How to improve 1% every day !

Sally Dillon • August 9, 2022

Changing yourself requires ongoing improvement, time, effort, and energy. How many times have you put of a change until Monday, then Monday comes and goes, and you decide to wait until the following Monday to try again? Don’t sweat it, we’ve all done this!

The good news is that you can steadily move forward without needing to make a large radical change and scaring yourself in the process.

Where should you start?

I recommend you begin with your daily routine. The first step is to ask yourself where you want to develop, then ask yourself what is preventing you from doing this?

Have you really made the decision to act on your desires or are you still deciding? You wont get traction until you've actually made the decision to take action.

Top 7 tips on how to improve 1% every day

1. Just Begin

Beginning is the hardest part of anything that you do, but once you have decided on what you want to do (a goal) and put a plan in place, commit to your goal and respect yourself and your goal, as if it was for a client or customer, and follow through.

2. Start Planning

Making plans is an essential and daily part of your life whether it’s for your family, work, health or other areas of your life.

Find a way to plan that works for you such as:

Writing a To Do List
Blocking out work, events or other needs in your diary
Using an electronic or paper diary or planner, or a combination of both.
Having a project progress plan

Remember the 80/20 rule of planning your day or completing your tasks on your To Do list. For more info on how to use the 80/20 rule effectively click HERE.

Up the anti on your daily planning by updating your To Do list, schedule or diary at the end of each day. That way you will end your day with a plan and wake up with a purpose and you wont waste precious time each morning, wondering what you are going to work on that day. I also find that most of my client calls come in the morning, so if I try and complete my planning phase in the morning, it is constantly interrupted, and my day then becomes scattered. Read more about how to do less and achieve more HERE!

Starting the day with a plan and purpose will lessen the feeling of being overwhelmed or frustrated and lower your stress levels.

Take 20 minutes and complete your daily and weekly plan on Sunday afternoon or evening (if your work week starts on Monday) and you will find that you Monday morning blues will reduce and your productivity and confidence coming into each week will improve dramatically.

3. Start with the problems that are hardest for you to solve

Why? We tend to do the simple jobs first before focusing our efforts on the tough ones, but by the time the simple activities are completed, we often have little energy left to concentrate on our more challenging projects, which are mostly likely to be your most critical ones.

You may then find yourself in the cycle of leaving them until the following morning, then getting distracted by the simple tasks, we use up our energy and concentration and the cycle begins again the following day. If this is your process, you will eventually be trying to finish critical tasks in little time (or missing deadlines), not doing them well and adding a significant level of stress, than if you had got them done when you are most productive and alert.

If you can complete the more challenging tasks or projects first, you’ll find the others will be much easier to complete and without exerting much effort.

4. Play music

Music can be enjoyable and motivating. If you are having trouble concentrating or need a boost or change to your energy, then music might be able to help. Research has shown that listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory..

5. Read more

Reading books do not necessarily have to be about advancing your career, although they can help. There are so many types of books, including audio-books - general-interest, philosophical, cookbooks, self-help, or historical, general literature.

By reading (or listening) more, your perspective on things will change and grow as you become more knowledgeable and if you comprehend the universe better, or even learn how to make a kick ass stir fry, you'll be happier. Email me to get my list of must reads (or listens) for both work and pleasure and use Book List as your subject line.

6. Use Affirmations

A lot of people think affirmations are airy fairy and don't actually do anything. In fact studies have shown that affirmations have considerable force.

Affirmations may feel a bit silly when you say them out loud for the first time, but if verbalising doesn’t feel right for you, then you can write them down.

A study published in the journal - Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience talked about what actually goes on in our brains when we regularly use affirmations. The researchers found that we link affirmations to the reward centres in our brain in the same way that we do for winning something, doing well at something or even eating good food.

The researchers used MRI to find that practising self-affirmation activates the reward centres–ventral striatum (VS) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) in the brain. To make it simple, these areas are the same reward centres that respond to other pleasurable experiences, such as eating your favourite dish or winning a prize.

Lead researcher, Christopher Cascio stated “Many studies have shown that these circuits can do things like dampen pain and help us maintain balance in the face of threats.” So regularly using affirmations does activate and boost areas of your brain that make you happy and positive.

If you’re an Affirmation Beginner, here’s a few to get you started:

Need more affirmation inspiration? I've put together a list of 75 Affirmations for success, work and life HERE!

7. Choose an activity you enjoy as your reward

As humans we are wired to love a reward and often do things consciously or unconsciously to receive those reward feelings in our body or mind. There are so many ways to reward yourself, however I find sometimes the simplest rewards are the most effective.

When I reflect on the things I accomplish at the end of each day, while I’m planning the next day, I treat myself to a cup of fancy tea from T2 shop or make a hot chocolate. Through the day, I just have water or normal tea, but I save the fancy tea and hot chocolate as part of my reward and wind down routine.

So doing this effectively releases all the reward endorphins and feelings in my body at the end of each day, and I also feel good because I’m getting my planning done for the next day. In turn this helps me close off the day with a routine and wind down much easier after my word day. Celebrating and giving yourself small rewards, actually works just as effectively, if not better than big rewards that you have to wait months to achieve.

Takeaway

If you start making small modifications to your routine and practices and celebrate the small wins, you will notice a significant positive impact on your productivity, efficiency, wellbeing and happiness.

All you have to do is commit to improving 1% every day.

Need help levelling up in your work or personal life? Book a time for a free, no obligation, chat to see how I can help you achieve your dreams or check out our most popular coaching packages here.

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Impending Overhaul of Bullying and Workers' Compensation Laws in New South Wales

By Sally Dillon • March 25, 2025

Overview

AI and ChatGPT can't be your HR manager.

Why ChatGPT Can’t Be Your HR Manager

By Sally Dillon • February 26, 2025

Can ChatGPT Replace HR? The Risks of AI-Generated HR Advice AI tools like ChatGPT are revolutionizing the workplace, but can they handle complex HR decisions, employee issues, or legal compliance? The short answer—not safely. Businesses that rely on AI for terminations, pay rates, workplace investigations, or employment contracts risk costly legal mistakes, financial penalties, and reputational damage. HR isn’t just about policies—it’s about human behavior, legal nuance, and ethical decision-making—things AI simply doesn’t understand. In this article, we explore real-world examples of AI-generated HR blunders and the hidden risks of trusting ChatGPT for critical people management decisions. Plus, we share insights on where AI can help—and where it absolutely shouldn’t. Read on to protect your business from HR disasters.

Why HR is Your Most Powerful Business Asset | Strategic HR & Leadership

By Sally Dillon • January 29, 2025

Introduction HR is one of the most misunderstood roles in business. Some believe HR exists to protect employees. Others think HR’s sole job is to defend the company. Both are wrong. And this misunderstanding is costing businesses money, trust, and talent. For over two decades, I’ve seen organisations sideline HR - treating them as a policy enforcer or an afterthought. The result? 🚨 Employees don’t trust HR. 🚨 Leaders fail to leverage HR strategically. 🚨 Businesses struggle with culture, retention, and performance. But here’s the truth: HR isn’t about sides. It’s about solutions. Great HR drives business outcomes by balancing people and performance. The question is: Are you using HR to its full potential? HR as a Strategic Powerhouse, Not Just a Policy Enforcer The best businesses don’t just "have" an HR department. They embed HR into leadership decisions. HR isn’t just about hiring, firing, and compliance - it’s about: ✅ Shaping culture and engagement (which directly impacts performance). ✅ Developing leadership capabilities (to create stronger teams). ✅ Driving strategic workforce planning (so you have the right people, in the right roles, at the right time). ✅ Maximising financial impact - because people are both your biggest cost and your greatest asset. If your HR function isn’t influencing leadership, growth, and profitability , you're leaving money on the table. HR as a Key Voice on Your Leadership Team Many leadership teams still treat HR as a support function rather than a core business driver. That’s a mistake. Your Chief People Officer (CPO) or HR Director should have the same level of influence as your CFO, COO, or Head of Sales. Why? Because your people strategy IS your business strategy. 🔹 You wouldn’t make financial decisions without consulting your CFO. 🔹 You wouldn’t make operational changes without your COO’s input. 🔹 So why make leadership and talent decisions without HR at the table ? And yet, in many businesses, HR reports to finance, operations, or admin - departments that have their own agenda when it comes to assessing people needs, budgets, and workforce requirements. HR should report directly to the CEO, or Business Owner to ensure people strategy is aligned with business strategy - not just budget constraints or operational efficiency. Because when HR is filtered through another department’s lens, critical workforce decisions become secondary to financial targets, logistical priorities, or admin processes. If your HR leader doesn’t report directly to the top, you may be unknowingly limiting their ability to drive real business outcomes. Are You Using HR to Its Full Potential? Take a moment and ask yourself: ❓ If you have an in-house HR team, are you using their skills and expertise across all areas of your business? Or are they stuck in admin-heavy tasks, when they could be driving strategic initiatives? ❓ If you’re a small or medium business and don’t have in-house HR, why haven’t you partnered with an external consultant? What’s stopping you from leveraging the expertise that could transform your business? In larger businesses, HR should go beyond just ‘HR.’ Under an expanded People & Culture framework, HR should oversee: ✔ Training & Development – ensuring leaders and employees are constantly upskilling. ✔ Work Health & Safety – making compliance, risk management, and employee wellbeing a priority. ✔ Recruitment & Talent Strategy – not just filling roles but attracting and retaining top performers. ✔ Major Projects & Change Management – ensuring workforce alignment with organisational shifts. In smaller businesses , these functions can be outsourced or strategically managed by an external HR consultant working directly with the business owner. This ensures a strong, aligned people strategy, while certain operational roles (finance, admin, or operations) may take on specific HR tasks - as long as they receive the right training, support, and strategic direction. HR isn’t just a department - it’s an investment in your business’s future. Whether in-house or external, make sure your HR function is working at a strategic level, not just buried in paperwork. HR’s Impact on the Bottom Line People aren’t just a cost centre - they are a profit driver. 📊 Labour is often one of the largest expenses in a business - so managing it strategically impacts profitability. 📊 Engaged employees are 23% more profitable , according to Gallup. 📊 Turnover costs 50-200% of an employee’s salary - losing top talent is expensive. When HR has a strategic voice in leadership , businesses see: ✔ Stronger alignment between business goals and people strategy. ✔ Faster, smarter hiring that supports growth. ✔ Better leadership development , reducing costly turnover. ✔ More effective workforce planning , so salaries, training, and hiring are investments—not wasted costs. Final Thought: HR is Not a Department - It’s a Business Growth Lever If your HR function feels like a compliance department , you’re doing it wrong. HR should be a leadership asset , helping your business make smarter, people-focused decisions. So, here’s my challenge to you: 📌 If you’re a CEO or MD - bring HR into the strategy conversation early and often. 📌 If you’re a leader - use HR as a coaching and development resource, not just a policy checker or problem fixer. 📌 If you’re in HR - push for a strategic role in leadership, not just operational support. Because when HR and leadership align , businesses don’t just succeed. They thrive. Want to Develop Stronger, More Strategic Leaders? If you’re serious about building leadership capability in your business, let’s talk. My Leadership Dynamics Accellerator Program helps CEOs, Business Owners, Leaders and HR teams create high-performing leaders who know how to balance people and performance. 📅 Book a free leadership triage call to see how we can help here . 🚀 Save your spot in our next Leadership Dynamics Accelerator Program here . 📩 Send us an email for more information here . Let’s build something stronger - together.