The Latest from Kristy-Lee

Every business owner has been there.

Juggling a hundred things at once, making Canva graphics at midnight, manually reconciling accounts, and frantically Googling how to deal with a tricky staff situation. Winging it is a survival skill that comes with the territory of being a business owner.

When it comes to HR, “figuring it out as you go” feels easy and cost-effective in the short term. But the longer you fly by the seat of your pants, the more expensive the fallout becomes.

Not just financially, but mentally, emotionally, and in lost opportunities for business growth.

Let’s unpack why “winging it” with your HR will always cost you more, and what you can do instead.

Why Winging It Feels Right (At First)

There’s something oddly empowering about being a business owner who wears all the hats. In the early stages, you’ve got a tiny team, maybe even just one or two people, and everything feels manageable. Writing policies? Meh. Performance management? Not needed. Hiring? Easy eno...

When it comes to running a business, especially one that’s growing, there’s always a temptation to solve problems with shiny new software.

HR is no exception.

If you’ve ever Googled “how to manage HR better,” you’ve likely been flooded with ads for platforms promising to automate your HR, solve compliance, and organise your team all in one neat dashboard.

Sounds perfect, right? Well, not so fast.

Before you sign up for that new subscription or sit through another slick demo, it’s worth asking: Do you really need another HR system? Or are you just not using what you already have?

Let’s take a step back and explore how to get more out of your existing tools before you commit to adding yet another system to your tech stack.

The Real Problem Isn’t Always the System

Most small to medium businesses don’t need a complicated HR platform. What they do need is a better understanding of how to use their current systems more effectively.

The mistake many business owner...

This is one of the topics I most often get asked about.

I see business owners, leaders and managers struggling with this one all the time: tackling difficult conversations with staff. Usually this comes after a period of avoiding that difficult conversation which is what we’re going to spend a bit of time today looking at in depth.

We Are Conflict Avoiders

If you’re anything like me, conflict is not something you run headfirst toward with arms wide open to embrace - that’s exactly why tough conversations are hard.

That dreaded feeling in the pit of your stomach, sleepless nights, anxiety, avoiding the staff member and putting off THAT conversation, if not avoiding it entirely.

You are absolutely not alone.

It’s a Skill We Can All Learn

Even with my experience, I don’t like having these conversations either. I never have, and while I’m definitely better at tackling these tough conversations, it doesn’t mean I like it any more than I did before - I just developed the skil...

When the spotlight is shone on employee rights, which it certainly has been recently, especially around workplace flexibility and boundaries…it’s easy to forget there’s another side to the coin: the employers themselves.

With Australia's right to disconnect laws now expanded to include small businesses, it’s time to ask a critical question. Do business owners have the right to disconnect too?

The Law Says Maybe, But That’s Not the Whole Story

As of August 26, 2025, Australia's Fair Work legislation extends the right to disconnect to small businesses. In essence, employees now have the legal right to ignore after hours contact that’s deemed unreasonable. But what does this mean if you're the one who owns the business?

If you're technically an employee of your own company, drawing a wage, on the books, then yes, you may fall under the protection of this law. However, let’s be honest: most business owners won’t be suing themselves over a late night email or answering a call at 9 PM...

No less than once a week I’ll get a call, or question online, that goes a little like “I have a problem with a staff member, they are getting their job done but they aren’t being a great team member, I can’t quite put my finger on it but every time I raise an issue with them they have an excuse, there is always some reason things haven’t gone to plan”.

Does this sound familiar to you? Have you had someone like this on your team before?

Sure enough, after a few questions my typical conclusion is they aren’t taking accountability, because the employee in question is what we call ‘below the line’.

The Above the Line / Below the Line Framework

I first became aware of this framework close to 20 years ago, I’d heard about it conceptually but when I really noticed this as a powerful framework for teams when I worked with a business who really embraced the concept so much that their team used the language in their day to day operations, this is when I really started to pay attenti...

If you're leading a team, whether it's a group of employees, a few contractors, or even just a virtual assistant, you're a leader.

It doesn’t matter if your title doesn’t include "manager" or "CEO". Leadership is baked into the role of anyone guiding others within a business. And the truth is, your team wants to be led. They crave it.

But here’s the kicker: many business owners still hesitate to call themselves leaders. Maybe it feels too formal, too big, or just not quite right. But if you’re not steering the ship, who is?

Let’s unpack why owning your role as a leader is so critical, and the three key traits that great people-focused leaders all seem to share.

Why You Need to Embrace the Leadership Hat

Many people fall into business ownership because they’re skilled at what they do, not necessarily because they wanted to become a leader. But once you have others supporting your work, even if they’re part-time, offshore or casual, leadership becomes non-negotiable.

If you're running a business and managing a team, chances are you've come across the term HRIS. You might have even found yourself asking, “Do I really need one of those?” With more options entering the market and your existing systems constantly evolving, it’s a question worth exploring.

Before you start shopping around or get swayed by flashy features, let’s break down what an HRIS actually is, what it can do, and whether it’s the right fit for your business right now.

What Even Is an HRIS?

HRIS stands for Human Resources Information System. It's a fancy way of saying a piece of software that helps you manage all the admin that comes with employing people.

Think of it as a digital filing cabinet combined with automation tools that can remind you when staff anniversaries are coming up, store documents like contracts or licences, and track performance reviews or training requirements.

It’s not the same as payroll software, time sheeting tools or workflow systems, thoug...

In running a small to medium sized business, and leading a multi-generational team, the ability to lead effectively across generations is not just an asset but a necessity.

Today's workforce is more diverse than ever, with a great variety of experiences, values, and expectations that span multiple generations. From Baby Boomers to Generation Z, each group brings its own unique perspective, influenced by the socio-economic and technological landscapes of their formative years. This diversity, while a source of strength, presents a complex challenge for leaders: how to understand, engage, and motivate across generational lines.

Embracing Generational Diversity: A Path to Success

The key to harnessing the power of generational diversity lies in understanding. It's about recognising that differences in approach and perspective are not just inevitable but valuable. These differences provide a broader range of ideas, approaches, and solutions to challenges, driving innovation and fo...

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether your team is truly being productive or just looking busy, you’re not alone. It’s a common problem. But with the right mindset and measurement strategies, it’s a problem you can solve.

Productivity Isn’t About Being Busy - It’s About What Gets Done
We throw the word "productivity" around a lot. Businesses want more of it. Governments are worried we’ve lost it. And teams are often confused about what it actually means.

Here’s the truth: productivity isn’t about how busy someone looks or how many hours they spend in front of a screen. It’s about what gets done—and how efficiently it's done.

Productivity vs. Busyness: Know the Difference

Somewhere along the way, we started equating long hours and full calendars with output. But the two are not the same.

Being busy means filling time. Being productive means achieving results.

This confusion became particularly apparent during the pandemic when businesses transitioned to remo...

Offshore Workers and Australian Employment Law: A Wake-Up Call for Business Owners

In an increasingly global business environment, hiring offshore virtual assistants (VAs) and contractors is common practice.

The appeal is obvious - cost savings, round-the-clock productivity, and access to a broad talent pool.

But a recent case involving an offshore worker from the Philippines and an Australian company has thrown a serious spanner in the works for those assuming that overseas workers are automatically exempt from Australian employment law.

This case has been labelled a watershed moment. And if you're an Australian business owner engaging offshore contractors directly, it's time to sit up and take notice.

The Case That Changed the Conversation

The focal point of this legal storm is a worker in Manila, Philippines, hired by a Brisbane-based business to provide paralegal services. Though engaged as a ‘contractor’, or as the employer thought that was the arrangement, the w...