The Latest from Kristy-Lee

If you’ve ever handed off a task, only to find it flying straight back to you half-done, late, or worse, untouched, you’re not alone in that frustration.

Delegation is one of those skills that seems simple in theory, but in practice? It’s a bit of a minefield.

And the truth is, most of us were never taught how to do it properly. We’ve picked things up as we go, maybe Googled a few tips, watched others do it (badly), and now we’re winging it, while still wondering why our team can’t just do their jobs without our constant involvement.

The reality? Delegation is a skill. One you can learn, refine and use to take real pressure off your plate, without sacrificing quality or control.

So, if you’re tired of being the bottleneck, here’s a clear, five-step process to delegate better, and finally keep that task off your to-do list for good.

Why Delegation Feels So Hard

Before we get to the how, let’s talk about why it often goes wrong.

The first big reason? We assume pe...

If you’ve opened up applications recently and found yourself scrolling through glowing, wordy cover letters telling you how amazing your business is and why someone’s “always dreamed of working in this industry” you’ve likely stumped into an AI generated cover letter.

Let’s be blunt. Cover letters, as we know them, are dead. And honestly, they’ve been irrelevant for a long time. But in the age of AI-generated content and fast-moving hiring needs, their shortcomings have become impossible to ignore.

So if cover letters are off the table, what should you be doing instead?

The Problem with Cover Letters

For years, cover letters have been treated like some kind of golden ticket, proof that someone has taken the time to apply thoughtfully and demonstrate their communication skills. But here’s the thing: they’ve always carried a built-in bias.

A cover letter tells you one thing, whether someone can write nicely about themselves. That’s it.

They don’t tell you if the pers...

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 ...

Hiring great people can feel like a win. Keeping them? That’s where the real challenge lies.

Just when you think you’ve finally found the right fit, their resignation lands in your inbox, and the sinking feeling kicks in.

Sound familiar?

While losing any team member hurts, losing a good one hits harder. The costs stretch far beyond recruitment fees and replacement ads. The real price is in the disruption, the lost momentum, and the morale damage. Most business owners dramatically underestimate just how much turnover is costing them, and more importantly, why it's happening in the first place.

Let’s dig into the real reasons great people walk away and what it’s actually costing your business.

The Hidden Costs of Staff Turnover

Replacing an employee isn’t just about hiring someone new. It's a process that quietly drains time, energy and money in ways many don’t fully appreciate.

Here’s what turnover really looks like behind the scenes:

• Productivity takes a hit...