Hi Reader
Last month, a senior manager showed me her notebook. Six decisions she'd been avoiding, circled in red. "I keep thinking I need more time to decide," she said.
By Friday, all six were done.
Not because she found more time.
Because she started tracking decisions like debt.
Today I’m sharing three of them.
Simple tools you can start this week.
The full set of five is in today’s blog post. (Linked below.)
Three Systems to Start This Week
- The Reflection Loop
Each day, note one moment that worked and one that didn’t. That’s it. Bring it to your next team check-in or supervision session. You’ll start seeing patterns: what drains you, what sustains you.
One facility manager tracked this for two weeks. She realised every difficult day started with back-to-back compliance meetings. She moved them to Fridays only. Her team noticed the shift immediately.
Try this: Set a daily phone reminder for 3:30pm. Two lines in your notebook. That’s all.
- The Decision-Debt Ledger
List every decision you’ve been avoiding. Even the small ones. Most people realise half their “to-do list” is actually unmade choices. Close one each day.
A clinical lead discovered a $70K workforce project had been sitting on her desk for three weeks (just waiting for her signature). She cleared six decisions that afternoon when she realised she was waiting for perfect information that would never come.
Try this: Right now, list five decisions you’ve been sitting on. Pick the smallest one. Decide before lunch.
- The Energy-Aware Calendar
Mark your high-focus hours in green, tired ones in yellow. Schedule serious work for green blocks. Calls and admin for yellow. No fancy app needed. Just energy as data.
One regional manager moved her supervision meetings from 3pm slumps to 9am green zones. “I’m sharper, more present, and not secretly wishing it was over.” The team felt the difference too.
Try this: Track your energy for three days. Note when you feel sharp vs sluggish. Restructure one recurring meeting based on what you find.
Want the Other Two Systems?
I’ve detailed all five systems in today’s blog post, including: - The 3-Line Update (transforms team communication) - The Friday Flow Check (your weekly reset ritual)
Plus implementation tips and troubleshooting for when they don’t work immediately.
📖 Read the full post: Five Tiny Systems That Change Your Week →
Why These Systems Matter Now
These aren’t random productivity hacks. They’re the exact tools that helped 400+ aged care leaders navigate impossible workloads without burning out.
When I ran mentoring programs from 2017-2021, systems and decision-making-frameworks emerged repeatedly as game-changers. Mentees who used them reported clearer goals, faster decisions, and better prep for tough conversations.
Now I’m sharing them openly because the sector needs practical tools, not more theory.
Some of you will implement these alone and thrive. Others might want support to make them stick.
That’s why I’m relaunching the mentoring program in 2026. Smaller, more focused, with everything I learned from those 400+ partnerships.
(If you're interested, details are at the end of this email.)
Your Challenge This Week
Pick ONE system. Try it for five days. Reply and tell me what shifted (or what didn’t).
I read every response.
Your experiences help me understand what leaders really need.
Small systems. Big calm. That’s the work.
Warmly,
P.S. After three years away, I'm back with a stronger mentoring program. Just for you. The 2026 mentoring cohort opened last week to this newsletter community. There are only 20 places. Now is your time to secure a seat.
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Six months. Six conversations.
One mentor who understands your world.
Structured support for leaders who’ve led reform from the front and want to sustain it.
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Investment: $2,100 AUD (early bird price)
Places are limited, and once filled, applications move to waitlist.
Need Manager Approval?
If you need approval or funding support, download our short briefing note below. Approvals can take time, so send it this week if you want your place secured before Christmas.
📄 Line Manager Briefing Note → Download Template