The Latest from Kristy-Lee

Hello and welcome to Episode 307 of The People Powered Business Podcast.

In this episode, I’m diving into hiring in 2026 and unpacking what’s actually changing, what’s staying the same, and why many of the old recruitment tactics just aren’t cutting it anymore.

Whether you’ve hired recently or it’s been a while, the reality is the hiring market is still competitive, candidates are moving fast, and business owners need to be far more intentional about how they attract and select the right people. I talk through why speed still matters, but only when it’s backed by clarity, strategy and a strong understanding of what you actually need in your business.

We also explore the rise of passive candidates and why relying solely on job ads is no longer enough. Hiring in 2026 looks a lot more like marketing, building your employer brand, using your networks, and clearly communicating your values and flexibility. I share my thoughts on the growing role of AI in recruitment, how both candidates ...

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...

Hello and welcome to Episode 306 of The People Powered Business Podcast.

In this episode, I’m diving into a topic that sounds simple but is far harder than it should be: delegation. If you constantly feel like you’re the only one who can do things properly, or you’re frustrated that your team just doesn’t get it, the issue usually isn’t your people, it’s your delegation process. I unpack why delegation feels so hard for so many business owners and leaders, especially when no one ever taught us how to do it properly and our teams can’t read our minds.

I then walk you through my five-step framework for effective delegation, starting with deciding what you should actually be delegating, not just offloading tasks out of frustration. We talk about getting clear on the outcome so success is tangible, giving context so your team understands the bigger picture, agreeing on boundaries to create clarity and trust, and setting follow-ups that support accountability without micromanaging. Delega...

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...

Hello and welcome to Episode 305 of The People Powered Business Podcast.

Happy 2026 and welcome back. After a short break, I’m diving straight into a question I’m hearing more and more from business owners as hiring ramps up again.

Are cover letters redundant?

In this episode, I reflect on what season many of us are in right now, growing teams, reviewing recruitment processes, and trying to hire well without wasting time or creating unnecessary complexity.

I unpack why so many businesses still rely heavily on cover letters and why, in the traditional sense, they’re no longer giving us the insights we think they are. With the rise of AI, most cover letters now sound the same, polished, impressive, and often disconnected from how someone will actually perform in your business. I share my own approach, the common bias business owners have towards strong writing and compliments, and the so called ‘trick’ application strategies that don’t always tell you what you need to know. Ultimatel...

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...

Hello and welcome to Episode 304 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

Many rural and regional businesses work with seasonal workers, volunteers and ’88 dayers” - those young international travellers with holiday visa who need to work for 88 days in a rural or regional area in order to have their visa extended. Christmas, school holidays and other occasions mean we are often taking on staff ‘for the season’ wherever we are. In this episode Juliet and Kristy-Lee are talking about some of the challenges and opportunities in leading these people whilst keeping your core team motivated.

Anytime someone joins or leaves our team it has an impact on the culture of the team and seasonal or transient team members can bring strengths and energy or can dislocate a team and throw everything off balance.

We discuss how to bring these people into the team in ways that get the best from them and integrate them into the team as effectively as possible.

Have you had seasonal or transient workers ...

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 ...

Hello and welcome to Episode 303 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

In this episode we’re continuing with our special three part series to help you plan for a powerful 2026, and looking at what to start doing when it comes to managing your team.

This episode focuses on three key things to start doing for your team as you head into the new year. We’re talking about the importance of building leadership skills within your team and investing in leadership skill development, I’m also encouraging you to start having braver conversations sooner, and to start measuring what really matters.

💡 Bonus AI Tip: Start putting AI guides in place for your team.

Links & Resources:

💬 DM Kristy-Lee on Instagram @kristy.lee.billett and let me know if you have questions about work from home entitlements or email me at [email protected] 

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 ...

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 ...