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After-Action Reviews: From the Battlefield to the Boardroom—How Nimble Feedback Powers Business Evolution
Imagine your team harnesses the power of real-time feedback to continuously fine-tune projects, systems, and client dynamics—without the friction, finger-pointing, or missed insights that often come at the end. That’s the essence of the Army’s After Action Review (AAR)—a structured yet flexible process designed for rapid, honest reflection and continuous improvement. What Is an After…
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Friendship at Work
You need people you actually like working with. We talk a lot about performance, retention, and productivity when we think about workplace culture. But there’s something even more fundamental that shapes how people show up at work: friendship. In fact, in a world where loneliness has become a public health crisis, building real relationships at…
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Everyone Builds the Culture
At Black Creek Coaching, we know this truth: Culture isn’t created in the boardroom and handed down. It’s built, day by day, by every single person on the team. It’s co-created—and it’s alive. Your workplace culture will evolve whether you plan it or not. That’s why the most resilient, healthy organizations recognize that every voice…
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Why Your Business Should Be a Team, Not a Family
If you’ve ever described your company culture as “like a family,” you’re not alone. It’s a common instinct—family feels loyal, safe, and connected. But in reality, this mindset can quietly hurt your business. Over the years as both a coach and a business owner, I’ve come to believe that your business should be a team,…
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Celebrate the Individual – See the Whole Person
Right Person, Right Seat: Creating the Conditions for Growth As a coach, one of the most rewarding parts of my work is helping leaders shift how they see their team—not just as roles or responsibilities, but as whole people. I believe that when we celebrate the individual, we create the conditions for real, sustainable growth.…
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Building Culture Takes Time
One of the biggest mistakes I see leaders make is expecting culture to change quickly. But culture isn’t a switch you flip—it’s a climb. A slow, intentional build that takes commitment, not quick fixes. And like any good climb, if you try to leap ahead without building a strong foundation, you’re going to slip. When…
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Culture by Design, Not by Default: How We Build a Career-Worthy Culture
Culture eats strategy for breakfast. – Peter Drucker That quote hit me like a ton of bricks the first time I heard it. Over the years, it’s only grown more true. When I stepped into the leadership role at Rock Paper Scissors in 2013, I had a clear goal: build a place where people didn’t…
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It’s WHEN They Leave, Not IF They Leave: Planning for Inevitable Turnover
Over the past few months, we’ve explored the ins and outs of hiring: from defining the role, attracting the right candidates, and making strong hiring decisions, to crafting a hiring system that sets both you and your new team members up for success. Now, we conclude the series with a reality check—people will leave. It’s…
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Mentoring and Why I Don’t Do Annual Reviews
Why Mentoring Outperforms Annual Reviews: A Business Coach’s Perspective As a business coach at Black Creek Coaching, I often encounter leaders who struggle with performance management and employee development. Traditional annual reviews can feel like a necessary evil—often dreaded by both managers and employees. They focus too heavily on past performance and not enough on…
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Onboarding vs. Training vs. Continuing Education: Why They Matter for Retention
If you’re hiring great people but struggling to keep them, it might be time to take a hard look at how you’re supporting them. Employee retention isn’t just about salary or perks—it’s about making sure your team members feel valued, equipped, and like they actually belong. That’s where onboarding, training, and continuing education come in.…
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