Find Grow Keep

Workplace conflict can feel uncomfortable to address, especially when you are already stretched and trying to keep the team moving forward. But avoiding it rarely makes it better.   In this episode, Karen Kirton shares a practical 3 step method to help managers and business owners resolve employee conflict calmly, clearly and without unnecessary drama.  You will learn how to get to the real issue,...

In this episode of the Find Grow Keep podcast, Karen sits down with Jason Le from JRNY Digital to talk about why purpose, values, vision and mission are not just nice words for your website. They help shape how small businesses grow, how they market themselves, who they attract, how they make decisions, and how they build teams that truly fit.  We explore why so many businesses struggle to stand o...

In this episode, Karen discusses how founders and business leaders can use automation to save time, reduce admin, and create more consistency across their people processes without removing the human side of leadership.  Because for many growing businesses, people management starts off as something you simply absorb into your day. But as the team grows, so does the admin. Before long, you are spend...

In this episode, Karen explores why so many small business leaders only think about performance management once something has already gone wrong.   Instead of seeing it as just paperwork, warnings and formal conversations, she looks at what good performance management really involves: clear expectations, regular feedback, role clarity, support, accountability and stronger leadership.  In today’s e...

In this episode, Karen is joined by Don Hett, founder of CleanKings, EarthyTabs and Crittiks.  Thirteen years ago, Don started CleanKings. Over time, the business grew successfully, but like many Founders, he found himself deeply embedded in the day to day operations. At one point he realised he had become a prisoner of his own company. That moment became a turning point.  In this conversation, Do...

In this episode, we explore what HR support services actually include, why they matter so much for growing businesses, and how the right support can help leaders feel more confident, reduce risk, and create a stronger workplace.  If you are spending more and more time dealing with hiring, performance issues, compliance questions, awkward conversations, or workplace tensions, this episode will help...

In this episode, Karen is  joined by Dan Moussa from Third Way Advisory, and we unpack what really makes recruitment work in a small business. We talk about why so many hiring processes go off track before you even post the job ad, how to spot the early warning signs, and how to keep your process simple without being sloppy.   In today’s episode, you will learn about  The most common leadership hi...

In this episode, Karen Kirton sits down with accountant and business advisor Jonathon Hunt-Mason to unpack the real numbers that keep small and midsize businesses healthy. If revenue looks fine but something feels off, this conversation will help you spot survival mode early and course-correct with confidence.  You’ll learn:  Why cash flow data is a lagging indicator and what to watch first  The t...

If you have ever thought, I need HR support but I do not need a full time HR person’’, this episode is for you.   Karen unpacks what on demand HR services really look like, who they suit best, and how to get the support you need without the overheads of building an internal HR team.  In today’s episode, you will learn about:  What on demand HR services are and how the model typically works for sma...

If you are hearing “I am so stressed”, you are not alone. Today I am joined by Jess Jasch , a Wellbeing Consultant and Embodied Leadership Coach who helps leaders and teams build real stress resilience with practical mindfulness. No hours of meditation. No fluffy language. Just simple habits that actually work at work.  In this episode you will learn   The difference between healthy stretch and sy...

This episode is a special one as it also marks five years of the Find Grow Keep podcast!   In this conversation, we explore why leadership development workshops are one of the most practical ways to lift performance, strengthen culture, and improve retention, especially in small and medium sized businesses.  In today’s episode, you will learn about:  What leadership development workshops actually...

If your HR tasks are living on sticky notes or inside your head, this episode is for you.  Many small business owners do not lack effort when it comes to their people. What they often lack is a clear people strategy. Instead of building intentionally, they are reacting to hiring needs, performance issues, contracts, onboarding gaps and compliance questions as they arise.  In this episode, I walk y...

In this conversation, Karen Kirton sits down with marketer Michael Field to unpack the hidden force behind so many B2B wins and losses. We explore the invisible buying committee, the stakeholders you rarely meet yet who quietly shape every major decision. You will learn how to identify them, speak to what they value, and create simple assets that help them champion your solution inside the room yo...

If HR keeps landing on your desk, this episode is your reset.   Karen breaks down what HR outsourcing actually covers for Australian SMEs, the real-world signals it’s time to get help, and a simple 90-day plan to cut risk and free up leadership time.  Who it’s for: Owners and leaders in small to medium businesses who are juggling contracts, awards, onboarding and tricky people issues alongside sal...

What if your team was spread across three cities and still worked as one team?   In this conversation, Karen Kirton sits down with Mark Swinnerton, CEO of Green Gravity, to unpack the practical leadership habits that keep people aligned, fast and focused as you scale.  In this episode, you’ll learn:  The simple weekly rhythms that cut noise and build trust  How to recruit in a competitive market b...

Promoting a brilliant team member into their first leadership role is exciting. It is also where many small businesses stumble. In this episode Karen shares a simple 30 day plan that builds clarity, confidence and momentum for new managers, with an easy runway to 90 days. You will hear practical steps you can use this week, plus simple tools that make leadership feel human and doable.  You will le...

Rapid growth can make everything noisier. In this conversation, Karen Kirton and guest Andrew McVeigh, Managing Partner of Remara, unpack practical ways to scale without chaos — from hiring earlier than feels comfortable, to moving from “all hands” to clear ownership, setting simple rhythms for communication, and using a one-sentence purpose to align teams and investors.  In today’s episode, you’l...

Are you managing or just hoping?  If your team has grown from five to twenty people and performance is running on memory and gut feel, this episode gives you a simple system you can roll out in thirty days. No complex software. Just a clear rhythm that creates better conversations and better results.  In this episode you will learn   • The purpose of reviews in a growing business and how to keep t...

There is a moment in every growing business when you realise it is time to level up how you lead people.   In this episode Karen shares five practical people drivers that help small businesses hire better, lift performance and build momentum.   From clarifying your brand and purpose to a simple four week manager reset, you will get a clear plan you can use right away.  You will learn   How to writ...

Culture is not a side project for HR. It is a core growth lever that shapes performance, customer experience and profit. In this episode Karen shares a practical way to treat culture like any other business strategy so you can unlock growth through your people.  In this episode you will learn   Why culture belongs on your leadership agenda, not just in HR  How the Find Grow Keep framework turns va...

In this episode, Karen Kirton shares practical and evidence-based ways to build a culture of wellbeing that actually drives performance,  not one that slows it down.  Across Australia, work-related mental health claims are rising, and new regulations mean every business has a legal duty to manage psychosocial risks. But beyond compliance, creating a workplace that genuinely supports wellbeing lead...

Have you ever been in a meeting where one person dives straight into the data, another wants a plan, someone else checks how everyone feels, and another is already brainstorming new ideas?  It’s not chaos — it’s different thinking styles at work.  In this episode, Karen Kirton explores Whole Brain Thinking (HBDI) , a model that helps you understand how people prefer to think, communicate, and make...

In this episode of Find Grow Keep , Karen Kirton chats with Michael Todd , CEO of OnePointHealth Group , about how his team built a thriving culture that recently earned them recognition as one of Australia’s Best Places to Work .  Michael shares the story behind OnePointHealth’s growth to over 100 employees, their innovative cadet program that’s become the backbone of their recruitment strategy,...

Hiring great people sounds simple — until it isn’t.  If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why a new hire didn’t work out, you’re not alone. From rushing the process to writing generic job ads, most hiring mistakes come down to one key issue: a lack of clarity.  In this episode, Karen Kirton shares the nine most common hiring mistakes that cost businesses time, money, and team morale — and, more...

Have you ever been blindsided by a resignation? One minute your top performer seems fine, and the next they’re handing in their notice. It’s disruptive, costly, and leaves you wondering what you could have done differently.  The truth is that most resignations don’t happen overnight. Employees usually send signals of disengagement well before they quit, but managers often miss them.  In this episo...