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...

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...

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...

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...

Ever heard the saying ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup’? If you have, how much attention have you paid to it? If you’re like me, and many other business owners and entrepreneurs I know, you’re pretty good at putting your head in the sand on this one, think it doesn’t apply to you, and, most likely, think it’s extraordinarily selfish to even consider the fact that perhaps looking after yourself needs to be a priority.

I was the ‘poster child’ for over working.

Here’s the thing, like many of you, I spent my career, and my life, looking after everyone else first. Squeezing in time to replenish my mind, look after my health or do anything for my mental wellness was at best just that – squeezing it in around everything else. And by the most part that was a pretty successful approach. I had a thriving, fast growing and successful business, everyone was well looked after and life was good. I was juggling all of the...

In today's fast-paced world, rest is often overlooked or undervalued, especially by entrepreneurs and business owners.

However, rest is not just about getting enough sleep; it encompasses various dimensions that contribute to our overall well-being and productivity. In this article, we will explore the concept of rest and delve into the seven types of rest identified by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith. We will also provide practical strategies for incorporating different types of rest into your life, helping you unlock your full potential as an entrepreneur.

Understanding the Importance of Rest

Rest is more than just a luxury; it is a necessity for entrepreneurs and business owners. Research has shown that adequate rest is crucial for productivity, creativity, and overall well-being. By neglecting rest, we risk burnout, decreased cognitive function, and compromised decision-making abilities. Recognizing the significance of rest is the first step towards achieving a healthier and...

Decoding Employee Engagement in a Changing Landscape

In the whirlwind of the end of the year, where days seem to blend into one another, many of us find ourselves exhausted and slightly overwhelmed by the relentless pace of work and the added layer of personal responsibilities associated with the upcoming holiday season.

It's a familiar annual saga where businesses strive to meet deadlines, and individuals juggle personal obligations, creating unique challenges.

Amidst this hectic backdrop, the concept of employee engagement emerges as a crucial focal point, prompting us to delve into its intricacies and the recent revelations surfaced by a study conducted by Gartner.    

Defining Engagement: Gartner's Perspective

In its recent research, Gartner defined employee engagement through a three-fold lens.

It involves measuring how energised employees feel, gauging their sense of purpose in their work, and assessing their empowerment to contribute valuable...

The Growth Journey of Any Business

Something that a lot of small to medium businesses experience is the growing pains when the team that helped them get to a certain stage, isn’t the dream team you need to take you to the next level.

Every business embarks on a growth journey, evolving through different stages: idea-powered, you-powered, person-powered, team-powered, and, finally, people-powered.

The dynamics and skills required at each stage are distinct. Understanding this journey is crucial for aligning your team with your business's current stage and future aspirations. It’s also important to have effective onboarding and offboarding to allow for this kind of growth to happen without disrupting your business or team.

Getting Clear on How Your Business is Evolving

As your business evolves, so does your role. From being idea-driven to person-powered, your responsibilities transform. Clarity emerges as you refine your goals. It's a natural progression that necessitates...

Setting your business and team up for success

 If you're a business owner, chances are you've grappled with the idea of planning at some point. Are you a meticulous planner, or do you prefer to dive headfirst into action without a detailed roadmap?

While planning can be done on the fly or responsively, planning for success across a business requires leaders to line up key elements to ensure a successful and productive planning process.

Not only is it critical to plan for your business in the first place, but timing and creating the right environment for your team to bring their best ideas and insights to the table are paramount to how successful your planning sessions will be.

Why is Planning for Success in Business So Important?

For many entrepreneurs and business owners, planning can seem mundane. In fact, that’s true of my own experiences with planning. I used to see planning as one of the most boring parts of my ‘job’ as a business owner and...

What are Employee Assistance Programs, and Does My Business Need One?

Employee well-being has become a prominent topic of discussion in the world of human resources, particularly in a post-COVID landscape. In our People Pathway, well-being is a point of significant interest in the journey an employee goes on throughout their time with an organisation.

As employers, whether that’s in a small to medium business or a larger corporate environment, understanding employee well-being is critical to ensuring a safe and effective workplace culture.

As leaders, it’s our responsibility to set the standard when it comes to the well-being of our teams.

The Idea of Employee Wellbeing

At first glance, 'employee wellbeing' might seem like a vast and daunting concept for small and medium-sized businesses. Is it even relevant for small businesses?

It's essential to recognise that well-being encompasses physical, mental, and emotional facets. Yes, it's...