My Good Allied Health Practice

5 Tools I Actually Use in My Own Practice

I have tried a lot of systems, apps, and tools in my time as a practice owner. Some have promised me productivity bliss, but most ended up as clutter on my phone. So in this episode, I'm sharing the five tools that genuinely work for me. These are the ones that suit how my brain works, that help me connect with my team, stay organised, and actually get things done. Here's what I covered in this episode: * Why I finally stopped trying to make phone-only apps work for me * The key questions I ask before adopting any new tool * My favourite walkie-talkie-style app that helps me connect with my team and clients (without the email overload) - https://www.voxer.com/ [https://www.voxer.com/] * A visual, structure-loving-but-not-rigid person's app for daily planning - https://www.tiimoapp.com/ [https://www.tiimoapp.com/] * The clinic communication tool that took us out of email chaos and into calm - https://connecteam.com/ [https://connecteam.com/] * A project manager that helps me brain dump and plan big things - https://clickup.com/ [https://clickup.com/] * My old faithful for storing and finding all the things (even if you're a dump-and-dasher) - https://drive.google.com/drive/ [https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/my-drive] Takeaways: * The right tools are the ones that reduce mental load, not add to it * You don’t need the fanciest system, just one that works with your brain, your energy, and your current stage of business * If a tool feels like homework, it's not the right one for you * Ask yourself: Does this live where I already work? Will it make things easier or harder? Do I really have the capacity to build a new habit right now? * Remember to check out the Busy Blind Spot Quiz to get insight on how you're currently approaching work https://theconnectionco.com.au/resources/ [https://theconnectionco.com.au/resources/] Thanks for listening! I hope this episode helps you feel a little more confident choosing the right supports for your workday. If you’ve found a tool that fits you perfectly, I’d genuinely love to hear about it. And if you’re looking for more support and connection in your practice journey, come join us at The Connection Co! We are here to make things easier for you. https://theconnectionco.com.au/membership/ [https://theconnectionco.com.au/membership/]

When I realised I wasn't wearing enough hats (I know!!!)

Have you ever had that moment where you're sitting at your desk surrounded by Post-it notes, printer problems, and unfinished progress notes and thought, "Hang on, this is a lot more than being a therapist"? Yep, me too. In this episode, I take you back to when I first started my practice (hi, baby Ruby in the pram!) and share the very real realisation that we wear way more hats than we ever signed up for. In this episode, I chat about: * The funny but accurate concept of an "entrepreneurial seizure" from The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber * Understanding the three roles every business owner juggles: technician, manager, and entrepreneur * Why we spend too much time in our safe, comfy clinician zone (and what that costs us) * What happens when the entrepreneur hat stays hidden in the cupboard * Practical ways to carve out time and space for managing and growing your practice * Giving yourself permission to grow (without tying it to being even more busy!) Reflections & Takeaways: This episode is all about recognising where you're spending your time, and whether it's where you need to be. Technician, manager, entrepreneur: they’re all crucial roles, but most of us cling to our clinical roots while the business side of things quietly frays around the edges. The moment we start to truly own our business owner identity? That’s when things shift. Remember: you don’t have to grow a big team. You don’t have to step away from clients entirely. But you do deserve calm, clarity, and support. And that means building systems, carving out CEO time, and embracing all the hats (even if they’re a bit uncomfortable at first). If you’re feeling like the technician role is taking over your world, I hope this episode gave you some practical ways to step into your manager and entrepreneur shoes a little more often. And if you need help doing that, come join us inside The Connection...it's the place where we work on these things together... Smart with Heart! You can learn more here: https://theconnectionco.com.au

Pre-holiday emotional jetlag...and how to avoid it!

If you are juggling school holidays, sick kids, and a business that never seems to switch off, you are so not alone. In this episode, I recorded mid-school-holidays (with one grumpy child off with Dad!), I'm unpacking what it really takes to get rest when you're a practice owner. After 19 years in business, I still sometimes get this wrong. I block out the holidays in my calendar, but I forget to actually plan for them. And what ends up happening is a half-switched-off, half-working juggle that leaves no one feeling like they've had a proper break. So today is all about taking a REAL holiday. Not the kind with tinsel and tension or school holidays that feel like a logistical headache. I'm talking about the kind of break where your soul says yes, your laptop stays closed, and no one asks you for toast every three minutes. In this episode, I share: * Why practice owners struggle to switch off on holidays * The frantic pre-holiday energy (you know the one... 117 tasks before Friday!) * What actually makes a break feel like a real break * The importance of energetic boundaries before and after a holiday * How to prep your team (or yourself if you're solo!) * Tips like the fake start date, the holiday FAQ, and the single point of contact * Why "no new projects" is your new holiday mantra * What to do when you come back so you don’t feel punished for taking a break * And why it’s okay (essential, even) to book that pastry-and-a-book moment Real holidays don’t just happen. They take intention and planning, not just of the calendar logistics, but of our mindset. I want you to feel like you got a break, not just your business. That means buffers before and after, boundaries, and giving yourself full permission to be a human who needs rest. Thanks for being here. If this episode resonated, feel free to share it with a friend who needs the reminder too. You can learn more about how to connect with me and join our beautiful community over at theconnectionco.com.au. Want my freebie download?? I’ve made you a little freebie: a "Real Holiday Prep Checklist" just for practice owners. Send us an email and we'll get it over to you hello@theconnectionco.com.au

The Myths & Moments of Burnout in Allied Health with Nicole de la Perelle

I’m really glad you’re here because today’s episode hits that place many of us settle into without even realising... a quiet burnout. Enough to feel tired, a little despondent, maybe like you’ve lost your spark. I had Nicole de la Perelle from Encourage OT on, and together we lean into what burnout actually looks like.. its early whispers, and what we, especially as practice owners, can do before it becomes the roar. This one’s honest, hopeful, and full of practical stuff. WHAT WE COVERED * Breaking down what burnout really is: exhaustion, cynicism/negativity, and reduced professional efficacy. * Nicole's own journey into recognising burnout (thanks to an art therapist) and how hard it was to admit. * Common myths & misconceptions in allied health: such as it’s all-or-nothing (you’re burnt out or you’re fine), it’s a personal failing (“if only I worked harder or was better”) and generational myths (“Millennials/Gen Z are soft” etc.) * The stages of burnout, from early warning (“whispers”) to full burnout, and how often we mislabel those early stages. * The factors beyond hours & caseload that contribute: job demands vs resources, workplace culture, feeling heard/seen, connection, supervision/mentorship, recognition. * Isolation: even people surrounded by clients or in teams can feel isolated, especially if they're the only one doing certain tasks or working remotely / alone. * What practice owners can stop doing to reduce burnout risk in their teams!!! Such as being defensive about feedback, waiting until something is “big” before acting, and ignoring small boundary creep * What practice owners (and individuals) can start/keep doing, such as leaning into small changes: firm boundaries, carving out time for connection, rest, hobbies or small joy things, making connection points in the workplace: team lunches, welfare sessions, being intentional about checking in * Recognising that rest (weekends, holidays) shouldn't feel like the only way to recover — if you need those just to make it through, something is off. Metaphors that stuck: * “Whisper” vs “scream” stages of burnout * Firefly: glowing by gathering from environment, turning on/off light, sustaining glow * Pouring from an empty cup vs pouring from overflow Thanks for going through this one with us. If anything here hit home... maybe you thought, “Yeah, that’s me… and I’ve dismissed it too long” , then this is your moment to lean in. Try one small shift this week: maybe it’s a boundary, maybe it’s checking in with someone, maybe it's re‑instating that team lunch spot. If you want more support, Nicole’s work is GOLD! And if you ever need someone to bounce ideas off, reach out. You are not alone in this, and you do deserve to feel connected, supported, and less burdened. RESOURCE LIST COURTESY OF NICOLE: * Sydney Burnout Measure. https://www.naturallywith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sydney-Burnout-Measure-Questionnaire.pdf [https://www.naturallywith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sydney-Burnout-Measure-Questionnaire.pdf] * Utrecht Work Engagement Scale https://www.wilmarschaufeli.nl/tests/ [https://www.wilmarschaufeli.nl/tests/] * Job Resources and Demands Model https://www.wilmarschaufeli.nl/publications/Schaufeli/476.pdf [https://www.wilmarschaufeli.nl/publications/Schaufeli/476.pdf] And application in practice to NDIS space (as an interesting read!) https://nds.org.au/images/events/Banners_2022/BETA_NDIS_Workforce_Findings_Webinar_slides.pdf [https://nds.org.au/images/events/Banners_2022/BETA_NDIS_Workforce_Findings_Webinar_slides.pdf] * 5 Language of Appreciation at Work book https://www.appreciationatwork.com/books/5-languages-appreciation-workplace/ [https://www.appreciationatwork.com/books/5-languages-appreciation-workplace/] HOW TO WORK WITH NICOLE: * Mentoring and supervision: https://encourageot.com/ [https://encourageot.com/] * Burnout Course: https://encourageot.com/course/ [https://encourageot.com/course/] * Workplace training: https://encourageot.com/ [https://encourageot.com/]

Did your employee pay rise become self-sabotage?

If you've ever laid awake at night wondering whether to give a team member a pay rise, and how on earth to afford it, this episode is for you. It’s a topic that comes up all the time in my mentoring sessions and inside The Connection Co. membership, so I wanted to get honest about what really happens when we start increasing wages without a clear plan. Spoiler alert: I’ve made all the mistakes. In this episode, I chat about the sometimes tricky, often heartfelt process of giving pay rises in a way that honours both your values and the financial reality of running a business. There’s no dry Fair Work lecture here, just real talk, some gentle truths. HERE'S WHAT I COVER: * The first uncomfortable truth about pay rises: the money has to come from somewhere (and no, it’s not Monopoly money) * The three buckets that pay rises can come out of—profit, your own wage, or practice expenses—and why all three can cause resentment if not managed well * How to avoid generosity becoming self-sabotage * What to consider when deciding how much to increase a wage * Why you need to be clear about whether a pay rise is a thank you for past work or a carrot for future expectations * The importance of balancing your nice-boss heart with your business-owner brain * A great little calculation: the wage to income ratio, what it is, how to work it out, and what it can tell you * Why clarity and communication with your team is just as important as the dollars on the payslip KEY TAKEAWAYS AND REFLECTIONS: * Pay rises are not just a lovely gesture, they’re ongoing financial commitments that must be backed by a sustainable plan * You can be both generous and responsible, those two things aren’t mutually exclusive * Clear communication about wage levels, award rates, and business sustainability can save everyone from future misunderstandings * Checking your team’s wage to income ratios can help you make smarter, values-aligned wage decisions * It’s okay to pause. You don’t have to say yes to every request out of guilt or fear If you’re currently wrestling with whether (or how) to give a pay rise, I hope this episode has helped you feel less alone and more equipped. The balance between looking after your team and looking after your business is a delicate one, but you can absolutely do both. I’ve also created a free fact sheet to walk you through the wage to income ratio—what it is, how to calculate it, and what it means for your team. You can download it over at theconnectionco.com.au [https://theconnectionco.com.au] on the podcast page. Thanks for being here—I’m so grateful to share this journey with you.