The Latest from Kristy-Lee

Hello and welcome to Episode 293 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

In today’s episode, we’re diving into a challenge that so many business owners face (even if they don’t talk about it): what happens when your team starts calling the shots… and you’re no longer in control of your business?

It happens more often than you’d think.

You start out delegating a few tasks to make life easier… then one day you realise you're asking your team for permission to make decisions. You're walking on eggshells. You’re avoiding the hard conversations. And your business? It no longer feels like yours.

If any of that sounds familiar — this episode is for you.

Here’s what we cover:

✅ How it happens – The subtle shift from leading to reacting

✅ Why it happens – The mindset traps and leadership habits that leave us overrun

✅ Red flags to watch for – Signs your team might be running the show

✅ How to take back control – Practical, non-confrontational ways to reset and reclaim your role as the ...

Hello and welcome to Episode 292 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

In today’s episode we’re dipping our toes into a very hot topic at the moment – set off clauses in employment contracts and why they are proving to be such a problem.

We start by unpacking what are set off clauses actually are – a clause in a contract that allows the employer to pay a salary which incorporates base rates + allowances etc and other award conditions that would otherwise be an entitlement the employee should receive.

We then look at when can they be used and how, when written correctly they can protect you as the employer and cover a lot of things.

Finally we take a look at a case involving Coles and Woolworths that really has the experts talking, and highlights how these clauses can and can’t be used, and why so many businesses are currently at risk of huge back payment claims as a result.

An Invitation: If you’d like to connect with other businesses who are also juggling the challenges of team...

Hello and welcome to Episode 291 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

In today's episode we are talking about using AI in your workplace, and how it can be valuable for you and your team, but where you may need to be cautious.

The reality is your team is likely already using it, even if you haven’t officially introduced it. And while it can be an amazing productivity tool (I love it myself for getting past blank pages, speeding up thinking, and yes - it’s replaced Google for me!), it also raises real questions for business owners:

• How do we manage AI use at work?
• What are the risks and rewards?
• And what do we do when our team isn’t on board?

In this episode, I’m diving into what I’m seeing with clients around AI in the workplace, how to use it well, and what to do when team members resist or misuse it.

What I’m seeing right now is team members using AI for internal comms (and business owners being surprised—or concerned), AI-written job applications, ads, and emails: how ...

Hello and welcome to Episode 290 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

In today's episode we are talking about why DIY HR might be holding you, your team and your business back.

As business owners we often think we need to figure all the things out for ourselves, but just like you take your car to a mechanic, and see your accountant for tax advice, HR is one of those areas where going it alone is not always the best approach.

When you rely on DIY HR, your team feels the gaps—uncertainty, confusion, no clear path forward. People leave more often when feedback isn’t consistent, or when their role feels vague. That’s lost momentum for your business.

On the business side, the financial cost of misclassification or non‑compliance isn’t just about fines—it’s about the time, resources, and stress it takes to clean up. And in a tight SME, that clean‑up eats into profit or growth that could’ve been reinvested.

As the owner, when you’re constantly firefighting HR, you can’t lead. Your ene...

Hello and welcome to Episode 289 of the People Powered Business Podcast.

Most small business owners are stuck doing HR in bits and pieces: a contract here, a policy there, some software that never really gets used. But at the end of the day, they’re still chasing staff, second-guessing decisions, and carrying all the pressure.

In this episode, I’ll share:

1. Why HR still feels hard, even when you think you’ve “ticked the boxes.”
2. Why expensive HR software isn’t the fix for small business teams.
3. The real missing piece that changes everything - a simple HR framework designed for small business.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing “something” with HR but it’s still not working, this episode will show you what’s missing - and how to finally get it right. Feeling stuck? Email me at [email protected] and let’s chat.

An Invitation:

If you’d like to connect with other businesses who are also juggling the challenges of teams, I’d love you to join us inside our free Fa...

Hello and welcome to Episode 288 of the People Powered Business Podcast.

Running a business with a team is hard enough - and when it comes to HR, most small business owners admit they’re just “winging it.” A contract here, a policy there, figuring it out when problems pop up.

The trouble is, winging it only works for so long. Eventually, it costs you time, money, and stress, and leaves you stuck chasing your staff instead of leading them.

In this episode, I’ll share:

• Why winging it feels fine at first, but always backfires in the long run.
• The hidden costs you’re already paying (even if you don’t realise it).
• How “making it up as you go” keeps you stuck in the day-to-day.
• What to focus on instead if you want your team to step up.

If you’ve ever felt like HR in your business is messy, ad hoc, or just one more thing on your plate, this episode will show you why winging it isn’t the answer. Feeling stuck from winging it? Email me at [email protected] and let’s...

Hello and welcome to Episode 287 of the People Powered Business Podcast.

We’ve spoken about our employees rights a lot lately, specifically most recently about our employees right to disconnect from work.

Posting in our People Powered HR members community about these changes and a member asked ‘does that apply to us too’? And it’s a good question.

Because often as business owners we are bad at disconnecting, at setting and upholding boundaries and at protecting our self care when things are busy.

So today we will discuss the real technical answer to the question as to whether these new rules apply to us.

But more importantly this is a conversation about the need to set or re establish boundaries with our teams, our customers and ourselves, and to protect our energy and look after ourselves to show up as the best leaders we can be.

An Invitation:

If you’d like to connect with other businesses who are also juggling the challenges of teams, I’d love you to join us inside our free F...

Welcome to Episode 286 of the People Powered Business Podcast

I’ve been having some great conversations  about leadership – team leadership, business leadership, self leadership, thought leadership and I wanted to explore common threads that I've been seeing.

We are all leaders, CEO of our business - You are a leader if you listen to this podcast - so let's talk leadership.

Firstly I want to start with why it’s important to consider yourself a leader (even if you only have contractors, VAs or casual staff).

Then I'll share 3 common traits of people powered leaders.

Finally I discuss why this is a skill anyone can (and should learn), and why you don’t need to go it alone.

Want to work with me on this? Just email [email protected]

Hello and welcome to Episode 285 of the People Powered Business Podcast.

Today we’re bringing you a tech tip episode – but I’m not recommending a system – in fact the opposite. I’m sharing how you can use what you’ve already got to solve your HR admin headaches and why you don’t need a HR system or expensive software subscription to do that for you.

To start with I encourage you to do an audit of what you already have, what those systems can do for you, and then really looking at where you do have gaps, and what specifically you need to solve them.

We then look at using your existing workspaces, whether it’s MS Office, Google Suite or something else and leverage and that more effectively. Are you using the integrated AI in those programs to shortcut things and create tools such as spreadsheets to support you?

And of course we touch on AI and I share how I’m using Chat GPT and Chrome Extensions to help with HR tasks in my business and to support members of our People Powered HR Comm...

Hello and welcome to Episode 284 of the People Powered Business Podcast.

I have a bit of a theme going at the moment which I’m calling ‘Compliance Quarter’ and today we’re taking a look at the looming deadline for small business to comply with the new right to disconnect laws.

In this episode we unpack what the right to disconnect is and what it actually means, we discuss the implementation, pathway and why this matters for small business now and we take a look at what will it actually mean for your businesses in practical terms.

I also share some real life examples of what I am seeing play out with the clients I am working with and how they are implementing the right to disconnect.

An Invitation:

If you’d like to connect with other businesses who are also juggling the challenges of teams, I’d love you to join us inside our free Facebook Group, The People Powered Community, so I can learn more about what’s working for you and any challenges you might be having.

Join Here - https:...