Hello and welcome to Episode 191 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

In today’s episode we are discussing the 5 biggest staffing challenges (or you may want to view them as opportunities) that every small to medium sized business needs to be ready, and have a plan for in 2024.

The reality is the staffing landscape is changing, both in Australia and abroad, and we are very much returning to a global workplace again.

If we are not ready for these changes and challenges, we will be left behind.

I firmly believe small to medium sized businesses have a huge opportunity right now, if we are ready and being ready means having a plan.

Today we are discussing what is changing and why, the five biggest challenges I see coming and what we should do next.

There is no doubt that the pandemic has moved the world of work forward 20+ years – a controversial opinion some might think, but something I have thought to be the case since early 2020 – I knew then we were always...

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...

Hello and welcome to Episode 190 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

In today’s episode I’m sharing a little behind the scenes of how I plan for a successful year ahead with my team.

I like to plan for a calendar year ahead, and for me timing is key – and November is the time I plan.

Today I share the importance of timing and what may work for your business, the value of stepping away from the day to day work environment to plan more effectively, and when and what of your plan you should share with your team.

How do you plan for your year ahead? I’d love to know. Join us in our Facebook Group and share your experiences.

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

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...

Hello and welcome to Episode 189 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

In today’s episode of the podcast we are talking about employee wellbeing, specifically wellbeing programs, Employee Assistance Programs and whether they are relevant for small to medium sized businesses.

Whilst wellbeing as a concept is about the entirety of someone’s life, and as such can’t be entirely our responsibility as an employer, we certainly have some responsibility for our employees wellbeing whilst at work, and can take proactive steps to help them improve their wellbeing, which has some great flow on effects to their performance, motivation and engagement at work.

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

Hello and welcome to Episode 188 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

In today’s episode of the podcast we are chatting about becoming the boss, and the journey I have noticed every business owner goes through in building their business and their team to become a business that is truly people powered.

You see this is a journey I notice our People Powered HR members take, it’s one I have taken and it’s one every small business owner makes. It’s not always a straight line, sometimes we bounce between the stages in the journey, but that’s how we learn and create a stronger business for the future.

The stages we all go through are:

• Having an Idea Powered business, where we are a start up, full of enthusiasm and ideas;
• Being You Powered – where we are starting to build our team and outsource things, but we are in the drivers seat across everything, and involved at every level;
• Becoming Person Powered where we have a team of key people and roles,...

Positive Duty Laws under the Sex Discrimination Act

The recently published Positive Duty guidelines from the Australian Human Rights Commission have been developed to help organisations and businesses eliminate unlawful behaviour as much as possible in their workplaces.

In late 2022, the Respect Work Act was passed into law, marking a significant legislative change in Australia's industrial relations landscape. As part of this comprehensive legislation, a new legal framework was introduced, referred to as 'positive duty.'

This framework places an onus on employers to take reasonable steps to eliminate sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination within their workplaces under the Sex Discrimination Act.

The fundamental shift is that it's no longer adequate for employers to react to complaints as they arise. Instead, they now have a proactive obligation to implement measures that prevent these issues from happening in the first...

Hello and welcome to Episode 187 of the People Powered Business Podcast.

In today’s episode of the podcast we are retuning to a more technical discussion about one of the more recent legislative updates – the introduction of positive duty laws to prevent sexual harassment and sex based discrimination in the workplace.

These laws were passed in late 2022, but given the gravity of the changes being implemented, employers had a grace period to get their house in order. From December 2023 though, the Australian Human Right Commission will be able to commence legal proceedings against employers who are failing to meet their positive duty obligations, and no one, not even small businesses, are exempt.

In todays’ episode we re cap what the positive duties laws are, what they mean for employers. and the AHRC guidelines for achieving compliance with these new requirements.

As always, if you’d like to connect with other small business owners to chat all things HR and...

Leading a team is like a dance.

One of the key steps to the leadership dance is finding the sweet spot between being liked by your team and being respected by them.

It’s critical for leaders at any level to consider the balancing act of respectability versus likeability when it comes to their team, as one or the other could emerge more dominantly. Still, great leaders require harmony between these two aspects of themselves.

Respect is the cornerstone of a high-performing, reliable, and motivated team. Likeability is also essential for building rapport, but sometimes leaders can mistake being liked for being respected, and that’s not always the case.

Why Are We So Focused on Our People 'Liking' Us?

It's not uncommon for leaders, especially those in small businesses, to desire to be liked by their team. Sometimes, the mental game of being the boss is overwhelming, confusing and just plain complicated. The yearning for camaraderie, bonding and that sense of belonging...

Hello and welcome to Episode 186 of the People Powered Business Podcast.

In today's episode of the podcast we are taking a deeper dive into a topic we covered in a recent Power Play Mini Episode - do your people like or respect you?

So often as business owners and leaders we are playing a popularity game, because we want our people to like us. But when we are doing that at the detriment to building respect from our team, it can be bad for them, the business and us.

What's your experience when it comes to this? What game are you playing? I'd love to hear, join us in our Facebook Group to share your experiences:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hrsupportaustralia