Welcome to "Pet Industry Mentor," A podcast dedicated to the art and business of pet sitting. Join us as we delve into expert advice, share captivating stories, and explore the ins and outs of running a successful pet sitting venture. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, our podcast offers valuable coaching services and insights to help you thrive. Tune in for engaging discussions on pet care, business strategies, and the joys of working with animals. Perfect for anyone passionate about pet sitting and eager to learn from real-world experiences
I’ll happily spend $1000’s on Halloween decorations - would you? Maybe, maybe not. What is valuable to one person is worthless to the next
Relevance? Well, I really need you to stop valuing your services based on what YOU are happy to pay for them or what you FEEL they are worth
Tune in, feel inspired, do the damn price rise pronto
16 Aug 2026
75. I Don't Want To Be Successful Anymore
10 Aug 2026
74. The Conversation You Are Avoiding Is Costing You
Having difficult conversations with your staff is one of the most uncomfortable parts of owning a business, especially when you care about your team, want to keep the peace, and don’t want to be seen as the “bad boss.”
But avoiding the conversation doesn’t make the problem disappear. More often than not, it allows frustration to build, standards to slip and resentment to creep into the business.
In this episode of the Pet Industry Mentor Podcast, I’m talking about my own recent experience of finally addressing issues that had been bothering me for some time, and what happened when I stopped trying to keep everyone comfortable and started having the conversations that actually needed to happen.
We talk about the difference between being kind and avoiding accountability, why your staff are allowed to be unhappy with feedback without that automatically meaning you’ve done something wrong, and why someone’s reaction to a reasonable boundary or expectation can tell you a lot.
I also unpack something I think a lot of business owners need to hear: your job as a leader isn’t to prevent your staff from ever feeling uncomfortable. Your job is to communicate clearly, set reasonable expectations, address problems when they arise and protect the standards of the business you’re responsible for.
Sometimes a difficult conversation leads to improvement. Sometimes it exposes a much bigger problem. Sometimes a staff member decides the expectations of the role no longer work for them.
All three outcomes give you more clarity than months of walking on eggshells.
If you’ve been rehearsing a conversation in your head for weeks, overlooking behaviour because you don’t want the confrontation, or finding yourself changing how you run your business because you’re worried about how one particular staff member will react, this episode is for you.
In this episode:
Why business owners avoid difficult staff conversations
The difference between kindness and people-pleasing in leadership
Why clear expectations are not unreasonable expectations
What happens when small issues are allowed to build
Why you can’t control how someone responds to feedback
Having conversations based on facts rather than emotion
Why documenting conversations matters
What a staff member’s reaction can reveal
Accepting that sometimes accountability changes the relationship
Why protecting your business sometimes means being willing to have an uncomfortable conversation
You don’t need to become cold, aggressive or overly corporate to lead your team well.
You do need to be willing to say the thing that needs to be said.
Reach and audience
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Spotify
5.0 / 5
51 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 14 / 100
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