The Power of Connection in Crisis

by Montagu Group | Jun 9, 2025 | Candidates, Employers, Montagu Group, Podcast Episode

In this heartfelt episode, Suki and Tayla delve into the resilience of the human spirit amid adversity through the power of connection in crisis, sharing Tayla’s personal experience of a recent flood that impacted her family and community. They reflect on the emotional toll such crises take, while exploring the power of connection, support, and the role of recruitment in rebuilding lives. It’s a moving conversation about how hardship can deepen bonds, strengthen communities, and remind us of the healing power of helping others.

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The Power of Connection in Crisis: A Reflection on Resilience and Human Spirit

Introduction

In times of chaos and catastrophe, it is often the strength of human connection that carries us through. In this moving and deeply personal episode of Cinversations that Connect, co-hosts Suki and Tayla recount the devastating floods that impacted the small town of Glenthorne and the extraordinary ways people came together in the aftermath. This story isn’t just about disaster recovery—it’s about the resilience of the human spirit and the unbreakable bonds that form through shared struggle. The Power of Connection in Crisis is not just a title; it’s a lived truth.

A Sudden Crisis Hits Home

Tayla’s story begins with a morning text message that no one wants to receive: her family’s neighbors are awaiting rescue by helicopter due to severe flooding. The waters had risen rapidly, swallowing homes and forcing residents onto second-story balconies, desperately hoping for evacuation. Her nan, immune-compromised and caring for her beloved puppy, was one of those waiting.

“Our house is gone,” Tayla’s father told her over the phone. Not just theirs, but her nan’s and auntie’s homes as well. The devastation was sudden, unexpected, and absolute.

The Chaos of the Unknown

In the hours and days that followed, Tayla and her partner Jordan scrambled for information, trying to get back to Glenthorne to help. Roads were closed. Communication was patchy. Her family, evacuated to a nearby town, had no idea what condition their homes were in until her brother was finally able to wade through water and mud to assess the damage.

The reality was worse than imagined. Sheds swept away. House interiors completely waterlogged. Furniture ruined. The town had flooded before, but never like this.

The Power of Connection in Crisis became even more evident as Tayla witnessed the collective strength of her community in the face of devastation.

Returning to the Wreckage

Tayla described the moment she arrived in Glenthorne: “It was like walking into a movie scene where things had just been bombed.” Debris was everywhere. Shin-deep mud made movement difficult. The smell of the farmland-turned-swamp clung to everything.

But alongside the wreckage came something else: compassion.

Community Spirit in Action

What followed was an outpouring of support that defied the destruction. Strangers brought food, drinks, and supplies. A local food truck handed out hot curries. A coffee van offered caffeine and snacks. One man drove up with a trailer of ice and drinks, handing out beers and lifting spirits with music blaring from his side-by-side.

People Tayla hadn’t spoken to since school showed up to help. Others arrived unannounced, armed with shovels, gumboots, and an unyielding desire to assist. It wasn’t about recognition. It was about being human.

“We were all in this together,” Tayla said. “The flood was so big and so unexpected, it basically stopped the whole town.”

This was The Power of Connection in Crisis in its most raw and beautiful form.

The Quiet Helpers

One of the most powerful moments came when Tayla learned that a man helping clean up others’ properties had lost his own home to the floods. This selfless act encapsulated the essence of human resilience: even in personal loss, many chose to help others.

As Suki reflected, “That’s a bond you can’t break.”

These bonds are the heartbeat of The Power of Connection in Crisis.

Emotional Support from Afar

Not everyone could be physically present, but emotional support was just as critical. Suki noted the challenge of supporting loved ones from a distance—staying up-to-date, being available, and simply listening.

“Sometimes being a sounding board is all someone needs,” she said.

It was a reminder that presence isn’t always physical. Sometimes, showing up emotionally makes all the difference.

Lessons on Resilience and Empathy

What the team experienced in Glenthorne is not unique to floods. It’s a pattern seen in every crisis: whether it be bushfires, pandemics, or personal tragedies, the strength of connection often determines the speed and depth of recovery.

Tayla likened it to recruitment: “Being resilient, helping people get their confidence back after a lot of no’s, or just being there as a soundboard.”

This human-first approach defines the Montagu Group’s ethos. Recruitment isn’t about metrics or KPIs. It’s about people. Whether you’re rebuilding a resume or a ruined home, the right support can change everything.

Reflection: Humanity Beyond the Resume

Suki and Tayla close the episode with a poignant truth: connection is the core of everything. It lifts us when we fall, steadies us when we falter, and reminds us that we are never truly alone.

The muddy gumboots, the burnt-out food trucks, the tears in the streets—they are all evidence of a community that refused to break.

As Tayla so eloquently put it, “There are still good people in the world. A lot of them.”

This podcast episode is a testament to The Power of Connection in Crisis.

Show Notes

Podcast Title: The Power of Connection in Crisis
Hosts: Suki (Montagu Group) and Tayla
Episode Theme: How community and connection define recovery in times of disaster
Featured Story: Glenthorne flood of 2025 and its impact on families, homes, and hearts
Highlights:

Real-time response to disaster
The emotional toll of supporting loved ones from afar
Strangers turning up to help, no questions asked
The enduring power of the human spirit

Key Takeaways

Disasters reveal the strength of human spirit: Crisis moments often uncover the best in people, from neighbors helping neighbors to strangers lending hands.
Support can be physical or emotional: Showing up for someone doesn’t always require being there in person. Listening and checking in can mean everything.
Resilience is communal: True resilience comes from shared experiences and mutual support.
Connection over KPIs: In both recruitment and life, genuine connection trumps performance metrics.
Human kindness is contagious: One act of kindness can spark a ripple of compassion through an entire community.

If you have a burning topic you’d like to discuss, don’t hesitate to reach out at hello@montagu.com.au.

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Recruitment: Connecting Time,Talent and Trust

by Montagu Group | May 3, 2025 | Employers, Montagu Group, Podcast Episode

In this episode, Suki and Tayla from Montagu Group unpack the realities of engaging a recruitment agency. They explore when it makes sense to bring in external support—especially for hard-to-fill roles—and the often-overlooked time investment behind effective recruitment. From the peace of mind that comes with placement guarantees to the importance of upfront salary conversations, they share practical insights that can streamline the hiring process. Suki and Tayla also highlight why strong candidate relationships, inclusive job ads, and transparent communication are essential to success. Tune in to learn how recruitment is more than just filling a role—it’s a strategic partnership built on trust, clarity, and tailored solutions.

Recruitment: Connecting Time, Talent and Trust

Recruitment is often seen as a transactional process: a job ad goes out, applications come in, and someone is hired. However, in reality, it’s much more complex, personal, and strategic. Behind every successful placement is a web of trust, a vast investment of time, and an eye for talent that sees beyond a resume. At Montagu Group, we believe recruitment is not just about filling jobs. It’s about connecting time, talent, and trust — for the long-term benefit of both clients and candidates. This is the essence of recruitment: connecting time, talent and trust.

Why Companies Engage Recruitment Agencies

One of the most common questions we hear is: “When should I engage a recruitment agency?” The answer isn’t always straightforward. Nevertheless, there are key signs that partnering with an agency can bring immense value. Recruitment: connecting time, talent and trust often becomes the answer when these signs appear.

1. When Roles Are Hard to Fill

Some roles are simply difficult. They require niche skill sets, industry-specific knowledge, or attract a limited talent pool. As a result, internal recruitment teams may struggle to identify or engage suitable candidates. That’s where a recruiter’s network and experience come in.

2. When Time Is a Constraint

Recruitment takes time — a lot of it. From crafting a compelling job ad to reviewing applications, conducting phone screens, and managing multiple rounds of interviews, it’s easy to lose days or even weeks. Therefore, agencies take this burden off your plate, allowing you to focus on core business priorities.

3. When You Need Market Insights

Good recruiters don’t just send resumes. Moreover, they provide market intelligence. What are candidates currently earning? How much should you budget to attract the best talent? Are you asking for a unicorn or something realistically achievable? These insights are invaluable.

4. When You Need to Expand Reach

Posting a job ad catches only active job seekers. On the other hand, what about the perfect candidate who isn’t actively looking? Recruiters tap into passive markets through headhunting and personal networks, expanding your talent pool exponentially.

The Hidden Costs and True Value of Recruitment

At face value, recruitment services can appear expensive. But this perception often overlooks what goes into that cost.

At Montagu Group, we invest in tools, technology, training, and ongoing networking to stay ahead in the talent game. Our fees cover more than just the act of finding a candidate. They cover the guarantee that if the candidate doesn’t work out, we replace them at no extra cost — something few other service-based industries offer.

Consider the internal cost of running a recruitment campaign:

Advertising spend
Time spent reviewing resumes (sometimes hundreds)
Time scheduling and conducting interviews
Admin and compliance tasks
The opportunity cost of not doing other work

In one example, we posted a job ad before the Easter break. By the time we opened our laptops the next morning, we had nearly 100 applications. Within 48 hours, the total reached over 260. One of our consultants spent an entire week solely on filtering, screening, and interviewing candidates for that one role. Multiply that effort across multiple roles, and it’s easy to see why recruitment is a full-time job.

This is what recruitment: connecting time, talent and trust really means in action.

Trust: The Invisible Thread

Trust is at the heart of what we do. Clients trust us to represent their brand and values. Candidates trust us with their career aspirations. This trust is built over time — through coffee catch-ups, honest conversations, and a commitment to long-term success, not just quick wins.

In fact, many of our successful placements come from relationships nurtured over months or even years. A casual chat over coffee today could be the catalyst for the perfect placement tomorrow. For example, in one instance, a mechanic we met brought his wife to the meeting. Through a conversation, we discovered she had admin experience and found a second placement with the same company, completely unplanned.

Recruitment isn’t just about people. More importantly, it’s about knowing people. Understanding who they are, what drives them, and what environments they thrive in is essential. Additionally, it’s also about knowing our clients well enough to identify that perfect cultural fit — the one that stats alone can’t predict. That’s the core of recruitment: connecting time, talent and trust.

Money Talk: Getting Comfortable With Compensation

One of the most common missteps we see in internal recruitment is the lack of early discussion around salary expectations. Some hiring managers hesitate to bring it up until the offer stage, fearing an awkward conversation.

But in our experience, not talking about money early on leads to mismatched expectations and failed offers. At Montagu Group, we believe in setting clear parameters from the outset. We discuss salary bands and candidate expectations in the first conversation. If there’s a misalignment, we address it immediately, saving everyone time and frustration.

In a recent case, a client ran their own recruitment process but didn’t discuss salary with the candidate until the final stages. After four interviews and significant time investment, the offer came in far lower than the candidate expected. Negotiations followed, but it was a risky situation that could have been avoided. Clearly, early transparency protects both sides.

Working in Parallel with Internal Recruitment

We often work alongside internal HR or talent teams. And that can work brilliantly — provided there’s communication. One common issue is when a company runs their own campaign while also engaging us, but fails to actively screen their own applicants. We might approach a great candidate only to discover they already applied directly.

In these cases, we can’t ethically represent the candidate, and the client might miss out simply because no one followed up. If you’re running a campaign alongside an agency, make sure you’re working that campaign. Otherwise, it’s wasted potential.

That said, running dual campaigns can be highly effective when managed well. The wording of job ads alone can attract different candidates. Our experience shows that candidates may bypass a company’s direct ad but respond to ours because of how we position the opportunity.

It’s Not “Just” Recruitment

For us, recruitment is personal. We put our hearts into every placement. We prep candidates, help refine resumes, offer interview coaching, and support them emotionally throughout the process. When they don’t get the job, we feel that disappointment too.

We walk with them.

We know their stories. We understand their hopes, their nerves before the interview, and the effort they’ve put into getting to this stage. On the other side, we feel pride when they land the role that fits them perfectly — not just on paper, but in life.

Flexible, Human, and Honest

At Montagu Group, we’re not bound by rigid structures or big-agency red tape. Instead, we adjust. We listen. We tailor our service to fit our clients’ needs, within professional boundaries. And if we don’t believe we can add value, we’ll say so.

Ultimately, our goal is simple: deliver value where it matters, build relationships that last, and connect businesses with the talent they need to grow. Recruitment: connecting time, talent and trust is the foundation of our approach.

We’re always open to a chat — over coffee, on Zoom, or at your office. Whether you’re ready to hire now or just want to explore how recruitment agencies work, we’re here.

Recruitment is about people. And people are at the heart of everything we do.

Ready to connect time, talent, and trust? Let’s talk. Reach out to the Montagu Group and discover how we can help you build your future, one great hire at a time.