You Don’t Have a Culture—You Have Compliance

Feb 24

Let me tell you something I’ve learned the hard way: just because your team isn’t in open rebellion doesn’t mean you have a healthy culture.

For a long time, I thought having no drama, low turnover, and decent performance meant we were “good.” But quiet compliance can hide a lot of fear, frustration, and burnout. And if you never dig below the surface, it will catch up with you—fast.

This week on the TrustBuilt Podcast, I sat down with Beth Tellez and Stacey Bankston of Creative Counseling Center of NWA, two powerhouse therapists and co-founders who’ve built their practice on a foundation of relational safety, radical honesty, and values-driven leadership. What they shared hit me right between the eyes.

Beth and Stacey don’t just run a business. They run a business that feels the way most leaders wish their culture did—human, open, and safe to grow in. They’ve built systems that reflect their values, not just their bottom line, and you can feel the difference the second they start talking about their team.

We talked about:

How unhealed trauma sneaks into your leadership style
What it means to lead with kinship instead of control
How to confront accountability without triggering shame or silence
And why vulnerability and security aren’t opposites—they’re partners

This isn’t just a conversation for therapy folks. It’s for any business owner who’s ready to move past surface-level “team building” and actually build something meaningful and lasting. Something that people want to be part of.

So if your version of culture has mostly been pizza parties, passive-aggressive emails, or just hoping things don’t fall apart—this one’s for you.

Watch the full episode here - Why Most Business Owners Think They Have Culture (But Don’t)