Find Grow Keep

Karen Kirton Amplify HR
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Bite-sized people & business advice for forward-thinking Founders, CEOs, and Senior Business Leaders in Australia & beyond. As a leader, you’re responsible for growth, navigating market changes, all while trying to find time for to recruit, develop, retain and motivate your team. It’s a lot. Managing the 'people stuff' effectively is not just an HR function – It’s a core aspect of running a successful business. If you're looking to unlock growth and drive performance, these short and practical podcast episodes will give you the tools and insights to get your business to the next stage by leveraging great people and culture. Brought to you by Karen Kirton, Founder of Amplify HR, Karen has over 20 years' experience in People Management, degrees in Business and Psychology, and is the Amazon best-selling author of “Great People, Great Business: Your HR handbook for creating a business that’s ready to scale and grow”. Karen is passionate about creating workplaces that engage and inspire—especially for small to medium sized This podcast is designed to give you practical, down-to-earth solutions and real life case studies that will genuinely make a difference. Learn more at: https://www.amplifyhr.com.au Get our free eBook packed with practical strategies to attract, engage, and retain top talent. Perfect for business owners and leaders focused on building a thriving team. Download it at amplifyhr.com.au/downloadable/find-grow-keep

  1. 5d ago

    2.175 The First 90 Days: How to Manage Probation the Right Way

    We spend a lot of time thinking about how to find the right person, but what happens once they accept the job?  Those first 90 days can tell you a lot about whether someone is going to become a confident, engaged member of your team. But too often, probation becomes a date in the calendar rather than an ongoing process, with managers waiting until the end of three or six months to decide whether someone is working out.  In this episode, Karen looks at how to manage probation in a way that gives a new employee every opportunity to succeed, while also giving the business the information it needs to make a thoughtful decision about their future. In this episode, you’ll hear about:  • Why onboarding and probation are connected, but have different purposes  • What managers should be looking for at 30, 60 and 90 days  • Why it’s important not to confuse confidence with competence when assessing a new employee  • How to spot patterns in performance and behaviour without overreacting to an isolated incident  • Why feedback should happen throughout probation rather than being saved for the formal review  • The questions to ask before deciding someone simply isn’t the right fit  • Why keeping a simple record of probation conversations can help managers make better decisions  • What to consider if you’re thinking about extending a probation period  • How HR support can help when you’re unsure about confirming or ending someone’s employment  Good probation isn’t about ticking a box at the end of three months. It’s about creating the conditions where people can do their best work, managers feel confident leading them, and the business can make informed decisions based on conversations that have happened consistently along the way.  Make sure to subscribe to stay updated with new releases on Mondays!   Visit https://www.amplifyhr.com.au/ for more insights and resources.   #findgrowkeep #HRsupport #PeopleManagement Send us Fan Mail Download our free guide, “Getting Stuff Done Through Your People,” giving you the tools to build a culture where people take ownership, goals get achieved, and results follow. https://www.amplifyhr.com.au/downloadable/getting-stuff-done-through-your-people/

  2. Sep 13

    2.174 Building a Mentally Healthy Workplace: Beyond R U OK? Day

    Every September, R U OK? Day reminds us to ask an important question. But what happens after someone answers, "Actually, I'm not OK?"  In this episode of Karen Kirton explores what really creates a mentally healthy workplace and why the answer isn't another wellbeing initiative.  Drawing on her experience working with small and medium sized businesses, Karen discusses why leadership has one of the biggest influences on workplace wellbeing. She unpacks psychosocial hazards in plain English, explains why everyday management practices matter more than one annual awareness day and shares practical ways leaders can create workplaces where people feel supported, valued and safe to speak up.  If you're a business owner or manager wondering how to support your people while also meeting your workplace responsibilities, this episode offers practical, down to earth advice you can apply straight away.  In this episode you'll learn:  • Why R U OK? Day should be the start of the conversation, not the end  • What a mentally healthy workplace really looks like  • How psychosocial hazards affect your team and why leaders need to understand them  • Why good leadership is one of the most effective wellbeing strategies  • The simple conversations that build trust, psychological safety and stronger workplace culture  • How HR support can help managers navigate difficult situations with confidence  Whether you're looking to strengthen your workplace culture, build more confident leaders or better support your team, this episode will leave you with practical ideas to take back into your business.  Make sure to subscribe to stay updated with new releases every second Monday!   Visit amplifyhr.com.au for more insights and resources.   Send us Fan Mail Download our free guide, “Getting Stuff Done Through Your People,” giving you the tools to build a culture where people take ownership, goals get achieved, and results follow. https://www.amplifyhr.com.au/downloadable/getting-stuff-done-through-your-people/

  3. Sep 6

    2.173 Manual Processes Don’t Just Waste Time. They Hold Back Your People and Your Business.

    Most conversations about AI and automation focus on efficiency, saving time or reducing costs. But what if the biggest opportunity isn't about technology at all?  In this episode Karen sits down with Peter Morrissey to explore the hidden cost of manual processes and why businesses should rethink how they approach automation. Rather than trying to automate everything overnight, Peter explains why the best place to start is by talking to your team, identifying repetitive tasks and creating small wins that give people back time to think.  Together they discuss why automating a poor process simply creates a faster poor process, how leaders can introduce AI without creating fear, and why workplace culture plays such an important role in making automation successful. As Peter says, "Humans are for thinking." The goal isn't to replace people. It's to remove repetitive work so they can focus on solving problems, improving the business and creating more value.  In this episode, you will learn:  → Why manual processes cost businesses far more than lost time.  → The hidden link between repetitive work, burnout and employee engagement.  → Why businesses should start small instead of trying to automate everything at once.  → The biggest mistake leaders make when introducing AI and automation.  → How involving employees creates better ideas and stronger buy in.  → Why automation should create more thinking time, not simply more work.  → The leadership behaviours that help technology improve culture rather than damage it.  → One simple exercise you can do with your team this month to identify opportunities for improvement.  If you're exploring AI, reviewing business processes or simply looking for ways to create a better experience for your employees, this episode offers practical ideas you can start applying straight away.  Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode of Find Grow Keep, released every Monday.  Visit https://www.amplifyhr.com.au for more practical HR resources, articles and podcast episodes.  Free Download: https://www.amplifyhr.com.au/downloadable/find-grow-keep/   Send us Fan Mail

    2.173 Manual Processes Don’t Just Waste Time. They Hold Back Your People and Your Business.

  4. Aug 30

    2.172 Why Great Branding Starts Inside Your Business- with Chris Hekeik

    When people talk about branding, it's easy to think about logos, colours and marketing campaigns. But what if the real strength of your brand comes from something much closer to home?  In this episode, Karen speaks with branding strategist and ModeMedia founder Chris Hekeik about what it takes to stand out in an increasingly noisy world. While the conversation begins with marketing and brand strategy, it quickly explores something every business owner should consider. Your employees play a significant role in shaping how customers experience your business, making culture and leadership just as important as your visual identity.  If you've ever wondered why some businesses are remembered long after others are forgotten, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on how branding, employee experience and customer experience all work together. Show Notes  In this episode, Karen and Chris discuss:  • Why businesses are competing against more noise than ever before and why clarity matters more than volume.  • The biggest branding mistake many business owners make by trying to communicate too much instead of creating a clear and memorable message.  • Why people buy emotion before they buy products, and how storytelling creates stronger connections than features and facts.  • Why a brand is much more than a logo, with practical examples of how branding is experienced through customer service, leadership and everyday interactions.  • The role employees play as custodians of your brand and why employer branding starts long before someone sees your marketing.  • How founders can balance their own vision with creating a brand that genuinely connects with their audience.  • The opportunities and challenges AI presents for branding, creativity and small business.  • Chris' biggest lesson from more than 25 years in business and why caring about people has become the foundation of his success.  Key Takeaways  Your brand is experienced, not just seen  Customers remember how your business made them feel far longer than they remember your logo, advertising or website. Every interaction contributes to your reputation.  Employees bring your brand to life  Your employer brand isn't created by marketing alone. The way your people communicate, solve problems and represent your business has a lasting impact on both customers and future employees.  Clarity cuts through the noise  In a world overflowing with information, businesses that communicate a simple, clear message are far more likely to be remembered than those trying to say everything at once.  Culture and branding are closely connected  The promises you make through your marketing need to be reflected in the experience employees and customers have every day. The strongest brands are built from the inside out.  AI should enhance, not replace, human creativity  Used well, AI can improve efficiency and help generate ideas, but authentic relationships, emotional connection and human experiences remain the things people remember most.    Guest Information  Chris Hekeik is the founder and CEO of ModeMedia, an Australian branding and creative agency that has helped businesses build memorable brands for more than 25 years. He is also a keynote speaker and brand strategist who works with organisations to create stronger connections between their brand, their people and their customers. Chris believes that great brands are built through clarity, emotion and memorable experiences rather than marketing alone.  Learn more about Chris: 🌐 https://www.modemedia.com.au/  🌐 https://www.chrishekeik.com.au/  Make sure to subscribe to stay updated with new releases on Mondays! Send us Fan Mail

    2.172 Why Great Branding Starts Inside Your Business- with Chris Hekeik

  5. Aug 23

    2.171 Business Growth: Why Finding More Customers Isn't Always the Answer– with Nathan Baws

    In this episode of Find Grow Keep, Karen Kirton is joined by business growth strategist Nathan Baws for a conversation that starts with joint ventures and quickly expands into customer service, workplace culture, leadership and what really drives sustainable business growth.  Nathan has built businesses across a wide range of industries and is passionate about helping business owners grow without simply spending more on marketing. Together, Karen and Nathan explore practical ways to build stronger relationships, create memorable customer experiences and think differently about where growth comes from.  Whether you're leading a growing team or looking for new ways to grow your business, this episode is full of practical ideas you can apply straight away.  In this episode you'll learn:  Why joint ventures can be a powerful business growth strategy How to create partnerships where everyone benefits Why customer service is often a reflection of workplace culture The connection between employee engagement and customer experience How to spend more time working on your business rather than just in it Why finding people who love the work you don't can help your business grow Simple leadership habits that keep teams connected and aligned  Learn more about Amplify HR: https://www.amplifyhr.com.au  Book a free discovery call: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ronita-fourie  Connect with Nathan:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-baws/   https://nathanbaws.com/   Make sure to subscribe to stay updated with new releases on Mondays! Send us Fan Mail

    2.171 Business Growth: Why Finding More Customers Isn't Always the Answer– with Nathan Baws

  6. Aug 16

    2.170 How to Optimise Your Business Processes Before They Break You

    As businesses grow, the people side of the business often becomes more complex. Recruitment takes longer, onboarding becomes inconsistent, managers handle situations differently and founders find themselves answering the same questions over and over again.  The challenge is not usually that people are doing the wrong thing. More often, the business has outgrown the informal processes that worked when the team was smaller.  In this episode, Karen explores how to identify the people processes that may be creating friction in your business and where to focus first. Rather than jumping straight to automation or new technology, she discusses the foundations that help growing businesses create consistency, improve employee experience and reduce unnecessary complexity.  In this episode, you will learn:  → Why growth often exposes weaknesses in recruitment, onboarding and performance management processes  → How relying on memory, goodwill and founder involvement can create bottlenecks  → Why reactive recruitment can lead to costly hiring mistakes  → The role onboarding plays in retention, engagement and productivity  → What Gallup's research tells us about the impact managers have on employee engagement  → How simple performance management rhythms can create better conversations and clearer expectations  → Why compliance processes often become vulnerable as businesses grow  → A practical question every business owner should ask to identify process risks and opportunities  If your business is growing and things feel more complicated than they used to, this episode will help you identify where better people processes can make growth easier.  Visit https://www.amplifyhr.com.au for more resources and practical HR support.  Make sure to subscribe to stay updated with new releases every second Monday!  Send us Fan Mail Download our free guide, “Getting Stuff Done Through Your People,” giving you the tools to build a culture where people take ownership, goals get achieved, and results follow. https://www.amplifyhr.com.au/downloadable/getting-stuff-done-through-your-people/

  7. Aug 9

    2.169 Why Cyber Security Is a People Issue (Not Just an IT Issue)

    Many leaders think cyber security is something their IT provider looks after. But what if your biggest cyber risk isn't your technology at all?  In this episode, Karen Kirton is joined by cyber security specialist Fraser Jack to explore why cyber security is really a people issue. Together, they discuss how leadership, workplace culture and human behaviour all play a critical role in protecting your business from cyber threats.  In today's episode, you'll learn about:  Why cyber security isn't just an IT responsibility and why business leaders need to be involved. How cyber criminals use human psychology, including urgency, fear and trust, to trick even smart, capable employees. The small pieces of information businesses unknowingly share that can increase cyber risk. The additional considerations when your team works remotely, offshore or in hybrid environments. Why creating a workplace culture where employees feel safe to report mistakes can significantly reduce the impact of a cyber incident. The importance of having an incident response plan and practising cyber drills before something goes wrong. Practical steps directors and business owners can take to better understand and manage cyber risk. If you're a business owner or leader who thinks cyber security starts and ends with technology, this conversation will give you a fresh perspective and some practical ideas you can implement straight away.  Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode of Find Grow Keep, with new episodes released every Monday.  Send us Fan Mail

    2.169 Why Cyber Security Is a People Issue (Not Just an IT Issue)

  8. Aug 2

    2.168 Why Scaling a Business Is Harder Than Starting One

    Most business owners expect growth to make things easier.  More revenue. More people. More opportunities.  So why does it often feel like the opposite happens?  In this episode Karen explores why scaling a business can feel much harder than starting one, and why the biggest challenges are often not financial or operational, but people related.  Karen shares the common patterns she sees in growing businesses, including unclear roles, inconsistent onboarding, accountability issues, manager capability gaps, decision making bottlenecks and founders becoming stuck in the middle of everything.  Drawing on current Australian business data and real world examples, she explains why the informal ways of working that helped a business succeed in the early days often stop working as teams grow.  In this episode you'll learn:  Why growth can create complexity rather than freedom The people foundations that growing businesses need How role clarity impacts accountability and ownership Why manager capability can become a growth handbrake What founders need to let go of as their business grows How to identify whether your business has outgrown its current people practices If your business is growing and things are starting to feel messier than they used to, this episode will help you understand why and where to focus first.  Make sure to subscribe to stay updated with new releases every second Monday!   Visit amplifyhr.com.au for more insights and resources.   Send us Fan Mail Download our free guide, “Getting Stuff Done Through Your People,” giving you the tools to build a culture where people take ownership, goals get achieved, and results follow. https://www.amplifyhr.com.au/downloadable/getting-stuff-done-through-your-people/

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Bite-sized people & business advice for forward-thinking Founders, CEOs, and Senior Business Leaders in Australia & beyond. As a leader, you’re responsible for growth, navigating market changes, all while trying to find time for to recruit, develop, retain and motivate your team. It’s a lot. Managing the 'people stuff' effectively is not just an HR function – It’s a core aspect of running a successful business. If you're looking to unlock growth and drive performance, these short and practical podcast episodes will give you the tools and insights to get your business to the next stage by leveraging great people and culture. Brought to you by Karen Kirton, Founder of Amplify HR, Karen has over 20 years' experience in People Management, degrees in Business and Psychology, and is the Amazon best-selling author of “Great People, Great Business: Your HR handbook for creating a business that’s ready to scale and grow”. Karen is passionate about creating workplaces that engage and inspire—especially for small to medium sized This podcast is designed to give you practical, down-to-earth solutions and real life case studies that will genuinely make a difference. Learn more at: https://www.amplifyhr.com.au Get our free eBook packed with practical strategies to attract, engage, and retain top talent. Perfect for business owners and leaders focused on building a thriving team. Download it at amplifyhr.com.au/downloadable/find-grow-keep

Information

  • Creator
    Karen Kirton Amplify HR
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    175
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Amplify HR
  • Show Website
    Find Grow Keep