Troon’s Post

Fossil hunting on Kilve beach. Pete was on a rest day and I kept my diary clear. The first day of summer. Lucky us. The rest of the summer is a big fat question mark 😵💫 We won't be the only ones. If you are a decision maker in an organisation I am wondering: Are your staff stressing about this summer in the same way they did last summer? Or the summer before that? If so, that's a tell. That there are ways you could be supporting your staff that will yield significant results. In a nutshell, let summer look a bit different if you can. ⭐️Make sure staff are doing what is required. ⭐️But drop anything that is a 'nice to have.' ⭐️Maybe just the one 1:1 over the next 6 weeks. Or none. ⭐️No meetings. Unless necessary. ⭐️And nothing booked last minute. At all. ⭐️Perhaps you can catch up over coffee in the park instead of the office to let the kids run around at the same time. ⭐️Or perhaps summer is the perfect time to plan that team get together - invite the kids and make a day of it! ⭐️Let them work when they can. Not just 9 til 5 every day. ⭐️Focus on what you need the output to be, not the hours worked. ⭐️Have different expectations and benchmarks of success. Because. Parenting and working during summer is brutal. And if you happen to be one of the only employers out there that actually makes it easier to spin the plates. You will have an ROI from that employee the rest of the year that will more than make up for a few weeks over the holidays. You will stand out by a MILE from other organisations that haven't caught up yet. Winner winner 🏆 Family is so important. Make it easy for your staff to continue to be passionate about their jobs by making it easy for them to care for their families. #summer #holidays #childcare #flexibleworking

It’s true – our pets can help us network! Earlier today, we held a “Petworking” event encouraging our team members to join virtually with their pets and connect with colleagues across the organization. Wary of those dreaded networking icebreakers? Not when pets are involved! We can learn a lot about co-workers when discussing shared passions like our furry family members. If you’re looking for new ways to foster connection and collaboration, I encourage you to bring pets into the mix. Has your organization done something like this before? #workplaceculture #petsatwork #pets #petworking

I’ve worked at companies with both generous "party budgets" and others with absolutely none. In one workplace, we had to pay for our own "get-togethers," even though we had no say in how much we pay or what we do, and were told to just "pay." I always thought "Why have a mandatory or coercive event?! It makes the morale go down"... but I think it's because most people believe in the power of team bonding. Here’s my take on social events: they’re a valuable investment that won’t break the bank 🎉. I think the organization wins greatly by setting aside some budget, whether it be just for bagels and coffee or a large party; I personally think the amount doesn't matter. It's about the corporate culture demonstrating that management values these interactions. Events at work aren’t just a fun escape from the daily routine. They’re essential for building stronger connections, sparking creativity, and enhancing collaboration. When colleagues feel comfortable around each other, fresh ideas start flowing, and trust grows. For someone new like me, these events help me get to know others and figure out how best to collaborate. A little fun and laughter can significantly boost morale and make the workplace feel more energized and united! I am so happy to be part of a family that shares these values 😍

Celebrating Balance and Innovation at Blunt Botanicals 🌿👩👧👦 Inspired by Yvon Chouinard’s “Let My People Go Surfing” ethos, we at Blunt Botanicals believe you can strive to be the best while also focusing on your personal life. At Patagonia, employees are encouraged to take time away for life’s adventures, knowing they’ll return to a thriving company and a supportive team. At Blunt Botanicals, we embrace this philosophy wholeheartedly. Our team is comprised of exceptional women, all of whom are mothers. We understand the importance of balancing parenting and professional ambitions. Do you want to be at that field trip with your child? Need time off for adventure? Are the waves good, the sun shining, is the boat ready? Take some time, enjoy your life. We encourage balance and celebrate it. Every work encounter at Blunt is filled with joy, and our products reflect this passion. They are innovative, great for the planet, and help people, raising the bar in our category. We will continue to push the status quo in this male-dominated industry. By fostering a supportive work environment that values personal time and well-being, we ensure our team members are respected, safe, and return to a thriving company. This balance means everything to us at Blunt Botanicals. Join us in celebrating balance and innovation in the cannabis topical industry. Let's make impactful change together. #BluntBotanicals #CannabisTopicals #Wellness #Parenting #WorkLifeBalance #Sustainability #InspiredByPatagonia *How I spent my weekend in the Okanagan after a heavy week, preparing for another Product Launch!!

🎄🎅 ‘Tis the Season to Be Knowledgeable! 🎅🎄 The holidays are here, and so is the season of giving, sharing, and… misplacing that crucial file from three meetings ago. 😅 But fear not—Knowledge Management is like the trusty Rudolph of your organization, guiding the way when things get foggy! 🦌✨ Here’s why Upland RightAnswers KM is the real MVP of the holidays: 🎁 Gives the gift of time – No more hunting through email threads like you’re searching for the last roll of gift wrap. 🎁 Spreads cheer – A well-organized knowledge base keeps teams aligned and actually happy (no more “Where’s the latest version?!”). 🎁 Lights up the way – Like a strand of perfectly untangled lights, KM illuminates the answers when you need them most. So, as we deck the halls and close out the year, let’s raise a mug of hot cocoa to the unsung hero of the workplace: Knowledge Management—helping us sleigh the day, every day. 🎅🛷 What’s on your KM wish list for the new year? Let’s make 2025 the year of streamlined success! 💡👇 #HappyHolidays #KnowledgeManagement #SleighTheDay #WorkplaceCheer #UplandSoftware #RightAnswers

This month's Office Spotlight is on Cale McElreath! 1. Who’s in your family? - Me, Kaylee and Ozzie 😊 - Ozzie is a mini Australian shepherd, about 2 years old. Lots of personality. 2. Favorite meal? - Homemade: Haystacks - Dining? Right now, Chicken Tikka Masala from Red Fort! 3. Favorite part of your job? - I love the impact we have on people’s lives. Nobody else gets to have as much fun making a difference like we do. - I also love my coworkers. Having good people around you every day makes it easy to love what you do. 4. Dream vacation? - I want to drive a sports car up the pacific coast highway, from beginning to end. Enjoying food, national parks, and the ocean all along the way. 5. Favorite hobby/free-time activity? - I love baseball. I spend most of my free-time watching baseball or playing video games with friends and family. Kaylee and I love to hike and take Ozzie on any adventure he can handle. He keeps us moving a lot. I also love swimming, but don’t get to do it as much as I did last year. - I’m also earning two Master’s degrees. MBA and MSF from the U! 6. Favorite color and why? - Green. Originally it was because turtles are my favorite animal, but I’ve come to appreciate green as a design choice and its influence on people while home. Lots of positive emotions, calmness, etc from green in the home. 7. Pets in your family? - Ozzie 😊 Love that little guy. 8. Sky diving or swimming with sharks? - Skydiving absolutely.

Australia is famous for wildlife that kill and sting, and whilst they scare the tourists, we Aussies like to be kind to them as its their home too. 🕷️ 🐜 🐛 🦟 So, if you love the great outdoors 🏄 😎 🥾 don't like bitey things, but want to repel them without using nasty chemicals the natural place to turn is an Aussie brand that does the job really well.... .......they are road tested in Australia so they have to work ! 💡 Bree Nolan created Love Bites Only to do just this, and as an added benefit, her products are great for your skin, so you can repel the insects and look good at the same time ! 👍 One of our most recent Alvio: The eCom Partner Platform collabs is between Love Bites Only and A Little Find, both of whom share common values, which I am sure you will agree is a great pairing. Onwards and upwards for Bree Nolan Andrew Dent and Jonathan Lundy 🚀 So, if you are interested in more information about this collaboration and these brands please check out the link below. #ecom #brandpartnerships #JustAlvioIt

Tomorrow is Park and Recreation Professionals Day! This special day is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the hard work and dedication of park and recreation professionals who keep our parks safe, fun, and clean year-round. How Can You Participate? We invite you to join us in celebrating this day with your staff. Here are some ways you can show your appreciation: Public Acknowledgement: Use your organization's social media channels to publicly thank your park and recreation staff. Share stories, photos, and achievements to highlight their contributions. Use the hashtags #ParkandRecDay and #GoodforPA Personal Notes: Write personalized thank-you notes or letters to your staff members, expressing your gratitude for their dedication and hard work. Feature in Newsletter: Highlight the accomplishments and efforts of your park and recreation professionals in your next newsletter or on your website. Create a Fun Activity: Plan a fun team-building activity or outing to celebrate the day and strengthen team bonds. We encourage you to take a moment on July 19 to acknowledge the incredible work of your park and recreation professionals. Let's make this day a memorable one for those who tirelessly work to enhance our communities. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our parks and recreation services. #parkandrecday #parks #recreation #parkandrecmonth #goodforPA

It is all about me 🫠...and you 🫵 My connections list has grown so much in the last few weeks. So, I thought I would introduce myself properly and I would love to get to know a bit about you too. 🗺️I live in North Nottinghamshire, just metres away from the South Yorkshire Border. We moved here from Kent just two years ago, having lived our whole lives "down South". 🐶I have two dogs, Ted and Bill, who help me keep my steps up. 🥕I am a Vegetarian, and have an addiction to sweet stuff, particularly ice cream & cake. 📸I love reading, Photography, gardening, and baking - Anything creative. I am currently rediscovering my love for knitting 😉 🏕️I also share my OH's passion for fishing, though recently it has been more like camping. How would my clients describe me? One recently said that I was Professional, Efficient, creative, and fun 😆🎺 ➕ Strange fact. I am a qualified book-keeper, but don't offer book-keeping as a service 🫣 When I am not being "crafty" or walking my dogs, I am a Virtual Assistant or time-share PA as I like to call it... Here are just a few of the things I worked on yesterday: - Research for some amazing "thank you" gifts - Spell-checked and formatted a DRAFT brochure - Inbox management (For a client who is on holiday) - Editing an article for Newsletter - Finalising a Draft Minutes - Research to help a client organise an amazing Christmas Party Every day is different and I just love helping my clients with their time-consuming admin tasks, so that they can focus their attention on running their businesses. Now that is enough about me, come on, tell me something about you. #virtualassistantservices #gettingtoknowyou #allaboutme #smallbusinesssupport