The Latest from Kristy-Lee

We all know the feeling, we’re losing sleep, we’re avoiding the person at work, we’re angry, frustrated and tearing our hair out. We have an employee who is not performing, not showing up how we want them to at work or behaving in a negative way, a way that isn’t sitting right with you.

We can’t always quite put our finger on the exact issue, it’s just not quite right, but it’s wrong enough to be consuming our time and attention. Or maybe it is more obvious, but we feel like we’re going over the top if we bring it up – we don’t want them to feel like we are micromanaging them or pulling them up for something that feels petty and insignificant (yet the fact that it’s consuming our time and attention does in fact mean that at some level it is significant to us).

So, we tolerate it, whether it’s behaviour, attendance, performance or something else, we tolerate it. We think maybe it’s not that much of a big deal, or maybe it’ll be short term, or surely they will realise soon and fi...

Hello and welcome to Episode 205 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

In today's episode we are answering a loyal listeners question.

Each month I will be answering a question from one of our listeners as part of our ask me anything series. Today's question comes from Cat Matson of Impactful Presenters.

Cat’s question is:

I'd like to know how to craft position descriptions for virtual team members. I find myself thinking 'I need some help, and I want them to be virtual', and then I go down the path of 'what can a VA do', rather than crafting a PD (or a set of PDs) that articulate what I want. 

I think this is a great question and one that many business owners wrangle with as they grow their teams.

Today I share the problem with the term ‘VA’ and how it’s messed up our thinking somewhat.

I also discuss the similarly between virtual and in person team, but the difference between an employee and a contractor. For a deep dive on that topic check out Episode 77 – When is a Contrac...

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 – you have someone who is below the line. What line? Great question!

The Above the Line – Below the Line Framework

I first became aware of this framework probably about 15 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 attention to this concept.

Who conceptu...

Hello and welcome to Episode 204 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

In this episode we tackle a topic that many business leaders grapple with: the balance between genuine support for employees and taking on responsibilities that aren't rightfully theirs.

Today's episode dives deep into the tendency to feel responsible for every aspect of your employees' lives, from their career growth to their personal happiness.

I addresses the common pitfalls of assuming responsibilities that extend beyond the scope of our role as a business owner. The episode highlights that the happiness of your employees is not your sole responsibility. This may challenge conventional wisdom, but I contend that allowing individuals to take ownership of their happiness is vital for their personal growth.

The discussion unfolds into recognizing the signs of responsibility creep, where leaders find themselves being quasi-counselors or life coaches instead of focusing on their core responsibilities. I draw on...

As business owners and leaders, we often find ourselves spending our entire day dealing with people, managing their needs, and navigating the complexities of teamwork.

But what happens when we slip into the mindset of a non-boss boss?

When we started our journey into entrepreneurship or embarked on our careers, we may not have anticipated that managing people would consume so much of our time.

Yet, as business owners and leaders, we often find ourselves overwhelmed by the responsibility of dealing with our team members.

The desire to avoid conflict, lack of clear direction, and the tendency to please everyone can push us towards becoming a non-boss boss – and there are clear reasons why this is ineffective for you, your team and your business or organisation.

Understanding the Non-Boss Boss Mindset

The non-boss boss is characterised by a hands-off approach to leadership. They avoid conflict, lack clear direction, say yes to everyone, and struggle to lead by example. Key...

Hello and welcome to Episode 203 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

In this weeks episode I had the pleasure of being joined by Dr Masi Njawaya of Her Self Health.

Dr Masi is a Sport, Exercise & Lifestyle Physician, Medical doctor, health coach and advocate.

She is the Founder of Herself Health which is a Leadership Health & Wellbeing company working with business owners, entrepreneurs, leaders and teams to empower them to be the best versions of themselves by being holistically healthy.

In todays’ discussion we unpack Dr Masi’s journey to become a medical Doctor, and what she discovered along the way about the importance of prioritising her health and wellbeing to achieve more, in less time and by prioritising the things that were important for her.

Dr Masi generously shares with us the challenges she sees business owners consistently face, and some great, practical strategies we can all start implementing straight away across her 5 key pillars for health.

If you’d like to ...

Why are planning sessions so crucial to your team?

There’s a reason why Simon Sinek’s Start With Why upended the world of leadership and business when he hit the mainstream with both this talk and the book.

For a long time, the focus in the workplace was on outcomes without connecting their people to the why of those outcomes. We soon realised by using Simon’s framework, that connecting people to the core of why the business exists and exactly how their role impacts the world created stronger relationships, better outcomes, and more innovative thinking.

A fundamental aspect of connecting your people to your business why is running effective team planning sessions. From this connection grows a rich dynamic for your team – but without a well-structured planning session you could be missing out on leveraging the best from your people.

People want purpose.

People want clarity.

People want to belong.

Understanding these driving motivators, and planning sessions are a great opp...

Why are planning sessions so crucial to your team?

There’s a reason why Simon Sinek’s Start With Why upended the world of leadership and business when he hit the mainstream with both this talk and the book.

For a long time, the focus in the workplace was on outcomes without connecting their people to the why of those outcomes. We soon realised by using Simon’s framework, that connecting people to the core of why the business exists and exactly how their role impacts the world created stronger relationships, better outcomes, and more innovative thinking.

A fundamental aspect of connecting your people to your business why is running effective team planning sessions. From this connection grows a rich dynamic for your team – but without a well-structured planning session you could be missing out on leveraging the best from your people.

People want purpose.

People want clarity.

People want to belong.

Understanding these driving motivators, and planning sessions are a ...

Hello and welcome to Episode 202 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

Today on the podcast we are talking about a ‘word of the year’. Do you have one? Is this something you have heard of before and what do you think of it?

Today I share why you might want to have a word of the year. For those who don’t love this particular framework I have some alternative options to share.

Lastly I share with you my word of the year and why it’s important and what it all means!!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your network.

An Invitation

Would you like to connect with other like-minded business owners, leaders and managers experiencing similar situations with their team? Join the discussion inside our free Facebook Group – HR Support for Australian Businesses - https://www.facebook.com/groups/hrsupportaustralia

The Importance of Intentional Planning

As a business owner, it is crucial to approach the planning process with intentionality and avoid doing things for the sake of it. Setting clear goals and objectives for the team and allocating resources accordingly is critical to the success of the year. By planning ahead, you as the business owner can ensure that your strategies are aligned with your vision and avoid any unnecessary detours (or those pesky shiny objects!).

Creating Space for Effective Planning

For me personally, effective planning requires space. If I am going to plan effectively, it’s important that I create space and step away from the day-to-day work.

Personally, I prefer to plan in a different location, away from her usual working zone. This change of environment allows for more creative thinking and a fresh perspective. I really believe that by breaking away from routine, business owners can tap into their creativity and think outside the box. It is essential for bus...