The Latest from Kristy-Lee

Working from home, it became the new norm for a while, and then the big employers decided returning to the office was in order for the majority of their staff.

Just when many employers thought they'd settled into a new normal with hybrid work, a landmark decision from the Fair Work Commission has shaken things up.

And if you manage a team or run a business, it’s time to pay attention.

This case has made headlines for good reason. It's the first of its kind since major updates to the Fair Work Act came into effect, and it's already sending a very clear message to employers: blanket return-to-office mandates won’t cut it anymore.

Let’s break down what actually happened, why it matters, and what you need to know now.

The Westpac Case: What Happened?

A long-serving Westpac employee, with 23 years under her belt, had been working from home successfully since 2017, well before the pandemic made remote work mainstream. She was also the primary carer of two young children ...

As we head into a new year, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect and reset how you're leading your team. If you’ve been feeling stuck in reactive mode, constantly solving problems or wondering why your team isn’t quite hitting the mark, this is your opportunity to do things differently.

You don’t need a full business overhaul to shift the dial. Sometimes, it’s about starting small with a few key actions that have big impact. This simple framework of stop, keep, start is a brilliant place to begin.

In this third and final part of the series, we're looking at what to start doing when it comes to your team in 2026. These aren’t surface-level tactics, they’re practical moves designed to help you lead more effectively, create more autonomy in your team, and take a few things off your plate without letting performance slip.

Let’s dive in.

#1: Start Building Leadership Skills and Layers

One of the biggest roadblocks in growing businesses is that everything still runs throu...

As we roll into a new year, it's tempting to be diverted by those bright shiny objects. New strategies, launching fresh initiatives and setting big goals.

But sometimes, the most powerful move you can make isn’t about adding more. It’s about identifying what’s already working, and committing to keep doing it.

After a challenging year for many business owners, 2026 is the time to double down on what creates real traction in your team. Less drama. More ownership. Steadier leadership. And better performance, without you being the bottleneck.

Here are three simple but powerful things to keep doing in the new year if you want to lead your team with more confidence, clarity and connection.

#1: Keep Having Regular Meetings (Even if You’re Busy)
Let’s be honest, meetings can feel like a time suck. When you're overwhelmed, behind schedule or putting out fires, they’re often the first thing to fall off the calendar.

But skipping meetings sends a subtle signal: this isn’t impo...

As we kick off 2026, it’s the perfect time to reflect back on last year and look at what worked, what didn’t and where we can make meaningful changes in how we lead our teams.

This post is part one of a three-part series designed to help you get clear on what to stop, start and keep doing with your team this year.

Today, we're looking at what to stop, and if you take even one of these seriously, you’ll set yourself up for a more productive, drama-free year ahead.

Let’s dive in.

Stop #1: Winging It With Your HR

Look, I get it. HR can feel boring, expensive, or just like something you can "sort out later." And with tools like AI making things faster and easier, it’s tempting to let ChatGPT or a clever system fill the gaps.

But here’s the truth: winging it is no longer good enough.

Relying on AI for critical HR decisions can be risky. It’s not always accurate, and when it "hallucinates" (yes, that’s an actual term in the AI world), it can give you wildly incorrect...

As the year draws to an end, you may feel like you’re crawling to the finish line, and desperate for some rest, but you also know those social, family and festive commitments are only ramping up.

Rest is often overlooked or undervalued, I know I used to see it as a ‘weakness’ to need to rest. So as entrepreneurs and business owners we don’t place enough focus on it, often.

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 cruc...

Well hasn’t it been a season of change? What once felt like a gradual evolution now feels like a tidal wave of twists and turns when it comes to our teams. I know many business owners are feeling out of control, and uncertain of what’s coming next.

As we head into 2026, the pace of this change isn't slowing down, and if you lead a team, you need to be ready.

From the rise of AI to generational changes in the workforce, it’s clear we’re entering a new chapter. But not everything is changing. Some foundational truths remain as important as ever. Here's what I believe is coming, and how you can get ahead.

Prediction 1: AI Will Become Business-as-Usual (and Bring Growing Pains With It)

Whether you’ve dabbled in ChatGPT or are knee-deep in tech tools, there’s no denying that AI is here, and here to stay. But how we use it, and how our teams respond to it, is where the real challenge lies.

AI is being integrated into every tool we already use, from Microsoft Office to Canva ...

You’ve got a team member who’s just... not themselves. They’re missing deadlines, showing up late, snapping at colleagues or zoning out in meetings. You start wondering whether they’ve checked out. Are they no longer motivated? Have they stopped caring?

It’s tempting to slap a label on the behaviour and call it disengagement. But what if it’s not that at all? What if the real issue is something deeper, and more dangerous to ignore?

Burnout and disengagement often show up in the same way. What’s happening behind the scenes, though, couldn’t be more different. And if you respond the wrong way, you risk making things worse.

Let’s unpack the difference and look at how you can figure out what’s really going on, and what to do next.

Same Symptoms, Different Causes

It’s easy to see how these two issues get confused. Both can show up as low energy, a lack of initiative, reduced performance or a sense of detachment. From the outside, they can look almost identical.

But the ...

Ever walked into your workplace and felt like your team was calling the shots, not you?

Maybe it started subtly. A staff member made a call on something you’d normally decide. Someone else began setting their own schedule. Now it feels like every day you’re reacting, not leading — and you’re not quite sure how it got to this point.

It happens more often than you’d think, especially in growing businesses. Leaders start with the best intentions, but somewhere along the way, the balance shifts. You end up juggling the leftovers, avoiding conflict, and wondering when exactly you became the passenger instead of the driver.

The good news? You can take back control. Here’s how to spot the warning signs, why this happens, and what to do if your team feels like they’ve taken over.

How Control Slips Away

It usually starts with trying to do the right thing. You want to give your team autonomy, show them you trust them, and avoid being a micromanager. Maybe you don’t love conflict...

Employment contracts should protect your business, not put it at risk. But for many employers using set-off clauses, recent legal developments suggest you could be walking a fine line without even realising it.

If your contracts include a clause that bundles award entitlements like overtime, allowances and penalties into one neat annual salary, you might want to take a closer look.

It’s a practice that’s been common for years, but now there’s fresh concern that many of these clauses aren’t worth the paper they’re written on.

Let’s unpack what set-off clauses are, why they’re popular, and what recent court rulings have changed about how they should be used in practice.

What Is a Set-Off Clause?

A set-off clause is a provision in an employment contract that allows an employer to pay a single annual salary that covers more than just the base wage. It’s used to offset things like:

• Overtime
• Penalty rates
• Allowances
• Loadings

In theory, the clause allows you to si...

Every year, like clockwork, a wave of resignations rolls in during January.

Staff return from the summer break with fresh perspective, a bit of distance, and sometimes a decision that it’s time to move on. It can feel like a blindsiding moment, but the truth is these resignations usually started brewing months earlier.

The good news? There’s a lot you can do right now to reduce the risk of losing great people in the new year. And it doesn’t require a huge investment or elaborate retention strategy. In fact, most of the best actions are simple, practical, and free.

Let’s unpack what’s really going on in January, what signs to watch for, and what steps to take today to hold onto your top talent tomorrow.

Why January is Resignation Season

There’s something about a new year that naturally prompts reflection. People are stepping out of their usual routine, spending time with family and friends, and asking themselves the big questions. Do I want another year like the last on...