Less Than 15

In this episode, we speak with Sonya Lovell, Training and Communications Director for Menopause Friendly Australia about why businesses need to become menopause-friendly and how simple adjustments in the workplace can support staff during this life stage. This is a must-listen for business owners and leaders who want to foster inclusivity and retain experienced staff, all while enhancing productivity and employee well-being.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why Menopause Matters in the Workplace:
   • With 81% of people going through menopause currently in the workforce, Sonya highlights the growing importance of creating a supportive environment. Women over 50 represent the fastest-growing demographic in the workforce, making it crucial for businesses to understand how to accommodate menopause-related challenges.
2. Education is Key:
   • The first step is educating leaders and staff about menopause and its different phases. Menopause is not just a brief moment but includes perimenopause, which can begin as early as age 40 and last for several years. Understanding this timeline can help businesses make better-informed decisions about workplace accommodations.
3. Dispelling Common Myths:
   • Myth 1: Menopause is a brief event that occurs only in your 50s. In reality, symptoms can start a decade earlier.
   • Myth 2: Employees want menopause leave. Sonya shares that most women prioritise flexible working arrangements over dedicated leave.
   • Myth 3: Hormone therapy is the one-size-fits-all solution. While it helps some, other lifestyle changes and workplace support are also important.
4. Tailoring Workplace Support:
   • Creating a menopause-friendly workplace doesn’t have to involve significant costs or complex policies. Simple changes like flexible start times, appropriate uniforms, and understanding cognitive challenges (such as brain fog) can make a huge difference. Employers should actively ask their staff what support they need.
5. The Benefits of a Menopause-Friendly Workplace:
   • Retaining experienced staff, reducing sick leave, and lowering hiring costs are just some measurable benefits of fostering a supportive environment. Sonya emphasises that this is a win-win for both employees and employers.

Guest Information:

Sonya Lovell is the Training and Communications Manager for Menopause Friendly Australia and the host of the Dear Menopause podcast. She is an advocate for menopause education in the workplace, helping organisations create supportive environments for their employees.

Less Than 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today! 

In this episode, Christina Arcane, Director of Inspire Cyber, shares practical cybersecurity measures that every small to medium-sized business should implement. 

With recent high-profile cyber incidents making headlines, Christine breaks down how even smaller breaches can be devastating and offers actionable advice on how to safeguard your business. 

Whether you’re just starting to think about cybersecurity or looking to strengthen your existing practices, this episode provides essential insights to help protect your organisation from everyday threats.

Key Takeaways:

1. Understanding the Risks:
   
   
   • High-Profile vs. Everyday Threats: While large-scale cyber incidents like those affecting Optus and Medibank grab headlines, Christine highlights the importance of protecting your business from smaller, yet potentially devastating, attacks that often go unreported.
2. Critical Conversations with IT:
   
   
   • Key Questions to Ask: Christine emphasises the need for business owners to engage with their IT teams by asking the right questions. For example, how aligned is your organisation with the Australian Government's Essential Eight cybersecurity strategies? Regularly revisiting these discussions ensures your business stays protected.
3. Password Hygiene:
   
   
   • The Dangers of Reusing Passwords: One of the most common vulnerabilities is password reuse across multiple accounts. Christine explains how credential stuffing attacks can occur when the same password is used on different sites, leading to unauthorised access and potential breaches.
4. Internal vs. Perimeter Security:
   
   
   • Two Lines of Defence: Christine introduces the concept of perimeter security (like firewalls and MFA) versus internal security (such as access control and data storage practices). She stresses that while preventing entry is crucial, protecting your internal systems is equally important once a breach occurs.
5. Empowering Your Employees:
   
   
   • The Role of Education: Christine argues that employees are often seen as the weakest link in cybersecurity but believes they can be your strongest asset with the right education. She suggests creating a culture of openness and continuous learning to help employees recognise and avoid threats.

Our guest - Christina Arcane

Christina is a renowned cyber security education specialist and the Director of InspireCyber. 

With years of experience across IT, Cyber Security and Privacy domains, including the successful launch of her own cyber security SaaS startup BreachAware, leading its operations right through to acquisition in 2020. Christina is now dedicated to empowering organisations to equip their employees with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the complex cybersecurity landscape effectively. 

Links and Resources:

• Australian Government's Essential Eight Strategies: Visit Here
• InspireCyber: Visit Here
• Download: Launching Your Employee Cybersecurity Program

Less Than 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today! 

In this episode Wendy Jeffery-Lonnie, HR Manager at DFK Gooding Partners in Perth, covers the Right to Disconnect legislation and its implications for small to medium-sized businesses. 

Wendy provides practical advice on how to proactively address this legislation, ensuring it integrates smoothly into existing operations and maintaining positive employee relatiosnhips.

Whether you're concerned about compliance or looking to foster a healthy work-life balance for your team, this episode offers valuable insights.

Key Takeaways:

1. Understanding the legislation:
   
   
   • The Right to Disconnect legislation gives employees the right to refuse unreasonable out-of-hours contact. Wendy clarifies that it’s not about banning all communication after hours but about defining what constitutes "reasonable" contact for your business.
2. The importance of proactive communication:
   
   
   • Open dialogue with your team is crucial. Wendy highlights the importance of having proactive discussions to set clear expectations and avoid misunderstandings. She also offers a checklist of questions to guide these conversations, which can be downloaded from the show notes.
3. Tailoring policies to your business:
   
   
   • Every business is different, and what’s reasonable for one industry might not be for another. Wendy discusses how the Fair Work Act and industry-specific awards can provide guidance, and why it’s important to customise your policies to reflect the unique needs of your business and workforce.
4. Practical implementation tips:
   
   
   • Simple actions like using delayed email sends and setting clear boundaries for after-hours communication can go a long way in preventing stress and potential legal issues. Wendy offers actionable steps that businesses can take right now to prepare for the new legislation.
5. Why you need to act now:
   
   
   • With the legislation becoming law soon, Wendy emphasises the importance of getting on the front foot. By taking proactive steps now, you can ensure your business is compliant and avoid any last-minute complications.

Less Than 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today! 

In this episode, renowned business futurist, AI researcher, and author, Gihan Perera, outlines the transformative power of AI for small to medium-sized businesses.

In a must-listen for business owners looking to future-proof their operations and harness the power of AI today, Gihan shares practical examples of how AI can boost productivity and enhance customer experiences, while also debunking common fears about AI taking over jobs.

Key Takeaways:

Boost productivity:

• Streamline routine tasks: Learn how a daycare centre reduced the time to create child development plans from 3 hours to just 15 minutes using AI, freeing up staff for more meaningful work.
• Frequent updates: With AI handling repetitive tasks, businesses can update key processes more often, leading to greater efficiency and relevance.

Enhance your customer experience:

• Personalisation at scale: AI enables businesses to deliver tailored customer experiences, like personalised recommendations and faster responses, without increasing staff workload.
• Improved service frequency: Regular, AI-driven updates can significantly enhance client satisfaction and loyalty, as shown by the daycare’s improved parent interactions.

Getting Started with AI:

• Easy entry point: Begin with simple, low-risk tasks to get comfortable with AI, such as planning personal events, before applying it to business projects.
• Tool Selection: Use AI itself to identify the best tools for your business needs, ensuring a smooth and informed start.

Empowering Your Team:

• Identify AI Champions: Find and support team members who are eager to explore AI, allowing them to lead its integration in your business.
• Responsible use: Involve your IT team to ensure AI is used safely and securely, protecting sensitive data and maintaining compliance.

Long-term AI Impact:

• AI as a Daily Tool: Embrace AI now to prepare your business for a future where AI is a standard part of operations, similar to how we use the internet today.
• Continuous Learning: Stay adaptable as AI technology evolves, ensuring your business remains at the forefront of innovation.

Download the resource for this episode: Accelerate AI: Build your AI capability fast 

 www.GihanPerera.com 

Less Than 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today! 

In this episode, we delve into the topic of reverse mentoring and its significance for SME owners and leaders, with Leadership Expert, Maree McPherson. 

Key Points:

• Maree shares her experience of reverse mentoring, emphasizing the value of gaining different perspectives and insights, rather than solely relying on traditional mentorship dynamics.
  
  
• Reverse Mentoring helps avoid groupthink and embrace diverse viewpoints from within and outside an organisation to foster innovation and prevent unconscious bias.
  
  
• Reverse mentoring includes diversity in culture, gender, age, and life experiences.
  
  
• Essential components for implementing a reverse mentoring program include excellent matching, training for both mentees and mentors and setting time limits to focus on achieving specific outcomes.
  
  
•  Assess the diversity of your advice circles and identify missing perspectives – perhaps even consider unconventional sources for reverse mentoring, such as your kids' friends! 

A great article for further reading is here in the Harvard Business Review

Find out more about Maree McPherson and her work here.

Less Than 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today! 

Liz Fleming, Founder of The Grants Club, shares the hidden economy of grants that are available for businesses. 

Key points covered in the episode include:

• Myth Busting: Grants are often perceived as too hard to apply for, but with the right approach and support, the benefits can outweigh the challenges.
• Broad Availability: Contrary to popular belief, grants are not just for charities and non-profits. Both for-purpose and for-profit businesses can tap into local, state, and federal government grant opportunities.
• Strategic Planning: Emphasising the importance of having a strategic growth plan, Liz highlights that readiness and alignment with government objectives play a crucial role in successful grant applications.
• Impact & Categories: Grants centre around categories like innovation, technology, sustainability, and expansion. Examples that showcase the broader impact grants can have on businesses and communities are shared. 
• Practical Tips: Liz recommends creating a wish list, exploring local council and government grant options, and utilising grant directories to identify opportunities for strategic growth.

You can download a copy of the Grant Application Checklist here, and the Australian Grants Search Sites here.

You can find out more about The Grants Club here. 

Less Than 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today! 

In this episode, Rob Shelton, the Managing Director of DFK Everalls in Canberra brings 30 years of business observations and insights to the table as we delve into the back-to-basics philosophy and the role this plays in navigating difficult times in business.

Key Takeaways:

• Communication is vital during challenging times - Open, honest conversations with business partners and advisors are essential.
• Utilising dashboards and data-driven insights can help in identifying early signs of a downturn.
• Strike a balance between cost-cutting and growth potential - Focusing on revenue growth rather than solely resorting to cost-cutting measures.
• Taking a proactive approach by seeking opportunities amid challenges - such as mergers, acquisitions, and talent acquisition.

Key Points:

• Recognise the early signs of business impact, such as reduced inquiries, website traffic, and cash flow slowing down.
• Common mistakes to avoid include denial, poor cash flow management, and excessive knee-jerk cost-cutting reactions.
• Balance your long-term strategies alongside short-term goals when you face potential challenges such as interest rate fluctuations.
• It’s important to gather multiple perspectives and external guidance to inform your strategic decisions.

The key message overall is to "look, listen, and respond" rather than react, as informed and thoughtful responses to business challenges is vital for long-term success.

Contact Information:

Connect with Rob Shelton via the DFK Everalls website or search for a DFKANZ firm near you on our Find a Firm Page 

Less Than 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today! 

Welcome to Less Than 15, a podcast delivering bite-sized actionable insights for busy business owners brought to you by Accountants and Business Advisors DFK Australia New Zealand.

Each week we'll be providing practical tips and valuable knowledge that you can immediately apply.

In Season 1 covers we'll be covering diverse topics including Going back to business basics, innovation via reverse mentoring, everyday cybersecurity, data-driven decision-making, creating neuro-friendly workplaces, and much more.

Each episode will feature experts from within our firms and special guests from various fields and many of our episodes will be accompanied by useful downloadable resources and guides for taking action on the insights shared.

Our official launch date is Tuesday, August 13th, with the first three episodes available immediately and new episodes then released weekly on a Tuesday.

Subscribe now to never miss a fresh insight! 

Less Than 15 and DFK Australia and New Zealand, helping business owners make better decisions through local knowledge, national connections, and global reach.

Less Than 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today!