Here's a radical thought for recruitment & small business owners - what if performance conversations actually energised your team?

Somewhere along the way, the very mention of "performance" became associated with blame, fear and that dreaded march to HR. It's no wonder we all tense up at the phrase "we need to talk about your performance."

What if we changed this narrative in our businesses?

In my 15+ years supporting business owners, one truth stands out. When your people are your biggest headache, your business becomes a burden rather than a joy.

Here's what I know …

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.