to take your business on the Journey to Greatness

The 4 Key Steps to Mastering Negotiation

August 10, 2023 Leadership

Negotiation plays a pivotal role in the modern business landscape, impacting the outcomes of crucial interactions among stakeholders and organisations. From mitigating disputes and securing strategic partnerships to navigating salary discussions with employees, effective negotiation skills are indispensable for professionals trying to optimise organisational success. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into four essential steps […]

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The Power of Meaningful Goals: Navigating Success in the New Financial Year

As we begin a new financial year, setting meaningful goals becomes even more critical for personal and organisational growth. It is an opportune time to reflect on past achievements, reassess priorities, and chart a course for the future. Setting meaningful goals is a vital aspect of personal and organisational growth. It provides clarity of direction, […]

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Changes to Parental Leave

Unpaid Parental leave in the Fair Work Act has undergone significant changes as of 1 July 2023 and the Paid Parental Leave Scheme administered by Services Australia has also been changed. Unpaid Parental Leave The major changes in the Fair Work Act include: Provisions relating to ‘employee couples’ have been removed allowing both parents to […]

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The Fair Work Commission handed down its annual wage review decision on Friday 2 June 2023.   

June 8, 2023 Compliance, Remuneration

Minimum Wage Increase From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2023, the National Minimum Wage will be adjusted. The new minimum wage will be $23.23 per hour, up from $21.38 per hour, an increase of 8.65%. Modern Award Increase In addition to the National Minimum Wage increase, Modern Awards will also […]

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How to Create Change Advocates in Your Business

Change is an inevitable part of business in today’s fast-paced world. However, navigating change successfully requires more than just top-down directives. It requires a team of change advocates who can inspire and motivate others to embrace new ideas and drive transformation. So, what are change advocates? Change advocates are individuals within an organisation who actively […]

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Changes to Flexible Working Arrangement Requests

May 18, 2023 Compliance

Grounds to request flexible working arrangements Reqeusts for flexible working arrangements may include changes in work hours, patterns of work and location of work. Requests can be made by an employee who has worked for the employer for at least 12 months, and: is the parent, or has responsibility for the care, of a child […]

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How to Manage Emotions in Difficult Conversations

May 11, 2023 Leadership

As we approach the end of the financial year, companies are gearing up for performance reviews to evaluate their employees’ progress and plan for the year ahead. However, these reviews can be a source of stress for both managers and employees, often resulting in difficult conversations. At TalentCode HR, we understand the importance of managing […]

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Pay Secrecy

April 17, 2023 Uncategorized

Australia recently banned pay secrecy clauses, leading many businesses to consider whether to disclose salaries in full. Removing barriers to discussing salaries among colleagues could help close the country’s 22.8% gender pay gap. Some corporations, notably major banks, have already scrapped pay secrecy clauses and published firm-wide pay bands to enhance transparency. Employers will also […]

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The Fundamentals of an Effective Salary Review Process

April 14, 2023 Uncategorized

In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, attracting and retaining top talent is a critical priority for organisations. And when it comes to retaining your best employees, offering competitive salaries is one of the most important factors to consider. However, it’s not just about offering a good salary, but also about ensuring that the salary review […]

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Getting People on the Bus: Setting Your BHAG for Strategic Planning Success

March 15, 2023 Strategy, Uncategorized

Strategic planning is an essential aspect of any business that aims to achieve its long-term goals. However, the planning process can be complex and challenging, especially when it comes to getting people on board with the organisation’s vision. In this article, we will discuss the importance of setting a BHAG and getting people on the […]

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Managing Redundancies

As businesses adapt to changing market conditions and evolving customer needs, some organisations may need to consider restructuring their operations. This can lead to the difficult decision to make an employee redundant. While redundancy can be a challenging and complex process, it can also be necessary to ensure the long-term viability of a business. A […]

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The Power of S.M.A.R.T. Goals

February 16, 2023 Performance and Accountability

In the fast-paced world of business, having clear goals is essential for success. Goals help organisations and individuals focus their efforts and measure progress towards desired outcomes. But not all goals are created equal. S.M.A.R.T. goals are a powerful tool that can help businesses achieve their objectives in a more efficient and effective way. S.M.A.R.T. […]

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Family & Domestic Violence Leave

December 15, 2022 Compliance

An amendment to the Fair Work Act 2009 was passed by Parliament on 27 October 2022 and received Royal Assent on 9 November 2022 to replace the current Family and Domestic Violence Leave entitlement of 5 days of unpaid leave in the National Employment Standards.  New Entitlement All employees in the Fair Work system (including part-time […]

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Building Resilience and Wellbeing 

November 15, 2022 Culture, Uncategorized

It has been another big year for many organisations regarding change, agility, and adaptability. Between COVID and the still rippling effects of ‘The Great Resignation’, many of us are exhausted, stressed and burnout.  But just because 2022 is drawing to a close, doesn’t mean these effects are going to fade out. In fact, it is […]

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Leave Entitlements

November 9, 2022 Uncategorized

One of the most common questions we are asked as HR Professionals is “What leave are my employees entitled to?”.  All employees in the national workplace relations system are covered by the National Employment Standards (NES) regardless of the award, registered agreement or employment contract that applies.  The national workplace relations system is a collection […]

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IR Reform

November 4, 2022 Compliance, Uncategorized

The Federal Government has introduced into Parliament landmark IR reforms that will have an impact on all workplaces across Australia, as part of its Secure Jobs and Better Pay Bill 2022.  It is likely that the Government will try to finalise and pass the reforms before the end of the year. In summary, the reforms […]

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Leader as a Coach – Falling into The Advice Trap

October 24, 2022 Leadership

The ability to motivate and develop others is a highly sought-after quality in leadership and management positions. This has come with a shift in people’s perception and beliefs of the role of managers and leaders in organisations, no longer are they seen to simply command, control and correct.  We are currently experiencing a workforce that […]

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Psychological Safety – The Foundation of High Performance Teams

September 20, 2022 Performance and Accountability

We are often quick to want recognition and celebrate wins and achievements, but what happens when we fail? We lose a long-term client, miss a deadline or deliver poor work. Are we comfortable discussing and reflecting on these challenges with our teams or manager? Do we feel comfortable engaging in open, honest and productive conflict […]

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Managing Underperformance and Mental Health Concerns

Managing underperformance in the workplace can sometimes be complicated by mental health concerns. These situations are often very difficult for managers and employees, particularly if an employee takes time off work with stress or another mental health problem while they are being disciplined or having their performance managed. Problems such as these are less likely […]

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Driving Employee Attraction, Retention and Engagement without Breaking the Budget

August 22, 2022 Recruitment, Uncategorized

Recognition and reward programs or schemes are no longer considered ‘nice to have’ for employees. In the current market, they are an absolute must if you intend to attract and retain top talent and engage your employees.  It comes as no surprise that employee engagement, on a global scale, is at an all time low, […]

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Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work

August 17, 2022 Uncategorized

Safe Work Australia has recently published its model code of practice Managing psychosocial hazards at work.  Similar codes are already in operation in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, and it is envisaged that other states/territories will also adopt either the model code or something similar. What are psychosocial hazards? Psychosocial hazards are hazards […]

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Bringing Your Team on the Strategic Journey

July 20, 2022 Strategy, Uncategorized

And just like that, a new financial year is upon us. While most of us are still recovering from the madness that was the countdown to June 30, we now look to the new financial year that lies ahead. Many of our clients have undergone or are about to begin their strategic planning process for […]

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Rethinking Traditional Performance Reviews

It’s that time of year again when many businesses are preparing for their annual performance reviews. With the Australian job market still rippling from ‘The Great Resignation’, the fundamental tool of employee performance reviews has never been so important. They cannot be overlooked or sidelined, now more than ever!  A common struggle we hear from […]

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Using 30-Day Plans to Support Your Teams

May 20, 2022 Uncategorized

One of the leading factors in resignations is workplace culture. Many organisations have struggled long with engaging, motivating and providing purpose for employees, which the pandemic only exacerbated. Post COVID, we are seeing some global trends when it comes to engagement in the workforce. Only 20% of the world’s workforce is currently engaged. Engaged employees […]

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How to Attract and Retain – Money Isn’t Everything

April 12, 2022 Remuneration

With the many businesses still suffering from the fallout of the Great Resignation, employee attraction and retention have never been so critical. In the past, job security and compensation seemed to be the biggest contributing factors, but with the global pandemic came a shift in employee values. With the end of the financial year approaching […]

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How to Avoid Falling Into Old Habits in The Return to Work

March 15, 2022 Culture, Uncategorized

Over the past two years, people’s professional routines have been significantly affected by the ongoing pandemic. Working from home was a huge adjustment and challenge for most professionals, some loving their newfound flexibility and others struggling, finding it chaotic and disruptive. Whether you loved it or hated it, working from home during the pandemic has […]

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Three Questions to Ensure Your Mission, Vision and Values are Driving Your Businesses Strategy

February 21, 2022 Strategy

When you think about your company’s vision, mission, and values, what is the first thing that springs into your mind? Are they clear to understand across the business? Does your company strive for the vision, understand the mission and live by the values, or are they just a set of words on the company website?  […]

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How To Ensure Your Performance Conversations Are Effective

Newsletter – January 2022 How to ensure your performance conversations are effective As the pandemic continues to throw hurdles into our everyday lives, leaders are faced with the challenge of continuing to ensure their teams are engaged, inspired, and supported. Maintaining a high-performance culture comes down to a number of key people and culture foundational […]

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How to Navigate ‘The Great Resignation’ and What it Means for Your Business

December 20, 2021 Culture, Leadership

The term ‘The Great Resignation’ is being thrown around a lot these days. We are hearing of how this phenomenon is sweeping the US and UK, so what does it mean for businesses down here in Australia? With our Australian international borders being closed for nearly two years and our states in and out of […]

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Leadership Development – The Power of Peer/Group Pods in the Workplace

November 18, 2021 Leadership, Uncategorized

The need for leadership development is never-ending. With workplaces constantly evolving, increased pressure coming out of lockdown and yet still so much uncertainty, leaders need to be equipped with the skills and agility to tackle what comes their way. Leadership capabilities is a highly sought-after trait in professionals, businesses worldwide invest time and money into […]

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The Value of Regular Engagement Surveys

October 13, 2021 Assessment and 360 Surveys

For many decades now, surveys have been a staple in businesses toolkits, used to gather intel, feedback and assess engagement. Consisting of numerous questions regarding training, leadership, development, environment, recognition, pay and many more areas, surveys allow businesses to uncover employee opinions by giving them a platform to be heard. In recent years, businesses have […]

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Building Resilience and Wellbeing While Working from Home

September 13, 2021 Uncategorized

Working from home, once seemed like rare luxury that very few ever got to experience. Replacing your morning lengthy commute with precious extra minutes of sleep, your uncomfortable high heels with your cosy slippers or your stiff tie with your snug pyjamas.  From a novelty to now the norm, for many of us working from […]

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Benefits of Psychometric Testing

August 4, 2021 Uncategorized

With countless businesses looking to employ, the current workforce skills shortage is proving a significant challenge, making finding the right fit more important than ever. So how do you know if someone is the right fit for your business? In recruitment, snap opinions are often formed that led to unconscious decisions being made. It only […]

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THE FUTURE OF WORK – HYBRID MODEL

July 20, 2021 Blog & Videos, Culture

“Employers are ready to get back to significant in-person presence. Employees aren’t. The disconnect is deeper than most employers believe, and a spike in attrition and disengagement may be imminent.” (source: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/its-time-for-leaders-to-get-real-about-hybrid?cid=eml-web#) As cited in the above McKinsey report, COVID-19 has meant a major generational shift in the way we work. Unplanned but it is […]

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The Skills You Need To Succeed In Any Career

May 12, 2021 Leadership, Uncategorized

Career success stems from mastering a core set of skills that can be applied to any role you might have or wish to pursue in the future.  When you practice and strengthen these skills in the workplace you will increase your chances of success.  Below are the top skills you should continually focus on developing: […]

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Top 3 Things To Know About The Recent Casual Employment Changes

Is your business across the new casual employment changes that were introduced in March 2021? If not, we’ve summarised some of the main points for you below. The Act now includes a definition of a ‘casual employee’: an offer of employment where the employer makes no ‘firm advance commitment’ to continuing and indefinite work according […]

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BUILDING RESILIENCE & WELLBEING

April 12, 2021 Culture

At one time or another, we all experience setbacks in life. Some of these challenges might be minor, such as not winning a tennis game, whilst others can be major and life changing, like a death in the family or redundancy from your job. Dealing with change or loss is an inevitable part of life, […]

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Job Keeper Ending : What does this mean for your Business?

March 23, 2021 News & Events, Uncategorized

The Job Keeper wage subsidy has kept hundreds of thousands of businesses afloat but, in just a few weeks, it will be gone.  What will the impact be on your business and your employees?  For a lot of organisations the Federal Government’s Job Keeper wage subsidy hasn’t just kept their business afloat but also kept […]

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Vaccinations and the Workplace: What a business can and can’t do.

March 18, 2021 Uncategorized

It’s understandable that employers and employees are currently exploring their workplace rights and obligations as COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccines become available throughout Australia. At present there are no laws or public health orders in Australia that specifically enable employers to require their employees to be vaccinated against coronavirus. The Australian Government’s policy is that receiving a […]

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How Can I Reward High Performers When Money Is Tight?

October 23, 2020 Remuneration

This year has been quite turbulent for many businesses, with many deciding to pause salary increases for the year, or in some cases, coming to agreements with their team to reduce salaries to make it through to the other side. With the end of the year approaching, and strategic planning taking place for the next […]

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Does Your Team Have the Skills to Survive?

September 17, 2020 Culture, Uncategorized

2020 has thrown businesses and individuals some massive challenges as we live through these unprecedented times. Whether your life is starting to look normal again, or at least COVID normal, everyone is feeling exhausted and burnt out. Mental Toughness and Resilience are skills that can be built and developed, and they are essential to getting […]

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Understanding All of The New Ways of Working

August 21, 2020 Uncategorized

We don’t need to point out to you that the office and the ways in which we work has changed. The evidence is all around us, as is the discussion on how we can best harness our current learnings and processes to drive employee engagement, performance and retention. Instead, in this article, we will highlight […]

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How to Maximise Meeting Effectiveness

July 16, 2020 Uncategorized

As many of us have made the shift to work from home, we have seen an increase in use of video meeting platforms such as Zoom or Skype to replace the connection, engagement and productivity usually associated with face to face meetings and impromptu office conversations. So much so, many are starting to feel they […]

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What will happen to businesses if ‘Stage 4’ restrictions are put in place for Victoria?

July 15, 2020 News & Events

We are all too aware of the rise in COVID-19 cases in Victoria and the escalating need for further intervention to prevent further spread of the virus – but if the current ‘Stage 3’ restrictions aren’t effective enough, what would ‘Stage 4’ look like? Although the Premier and Chief Health Officer haven’t clarified what a […]

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Understanding the Recent Changes to Casual Employment

June 15, 2020 Uncategorized

In the recent Workpac v Rossato decision by the Fair Work Commission, there was further evidence that casual employees do have rights to entitlements if they are determined to be ‘Full Time’ employees.  The critical parts are the definitions which are:  – a regular and systematic pattern of hours and; – a predictable pattern of […]

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If the performance review is dead, what do we do now?

It’s that time of year again where many businesses are preparing for their annual performance reviews. Once considered a fundamental tool to ensure employee performance that is in line with the business’ values, direction and standards, performance reviews are now often seen as a yearly tick box exercise during which employees are reminded of the […]

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Returning to the workplace – The new office landscape

May 14, 2020 Culture, Uncategorized

As we prepare for the lifting of COVID19 restrictions and we embark on returning to the workplace there are a number of items businesses should keep in mind in the planning to return to work.  Many employees may be anxious as they mentally prepare for a return to the workplace as they will be unsure […]

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Planning to Thrive

April 16, 2020 Leadership, Uncategorized

By now many businesses have recovered from the initial shock brought on by COVID-19. While the struggle and uncertainty is still very real and current for business, many are starting to adapt to a new way of working and understand the broader business implications. The key differentiator between businesses who will survive the COVID-19 pandemic […]

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Coronavirus – what employers need to know

March 12, 2020 Uncategorized

As the number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases rise internationally, the phones have been running hot here at HR On-Demand with employers concerned about their workforce and the potential impact in the coming months – and it’s easy to understand why. Information relating to employer obligations is scarce, but more importantly, employers are trying to understand […]

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Future Proofing Your Business – Becoming Agile and Responsive in time of Crisis

March 11, 2020 Strategy

Corona Virus (COVID-19) is the latest global issue affecting businesses. It isn’t the first and it certainly won’t be the last. Whether it is the threat of a virus or an economic slowdown the key for business is to have the culture, policies and protocols in place for responding to external forces that may impact […]

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Do you pay your staff a salary? Then you can’t afford to miss this article…

February 13, 2020 HR On-Demand

Over the years it has become common practice for employers to pay their staff an ‘annual salary’ which is intended to compensate them for hours worked, overtime, penalty rates, base wages and so forth – however as of the 1st of March this year, the Fair Work Commission is introducing a number of notification, recordkeeping […]

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The Art of Organising Your Work Life

With the new calendar year now well underway, many of us will be settled back in our regular routines and in the full swing of it all. Old habits will start to creep back into the way we work, and soon we start to find we spread ourselves too thin. Productivity goes down, accountability is […]

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How To Execute An Effective Meeting

November 14, 2019 Performance and Accountability

Running a meeting is not as simple as getting a group of people together and facilitating a discussion (or following an agenda if you are so lucky as to have one in place!). We hear from many clients that their days are filled with meetings that don’t end with clear action or results, and many […]

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Reducing Risk At The Work Christmas Party

November 11, 2019 Culture

Tis’ the season to be merry and celebrate the year that was with your team. If you want to avoid being left with a HR hang-over, it’s a great idea to take a few upfront precautions when planning your work Christmas party this year.  It’s important to note that at work events, the same conduct […]

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What’s The Secret To Building A High Performing Team?

The focus on developing the soft-skills of teams has become more and more common, and with good reason; the essence of a high-performing team is based largely on the relationships between the people within them. In addition to leveraging on the smarts learnt in leadership programs, the key to building a high-performance team is to […]

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Tips For An Effective Onboarding Experience

Think back to your first day either with your current or previous employers. When you arrived, was your desk ready, did you have access to your building, did they spend the time to introduce you to key team members? First impressions count for both employees and employers, so it’s important that you get things right […]

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4 Principles Of An Effective Leadership Program

September 12, 2019 Leadership

When it comes to achieving your company’s strategy, building a culture of accountability, or implementing effective people management processes, you need leaders in your business to have the right skills. Do you have the right capabilities in your business today to meet your future growth objectives? Whether it’s an immediate need, or just preparing for […]

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How Do I Improve My Employee’s Performance?

September 10, 2019 Performance and Accountability

When addressing the issue of poor behaviour and performance with employees, proactive management action can turn an otherwise confronting situation into an opportunity to initiate improvement. Let’s take a look at some important steps to take when dealing with underperformance: Poor Performance Versus Misconduct It is important to understand the difference between poor performance and […]

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Setting Your Team Up For 360 Success

August 12, 2019 Assessment and 360 Surveys

More and more of our clients are introducing 360 feedback assessments into their business leadership development programs. However, for most, they are unaware of how to successfully manage this process. From choosing the right 360 assessment platform to translating the feedback into a clear development plan, there are a lot of factors that contribute to […]

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What Is The Role Of A Support Person?

There are times when you might have to deal with a performance management process, a disciplinary issue, a restructure or workplace change, or an internal investigation when managing your people. These situations are often tense and stressful for all parties. Traditionally, disciplinary meetings involved the employee on one side of the table and on the […]

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Employee Accountability – Why Won’t They Just Do Their Job?

HR On-Demand Question of the Month: 3 Questions you can ask to solve the accountability gap. When we are talking with businesses, too often questions arise such as “Why won’t they just do their job?” or “How do I hold people to the expectations of their role?” and “How do I stop doing their job […]

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Understanding The Serious Nature Of Burnout

June 13, 2019 Culture

You may have recently seen in the media, or in your social media feeds that there is a certain buzz currently around a word – ‘Burnout’. It’s a word that we have thrown around in business for years when dealing in periods of high stress, when feeling overworked and as a great excuse for a […]

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The best way to handle difficult conversations in the workplace?

Difficult conversations – well it’s right there in the wording isn’t it? They’re difficult. As a Manager however, you are likely to have more than one difficult conversation in your career, so learning how to master them is the key to making your life – and your employee’s lives – much easier. Too often as […]

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Increasing Your Productivity At Work

It’s getting to that time of year where the days feel long, but your time goes so quickly! Before we know it, End of Financial Year will be on our doorstep, so how can you make sure that you are getting the most out of your hours at work? Well we’re here to give you […]

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How do I handle a request for a payrise?

April 16, 2019 Remuneration

The way your team are remunerated can play a key role in your company’s ability to attract and retain quality talent. And whilst we are entering into a period where many companies have scheduled annual pay reviews, some staff members may bring up the topic of an unscheduled pay rise prior to the review process. […]

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HR On-Demand Question Of The Month

My staff member is underperforming, what do I do? When a staff member is under performing, it is important to act swiftly.  Problems ignored and left to fester do not resolve themselves, and often get a lot worse and harder to manage.  Nipping them in the bud is the best course of action. In the […]

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Never Underestimate the Power of a 1:1 Conversation

When we are talking with businesses, one key word always creeps into the conversation – Engagement. How can I build employee engagement? How can I encourage my people to engage with me? How can I get my people managers to engage better with their teams? It all boils down to 1 simple concept – Talk […]

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HR ON-DEMAND QUESTION OF THE MONTH

March 13, 2019 HR On-Demand

How do I turn down my employee’s request for a pay rise? It’s something that every Manager has had to face at some point, and with July coming up fast the question is already being asked – How do I reject an employee’s pay increase request? Now in a perfect world, employees would only ask […]

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How To Get The Most Out of a Candidate in 1 Question

February 20, 2019 Recruitment

We have all been there – the candidate who “wows” us with their charisma, who impresses us with their technical expertise or has worked for such an impressive range of businesses they must know something that we don’t! We fall in love with them, take a massive leap of faith to bring them into our […]

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Why You Should Consider Psychometric Assessments

November 14, 2018 Assessment and 360 Surveys

Let me ask you, would you ever buy a car, laptop or mobile phone without researching the performance specifications first to make sure it matches your needs? Well then why wouldn’t you do this same research when employing someone new into your business? Using reliable psychometric tests during the recruitment process can be incredibly beneficial […]

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World Mental Health Week – Mindfulness in the Workplace

October 12, 2018 Culture

What is Mindfulness and why it is important to practice both in and out of the workplace? Mindfulness is the psychological process of bringing one’s attention to the internal and external experiences occurring in the present moment. In other words, when you are mindful you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance without judgement, […]

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The Dysfunctional Culture!

September 10, 2018 Culture

Shifting a dysfunctional culture is no easy task, it requires commitment, time and effort from leaders to move towards a positive workplace culture. The first step of any cultural change starts with being able to identify toxicity within your workplace. So, what are the 5 key tell-tale signs of workplace dysfunction? 1.     Communication – It’s […]

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Award Changes: Family & Domestic Violence Leave

August 15, 2018 News & Events

On August 1st 2018 the Fair Work Commission handed down a decision to add an entitlement to Unpaid Family & Domestic Violence leave into Modern Awards. The new entitlement means that employees covered by an award with the new clause are entitled to 5 days of unpaid family and domestic violence leave each year. What […]

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Modern Award pay increases – are you compliant?

July 17, 2018 News & Events

Award compliance may not be the most exciting topic – but the importance of ensuring that staff are paid correctly can have big consequences for a business, it’s Directors and its Stakeholders. Just ask MasterChef judge George Calombaris, who just last year was found guilty for underpaying his restaurant employees up to $2.6m! The underpayment […]

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How to Conduct Effective Salary Reviews

Can you believe that we have just passed through another End of Financial Year? Looks like we have approached the time of year that many business owners and CEOs dread – It’s salary review time! We have been having more and more discussions around this topic as people become nervous around the salary review and […]

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Top 10 Reasons Strategy Execution Fails (Part 2)

June 11, 2018 Strategy

“Almost Half of all Strategic Initiatives Fail Due to Poor Execution” Economist Intelligence Unit This is the second article on this subject. Please refer to last month’s newsletter for Part 1 5. Employees are not engaged and committed to the strategy Strategy development and execution needs to be a collaborative process. Managers that will be […]

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Top 10 Reasons Strategy Execution Fails (Part 1)

May 16, 2018 Strategy

“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft a-gley.”   Robert Burns     Please excuse the nod to my Scottish heritage. Roughly translated in a commercial sense, it was summed up by the Economist Intelligence Unit “Almost Half of all Strategic Initiatives Fail Due to Poor Execution” It’s no longer a secret that […]

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How to Prevent that Overwhelmed Feeling

This morning when I looked at my clock it read 9:50am, but the next time I looked up it was 3:45pm and I had no idea where the day had gone. Sound familiar? By the time it gets to 5:00pm, I’ll end up staying back at work because the list of tasks that need to […]

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Creating A Culture Of Accountability And High Performance

Trudy featured in UK magazine VQ this month. This month Trudy MacDonald, Managing Director TalentCode HR is featured in the Vistage UK Magazine – VQ discussing how to create a culture of accountability and high performance. Vistage operates in 16 countries around the world to support leaders make better decisions and achieve better results.   Creating A Culture […]

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How Can You Select Winners For Your Team?

November 20, 2017 Recruitment

In the previous newsletter, we walked through how your company could improve upon the recruitment process in five easy steps (If you missed this article and want to have a quick skim before jumping into this one, you can find it on our blog by clicking here). Since we published this article I have had […]

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How to Recruit the Best People for your Business

October 16, 2017 Recruitment

For many employers, recruitment is viewed as a way of filling a vacancy, and in many cases it is a process that they want to do quickly. But recruitment is really so much more than filling a gap in your team and is a decision that should never be rushed. Think of recruitment like finding […]

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Using Your Onboarding Process to Improve Company Culture

September 18, 2017 Culture

It might sound a little strange, but I love the setting up the onboarding process for new employees. Now I can already hear you thinking I’m a little strange, but to me the onboarding of a new employee is the most important part of ensuring they are set up for company culture success. Think back […]

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Is Workplace Culture a waste of time for smaller businesses?

August 15, 2017 Culture

What does the term “Workplace culture” mean to you? Well, if all it means is ‘another one of those nice-to-do best practice things HR wants us to care about’, well this is for you! We’ve all heard the success stories – I mean, just look at Google and Virgin for just two examples of how […]

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Bring Your Company Values to Life

July 30, 2017 Tips Videos

So how do you get your company values off the framed poster on the wall and bring them to life in the behavior of your staff? Trudy MacDonald, Managing Director at Talent Code shares with you some great tips to embed your company values into your employees’ hearts and minds.    

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Recruitment Interviews

Trudy Macdonald, Managing Director of Talent Code shares with you some practical tips around conducting pre-employment interviews and discusses the importance of measuring fit in addition to behaviours and technical competence.    

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Why are we scared to talk to our employees?

Recently I received a call from a long-term customer of mine who was dealing with an employee with excessive absences and wanted some guidance on how to deal with this situation. Now this is a very common question, in fact it’s possibly one of the most common questions we get at HR On-Demand, and no […]

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Award rates increase – are you ready?

June 8, 2017 Remuneration, Uncategorized

  As a result of this year’s Fair Work Commission review, minimum wages in Modern Awards and the national minimum wage will be increased by 3.3% as of the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2017. Increase for Award-covered employees. Modern award minimum weekly wages are to be increased by 3.3% per […]

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The Performance Review That Actually Works

It’s that time of year again where many businesses are preparing for their annual performance reviews. Once considered a fundamental tool to ensure employee performance that is in line with the business’ values, direction and standards, performance reviews are now often sidelined for tasks deemed more necessary. Time and time again I’ve heard from business […]

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What is Salary Benchmarking?

May 15, 2017 Remuneration

In our last newsletter, we raised the question of “Are You Overpaying Your Employees?” (click here if you missed it). It was a great read about incentive programs, and how to reward your employees when they are on the higher end of their salary band. But what if you don’t know what a salary band […]

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Are you overpaying your employees?

April 10, 2017 Remuneration, Uncategorized

We all know how employee salaries and incentives used to work. Company X would hire John, and they would agree on an annual salary for the position. It was so simple. Each year based on performance, John would receive a pay increase of approximately the CPI increase for that year, and all was well. Well, […]

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How well do my People Managers manage their staff?

March 16, 2017 Leadership

One of the most important questions you can ask yourself as a Leader is quite simply “How well do my people managers manage their staff?” Sound simple? Think you have an answer? Will let’s put it in context before you make that decision. If you stop and think about your workforce right now – how […]

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How can I reduce sick leave in my business?

It’s an unfortunate truth that no matter how well planned and executed a Company’s HR Strategy is, there is always a component of unknown risk when it comes to our employees. Now that risk can present itself in many ways – claims, tribunal action, resignations – and for the most part, a strong Strategic Plan […]

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Cashing Out! Can my employee ‘cash out’ their annual leave?

October 14, 2016 Remuneration

In some cases, yes they can! Until this year, very few employees were able to ‘cash out’ their annual leave entitlements under the Fair Work Act – however recent reforms now allow employees to voluntarily ‘cash in’ or exchange some of their annual leave entitlements for wages. Thanks to the new reforms, almost all 122 […]

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The Future Of Work: How Can We Adapt To Survive And Thrive?

October 12, 2016 Leadership

Last year Deloitte published a report discussing how the world of work is changing rapidly and what organisations and individuals need to think about in order to keep up (Deloitte Access Economics 2015).  The research  surveyed 1,400 Australian employees asking questions about employment history career and educational requirements and their plans for the future. The […]

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Effective 360 Feedback Surveys

September 30, 2016 Tips Videos

As business leaders, we often hear how important an effective 360 feedback survey can be for both employees and the company as a whole. But when it comes down to it, how many of us can say we know exactly what a good 360 feedback survey involves, or just as importantly, doesn’t involve? Managing Director […]

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Creating Meaningful Company Values

September 10, 2016 Tips Videos

When was the last time you seriously considered your business’ culture? Creating the right culture can have a positive effect on not only employee morale and engagement, but can increase sales, revenue and brand reputation. However, most business owners give little time and consideration to what their business culture is or what they would like […]

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How to conduct effective Performance Reviews

August 30, 2016 Tips Videos

Are you holding your people accountable for being great? How effective are your performance reviews? Do your managers know how to have difficult conversations while keeping people motivated? Is your review process effective in supporting the development of staff? If not, maybe you need some help! Trudy MacDonald, Managing Director at Talent Code shares some […]

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Talent Code Tips: Effective Bonus and Incentive schemes

Trudy MacDonald, Managing Director at Talent Code Provides a number of practical tips on the design effective Bonus and Incentive schemes to drive a high performance workforce.    

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Talent Code Tips: Salary Review

July 30, 2016 Tips Videos

Trudy MacDonald, Managing Director at Talent Code Provides a number of practical tips on the design and implementation of salary reviews to drive a high performance workforce.    

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Finding TIme To Lead

July 29, 2016 Blog & Videos, Tips Videos

In this video, Trudy MacDonald Managing Director of TalentCode HR, explains how to stop doing the things that prevent you from effectively running your business.    

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Sex in the Office

April 8, 2016 Compliance

Context: “Two of our Managers were found having sex in the bathroom – what should we do?” First and foremost – an awkward situation if there ever was one! The Issue: It’s tempting for many Senior Managers to avoid the issue of sex in the workplace due to the uncomfortable nature of the topic, and […]

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Modern Awards: Dont Risk a Fine!

“Employees who sign a contract aren’t covered by an award, are they?” Context: It’s a common misconception that the Modern Awards do not apply to their staff because they are paid an agreed salary. The Issue: The truth of the matter is that almost all employees are covered by Modern Awards, even if they weren’t […]

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Terminating an Employee

Why does it take so long to terminate an employee? Well basically, the reason for this is that one of the highest areas of risk for any business when terminating employment is the risk that the employee will claim Unfair Dismissal. For that reason, performance management can be a lengthy process – after all, there […]

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Redundancy – Make sure you follow the rules

“We are going to make an employee redundant, what do we need to do?” Redundancy is often perceived by employers to be the fastest and easiest way to terminate an employee’s employment – however in reality, it is a time consuming and often expensive path to take. There are two primary reasons for this – […]

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Privacy laws are changing – are you ready for 12 March 2014?

It’s true, another legislative change is due to occur, and we’re only two months into 2014! This time it’s Australia’s Privacy Act 1988 that is being updated. In March 2014, the existing National Privacy Principles will be replaced by 13 new Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) which will require organisations to modify the way they currently […]

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HR On-Demand

At Talent Code, we talk to Small Businesses every day, and we hear the struggle they face from both a financial and resource perspective when trying to ensure their compliance with the Fair Work Act and Work Health and Safety legislation. We’ve heard our customer’s need for a simple, easy and cost effective way to […]

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Unfair Dismissal

If I terminate an employee and they claim Unfair Dismissal, how do I know they won’t be reinstated? The short answer unfortunately is that you don’t, however a recent claim heard by the Fair Work Commission has shed some light on what factors will be considered when deciding if an employee should be reinstated following […]

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Pre-employment Medicals – When are they appropriate?

Does your workplace require potential employees undertake a pre-employment medical? If so, have you reviewed the legal implications and risks of doing so? The reasoning behind requiring pre-employment medicals may appear to be common sense – after all it is an employer’s obligation to comply with their duty of care to protect the health and […]

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Are you underpaying your staff?

Are you underpaying your staff without realising it? Despite the years that have passed since the introduction of Modern Awards, because of their complex nature, many businesses still don’t have a firm grasp on employee entitlements, leaving them exposed to legal fees, penalties and reimbursement. This is often a result of missing entitlements (such as […]

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Do you review your employment contracts?

2 Key reasons to review your employment contracts In this day and age, most businesses are aware of the importance of having contracts of employment – but more often than not, once these documents are written they’re simply saved as templates and never reviewed again; a practice that could put your business at risk. With […]

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Christmas Closures Do’s and Don’ts

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is only 7 weeks away – so if you haven’t started planning your staffing requirements yet, now is the time to start! This week we’ll tackle a few of the Christmas-related questions we’ve received on our Advice On-Demand hotline: 1) How much notice do I need to give staff of […]

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4 Easy Tips to limit your liability for your office Christmas Party!

It’s that silly time of year again, and for many that means it’s time for the annual Office Christmas party. We’ve all been there, watching Janice from Accounting drink her second bottle of wine whilst trying to convince James from IT to join her on the karaoke stage – but at what stage do you […]

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What changes do you need to make after reviewing 2015?

It’s hard to believe that 2016 is already here. In fact if you’re anything like me, it only feels like yesterday that the office was decorated for Christmas! Now you’re back in the office and starting to plan your goals for the year ahead – but before you look forward, perhaps you should look back […]

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The 3 Biggest Mistakes Companies Make When Creating Company Values

Whether they are beautifully laminated and posted around the office or “unspoken” but clearly understood by a few key people, most businesses have a set of company values. I also find that most business leaders understand the importance of having company values – a guiding set of behaviours that define the desired culture and provide […]

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Have you Identified the Future Leaders for Your Business?

Who has the leadership capability to take your business into the future? As a business leader or owner, you won’t be in your role forever.  You may change companies, decide to scale down or retire from your business – whichever path you take, knowing that you will leave your current business in the right hands […]

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Employee Engagement

Question of the Month: James was once a top performer, but now he’s coming in late, being rude and not achieving his targets – what do we do? Unfortunately it’s all too often that businesses face a loss of productivity, and even damage to reputation as a result of disengaged employees. Whilst employees may become […]

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Company Culture

Business culture: what exactly is it, and how do I create the right one? I often hear from my clients that they struggling to create the right culture in their business. While they may have the best intentions, they simply don’t understand what a business culture is, let alone how to go about putting the […]

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Are Psych Tests Worth the Investment?

Psych tests have been around since the 19th Century when both China and France used them to evaluate mental ability. Modern day assessments are used both for recruitment to understand more about the capabilities of job applicants and for development as part of a rigorous training needs analysis or self-awareness exercise. I am often asked […]

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Four Reasons Why Your 360 Feedback Surveys Are Failing!

360 feedback surveys are one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to business practices to encourage both individual and company-wide improvement and development. An effective 360 feedback survey reflects everything that you strive to nurture in both your employees and your business: there is open and honest communication between all levels, […]

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6 Tips for Conducting Effective Salary Reviews

As we approach the time of year that many business owners and CEOs dread, I start to hear more and more nervousness surrounding the salary review process. This is caused primarily by a lack of structure and information when it comes to making decisions. I hear questions such as: “How much of an increase do […]

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Client Issue: Creating a Long Term Incentive Scheme

Context: Our client is a mid sized business with a number of key management staff they wish to retain over the long term. The Issue: The current incentive schemes do not provide “Golden Handcuffs” or any form of Long Term Incentive for these Managers to stay. Our Challenge: The business owner was considering providing equity […]

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Why Most Bonus Schemes are a Waste of Money

The topic of bonus and incentive schemes and how they apply to employee behaviour is a complex one. To understand this fully, it is important to consider the impact of individual preferences, individual needs, company cultures and the mechanics of the schemes themselves. I get really disheartened when I talk to CEOs and business owners […]

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The Three Biggest Incentive Scheme Mistakes

We all intuitively know that money is not the only thing that motivates people, and in fact for many people it is not in their top five. We also know that unless we get the money “right” it will quickly become a source of demotivation which has a measurable impact on productivity and performance. In […]

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Christmas Bonus Do’s and Don’ts

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is only 7 weeks away – so if you haven’t started planning your staffing requirements yet, now is the time to start! This week we’ll tackle a few of the Christmas-related questions we’ve received on our Advice On-Demand hotline: 1) How much notice do I need to give staff of […]

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Pay Increases: How to say no!

It’s something that every Manager has had to face at some point their career – that moment when an employee sits down and asks for a raise. Now in a perfect world, when a high performer has this conversation with you, it would be as simple as grabbing your golden cheque book and signing on […]

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Long-term vision key when planning staff numbers

New Zealand Herald Interview with Trudy MacDonald In this recently published article in the NZ Herald, Trudy MacDonald – Managing Director of Talent Code was interviewed on the implications for hiring staff in the current economic climate. A good fit is vital when taking on employees and one bad hire can have a lasting impact, […]

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The Most Important Interview Questions You Can Ask

Interviewing is one of the most common techniques used during the selection of new hires however it is also one of the most difficult skills to master. We have all been there – the candidate who “wows” us with their charisma, who impresses us with their technical expertise or has worked for such an impressive […]

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Selecting Winners – Recruitment and Selection

Without a doubt, recruitment and selection is one of the most critical responsibilities of a leader. Getting it right means happy hiring managers, getting it wrong has huge implications for the business – sending you back to the drawing board to find that “great fit” in addition to taking all the necessary steps, time and […]

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5 Secrets to Maximising the Performance of Your People – Part 3 of 3

This is the final article in a three part series that explores the secrets to maximising the performance of your people. Part one and two discussed the importance of “Defining Great”,  “Measuring Great” and “ Rewarding Great” for your people in order to maximise performance and productivity. We follow now with Secrets #4 and 5 […]

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5 Secrets to Maximising the Performance of Your People – Part 2 of 3

This article is the second in a three part series that explores the secrets to maximising the performance of your people. Part one discussed the importance of “Defining Great” for your people and your business as the blue print for all your people initiatives. We follow now with Secrets #2 and 3 Secret #2: Measure […]

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5 Secrets to Maximising the Performance of Your People – Part 1 of 3

“Imagine where my business would be today (and what my life would be like) if I got this right 10 years ago!”  It was this statement from a customer that really got me thinking about the broader impact of getting the people side of business right. Increased profits? more time to work on the business? […]

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Performance Reviews that actually work!!!

It’s that time of year again where many businesses are preparing for their annual performance reviews. Once considered a fundamental tool to ensure employee performance that is in line with the business’ values, direction and standards, performance reviews are now often sidelined for tasks deemed more necessary. Time and time again I’ve heard from business […]

Read more

Creating a Culture of Accountability: How to have effective one on one meetings

How effective are your one on one meetings? What is the key to high performing staff? Almost any Manager you ask will tell you that it’s regular and open communication – but why do we find it so hard to do? Do we not have enough time to communicate? Or do we simply underestimate the […]

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Trudy was awarded “Best New Speaker – 2013” at the Annual TEC (The Executive Connection) Chair’s Convention

During 2013, Trudy presented to over 30 groups totalling more then 450 CEOs and Senior Executives across Australia and New Zealand. Presentations covered a range of topics including People, Strategy and Execution. “Trudy has inspired (our very experienced) CEOs across the country to challenge the way they are leading, developing and rewarding their people. Her […]

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Trudy was awarded Best Speaker 2014 at the Annual TEC (The Executive Connection) Chair’s Convention

April 7, 2016 News & Events

Talent Code’s Managing Director, Trudy MacDonald, was awarded Best Speaker 2014 at the annual TEC (The Executive Connection) Chair’s Convention in Sydney recently. This is the second year in a row Trudy has been recognised by TEC for her work as an engaging and motivating speaker, been awarded with the Best New Speaker Award in […]

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Public Speaking

Written by: Ivan Bonus Operations Manager Talent Code Pty Ltd Trudy Speaks at the 2014 Resilium Conference! Resilium “The difference is YOU” Adviser Conference 2014 in Port Douglas 25 – 28 August. Trudy presented at the Resilium Conference which was held at Port Douglas and attended by 100’s of Resilium agents from around Australia. Trudy […]

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