trust than someone with extraordinary performance and low trust. Because low-trust individuals, no matter how talented, destroy teams from the inside out.
So here’s the real question:
What kind of teammate are you?
Performance Gets You Noticed—But Trust Keeps You Chosen
You can qualify on the range.
You can outwork your squad.
You can shine on paper.
But the real currency of a strong team isn’t just what you do—it’s how you make people feel.
Are you the person others turn to when things get real?
Do you have their back—not just in the big moments, but in the day-to-day grind?
Do you listen, encourage, help them carry the weight?
Your team doesn’t just need your competence.
They need your character.
Trust is Built in the Small Moments
You don’t build trust with a single grand gesture.
You build it in the quiet, consistent actions no one else sees:
When you ask a teammate how they’re doing—and really mean it.
When you own your mistakes.
When you offer help without being asked.
When you choose honesty over self-protection.
When you show up—present, human, and humble.
Authentic connection is the bedrock of every elite team. Not perfection. Presence.
If You Want to Be on a Great Team, Be a Great Teammate
Culture doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s created—daily—by how each person shows up.
So what kind of culture are you contributing to?
One of suspicion and silence?
Or one of trust, connection, and mutual respect?
The best teams don’t just perform together.
They believe in each other.
They look out for each other.
They lead with heart—not ego.
Call to Action: Build Trust with One Small Action
This week, take one intentional step to strengthen trust in your team.
Ask someone what they need—and listen.
Share something real from your life.
Give someone meaningful recognition.
Apologize if you’ve been short, cold, or disconnected.
Offer support with no strings attached.
Be the teammate you wish you had.
Because connection isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s what turns a group of individuals into a team that lasts.
And in this profession, that kind of team?
That’s everything.