After four years of running his business solo, Phil Gregory faced the daunting task of hiring his first employee. With The People Consultancy's support, he completed the entire hiring process within a week, ensuring full compliance and confidence. "Emily has a gift of making the complicated and scary seem manageable," says Phil, who has since continued with business coaching, leading to improved processes and increased work capacity.

I see you, fellow business owners. I see you because I was you.

Building my consultancy was like riding a roller coaster – exhilarating and terrifying all at once. Growing the team, landing bigger clients, living what seemed like the entrepreneurial dream. But beneath the surface, something was crumbling.

The weight of responsibility became crushing.

Free: Reflect & Reset Workbook

With 2024 drawing to a close, I've created something special for you - my "Reflect and Reset" workbook.

Because let's be honest, before we dive into those 2025 goals, we need to take a moment to appreciate how far we've come.

With my 'business therapist' hat on, I see this pattern emerge time and time again. A business owner comes to me frustrated that their marketing isn't working, or their team member isn't performing, or they can't seem to delegate effectively.

I'm not your typical HR consultant who shows up with a clipboard and a rulebook. Instead, I'm more like your strategic partner who rolls up their sleeves and dives in to find real, practical solutions. As one client put it: "Emily was brilliant not just as a service but a solutions provider".

Are you tired of constantly putting out HR fires in your small business?

December isn't just about Christmas prep – it's the perfect time to transform your approach to people management for 2025.

"I just need you in that meeting with me."

Three weeks ago, Sarah* reached out about what seemed like a straightforward HR issue – ongoing performance challenges in her team. But as we sat down together, it became clear there was so much more beneath the surface.

Ever notice how employee issues hit different when you're a business owner?

That pit in your stomach when conflict arises isn't just about the immediate problem – it's often tied to deeper emotional threads woven through our entrepreneurial journey.

In today's video, I'm going to share how successful businesses are flipping the script on performance management. We'll explore how focusing on coaching and development first can transform your business culture, boost your billers' confidence, and actually make those tougher conversations more constructive when they're needed.

Are you leaving performance to chance in your business? Are you just hoping to get the results you want without clarity?

I see this all the time - usually resulting in a stressed, frustrated business owner, taking it all on themselves.

There is another way.

What happens when your team don’t really know what is expected of them?

• They don’t know how to perform at the levels you want?

• Someone leaves and nicks your data?

• Or goes off sick for three months and you can’t get hold of them?

There is always a better way …

My client, an experienced entrepreneur leading a team of 15, was struggling with the people management side of her business. In her own words, she found it:

- Stressful
- Overwhelming
- Like constantly watching over her shoulder for something to go wrong

You know exactly what I'm talking about - that employee who consistently underperforms, the one you've been meaning to address for weeks, months, maybe even years. Yet, here you are, once again picking up their slack, feeling the weight of unresolved issues on your shoulders.

Fear-based leadership is never a good strategy. It creates a toxic environment where:

- Innovation is stifled
- Open communication breaks down
- Employee well-being suffers
- Turnover increases
- Productivity declines

So on this World Menopause Day I encourage organisations to really educate themselves - there are so many ways to support the people experiencing the effects of menopause in your businesses, and it will make such a huge difference to your people.

As a performance coach and HR consultant, I've seen countless small business owners really struggle with a common challenge - creating accountability among their employees.

The sleepless nights, stress, frustration and overwhelm that come as a result of this are no joke.

Here's why it happens...

I've seen it countless times. Clients reach out when they're paralysed, unable to move forward. The culprit? A business setback that's shattered their confidence and planted seeds of doubt.

These experiences can be crippling, making you second-guess every decision.

But here's the truth - they don't have to define you.

This client's journey is seriously impressive - organic growth over a decade to a team of 30, fuelled by a fantastic culture.

But like many growing businesses, they've hit a common hurdle. A lack of structure creating bottlenecks for the owners.

Ever had one of those days where you're staring at your computer screen, thinking, "Is this really worth it?"

I recently worked with a recruitment business owner, who was having way too many of those days. She was at her wit's end - stressed, overwhelmed, and seriously contemplating throwing in the towel on her business dreams.

I'm putting together a newsletter specifically for small businesses like yours. It's my way of keeping you in the loop about the big HR changes coming your way — without the legal jargon headache.

Think of it as your HR cheat sheet, your “go to”.