HR Coffee Time
HR Coffee Time is a fortnightly podcast offering practical tips and ideas for building a successful and fulfilling career in HR without burnout. The show is hosted by Fay Wallis, a career coach and founder of Bright Sky HR, who draws on her expertise and that of guest experts. Each episode addresses the challenges HR professionals face, such as prioritizing their own career development while supporting others. The podcast aims to help listeners clarify their career goals and take actionable steps toward achieving them.
Episodes
182 | HR Team Building: An Activity Every New HR Leader Should Try
🎁 Download your free Personal User Manual template:https://brightskyhr.co.uk/resourcesTaking over the leadership of an HR team can come with a long list of things you want to improve, but one of the most valuable things you can do first is help your team build trust, understand each other and work well together.In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay shares one of her favourite team-building activi
181 | HR in the AI Era – The 5 Foundations Every HR Leader Needs (with Charlotte Goulding)
HR professionals have a huge opportunity to shape how, why and when AI is used across their organisations.Because AI is not only changing technology. It is changing jobs, skills, teams, management and the way work gets done. And HR is uniquely placed to make sure those changes work for both the organisation and its people.In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay is joined by People Consultant Charlo
180 | (Day 5) The Strategic HR Sprint – Making Strategic Work a Priority
Does it feel hard to make time for strategic work when you’re already so busy?Welcome to Day 5 of The Strategic HR Sprint, a free five-day learning experience designed to help you strengthen your strategic thinking and build your confidence about being strategic.🧭 Sign up for free at https://brightskyhr.co.uk/sprint to receive all five episodes, worksheets, AI prompts and resources.In this final e
179 | (Day 4) The Strategic HR Sprint – Deepening Your Strategic Thinking
When you spot a problem at work, how quickly does your mind start coming up with solutions?Welcome to Day 4 of The Strategic HR Sprint, a free five-day experience to help you build your confidence and skills in being strategic in your HR role.👉 Join the sprint for free and access all five episodes, worksheets and resources here: https://brightskyhr.co.uk/sprintOne of the most important parts of be
178 | (Day 3) The Strategic HR Sprint – Finding Your Strategic Focus
When there are dozens of things you could be working on, how do you decide what deserves your attention most?Welcome to Day 3 of The Strategic HR Sprint, a free five-day learning experience designed to help you strengthen your strategic thinking in just 10–15 minutes each day.👉 Join The Strategic HR Sprint for free: brightskyhr.co.uk/sprintIn today’s episode, you’ll identify one important challeng
177 | (Day 2) The Strategic HR Sprint – Seeing the Bigger Picture
What does it really mean to be strategic in HR?One of the biggest shifts you can make is to stop looking only at HR and start paying much more attention to the world your organisation operates in.In Day 2 of the free five-day Strategic HR Sprint, Fay Wallis explores why strategic HR professionals develop an "outside-in" perspective. Drawing on insights from HR From the Outside In by Dave Ulrich an
176 | (Day 1) The Strategic HR Sprint – Building Your Strategic Confidence
Want to become more strategic in HR, but not sure where to start? This episode is Day 1 of my free five-day Strategic HR Sprint.Over five short episodes, I'll help you build your strategic confidence one practical step at a time through bite-sized lessons, downloadable worksheets and optional AI prompts.👉Join the free Strategic HR Sprint here: https://brightskyhr.co.uk/sprintWhen you sign up, you'
175 | A Mid-Year Reset To Set You Up For a Brilliant Second Half of the Year
🎁 Download your free Mid-Year Reset activity here: https://brightskyhr.kit.com/a2ea9eb841Have you reached the halfway point of the year wondering where the time has gone?If you'd like to feel more focused, intentional and excited about the months ahead, this episode is for you.In this solo episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay shares a simple but powerful Mid-Year Reset exercise that will help you pause,
174 | Free 5-Day Strategic HR Sprint (Struggling to Be More Strategic? This Will Help)
Registration is now open for my Free 5-Day Strategic HR Sprint, and I'd love you to join me!If you've ever wished you felt more confident about being strategic in HR, this free sprint is for you.Starting on Monday 13th July 2026, you'll receive a short daily video (or audio if you prefer to listen), a practical worksheet and an optional AI prompt to help you build your strategic HR skills. Each da
173 | How to Build a Better Workplace Culture (So People Thrive at Work), with Aoife O’Brien
Many organisations want a positive workplace culture, but creating one is easier said than done.How do you know what your culture is really like? What role do leaders play? And why do some organisations create environments where people thrive, while others struggle with engagement, retention, and performance?In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay is joined by workplace culture and leadership exper
172 | HR and AI: How One Company Helped Employees Embrace AI (with Laura Maffucci)
Laura Maffucci has played a key role in helping her organisation embrace AI. The surprising part? She doesn't actually like AI.In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Laura, Head of HR at G-P, shares her honest perspective on AI, how her organisation has approached adoption, and the practical lessons she's learned along the way.We discuss everything from creating AI champions and governance processes t
171 | How to Build Trust & Get Buy-In Through Brilliant Employee Communication (with Nik Nawaaz)
You can design the best HR strategy, introduce brilliant benefits, or roll out an important change - but if people do not understand it, engage with it, or take action, none of it matters.That is why employee communication sits right at the heart of your impact in HR.In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay is joined by Nik Nawaaz, Head of Employee Communications at Barnett Waddingham (now part of H
170 | 4 Ways to Stay Focused At Work and Handle Interruptions
Are constant interruptions at work stopping you from getting through your most important tasks?If you work in HR or a People role, you’ll know how quickly your day can be taken over by “have you got a minute?” moments - making it difficult to focus on the work that really matters.In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay Wallis shares practical ways to protect your time, reduce distractions and creat
169 | A Brilliant Example of What ‘Being Strategic’ in HR Actually Looks Like (with Harriet Mewis)
Have you wondered what ‘being strategic’ actually looks like? In this episode, you’ll hear a real, step-by-step example of what being strategic can look like in your day-to-day work.Host, Fay Wallis, is joined by Harriet Mewis, Head of People and Development, who shares how she spotted a small pattern in employee behaviour – and used it to uncover a much bigger issue affecting the business.What ma
168 | The 5 Things That Will Help You Become a Successful HR Director
If you’ve been working hard in your HR career but still feel unsure what will truly help you step up into an HR Director role (or have more impact in the one you’re already in), this episode is for you.You might have your CIPD qualification. You might have years of experience. You’re probably working incredibly hard. But those things alone don’t always lead to the impact, influence, or progression
167 | The Weird Confidence Trick That Actually Works
Is there something at work you know you’re capable of… but in the moment, your nerves take over?Whether it’s speaking up in a meeting, handling a difficult conversation, or stepping into a high-pressure situation - that disconnect between what you can do and how you feel can be incredibly frustrating.In this episode of HR Coffee Time, I share a simple but slightly unusual technique that can help y
166 | The Biggest HR Strategy Mistake – And How to Fix It (with Dean Corbett)
Could you be making the biggest HR strategy mistake without realising it?Creating an HR or People strategy can feel overwhelming - especially when many HR professionals are expected to do it without ever being shown how.In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay Wallis is joined by Dean Corbett, Chief People Officer, psychologist, and coach, to explore one of the most common mistakes HR teams make whe
165 | What Being “Commercial” Really Means & How to Get Better at It (with Jo Bailey)
Struggling to feel confident when Finance conversations come up at work? Been told you need to be "more commercial" but not sure what that actually means? In this practical episode, Commercial HR Coach Jo Bailey demystifies what it means to be commercial in HR and shares actionable advice to help you speak the language of business with confidence.You’ll LearnWhat "being commercial" actually means
164 | Becoming More Strategic as an HR Team: 3 Ways OKRs Can Help
What does it really mean for an HR team to be “strategic” – and how can you make that shift without adding more to your workload?In this solo episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay explores a practical and accessible way to strengthen your team’s strategic focus: using OKRs – Objectives and Key Results.If you’ve ever felt pulled between operational demands and the bigger picture, this episode will help yo
163 | 3 Ways to Prove You’re Strategic In Your HR Leadership Job Interview
Have you ever been told you’re “not strategic enough” after an HR interview – even though you know you are?In this solo episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay Wallis tackles one of the most frustrating pieces of feedback HR professionals receive when applying for Head of HR, HR Director, Head of People or People Director roles.In this episode, Fay breaks down what 'being strategic' means in a practical, a
162 | How to Feel More Confident Speaking Up in Leadership Meetings
Do you ever leave a leadership meeting wishing you’d said something – only to replay it later and think, “Why didn’t I speak up?”In this solo episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay explores why speaking up in leadership meetings can feel so daunting (even when you know you have something valuable to contribute). She shares practical, realistic ways to build confidence in those moments.This episode is espe
161 | The Triple Win Framework: 3 Goals to Thrive, Grow & Deliver in Your HR Role
The start of a new year is the perfect moment to pause and think differently about goal setting, especially when you work in HR or a people role where expectations, pressure and emotional load can be high.In this episode, Fay Wallis shares her Triple Win Framework, a practical way to set goals that help HR and people professionals deliver real organisational impact, build career momentum and prote
Bonus Episode #1: Before You Rush Into 2026: A Year-End Review Worth Doing
Before we all sprint into 2026, I wanted to create this bonus episode to encourage you to pause and reflect on the year that's just passed. In it, I work my way through the 10 'Look Back to Look Forward' questions from the Essential HR Planner and share my own honest answers - including the achievements I'm proud of, the challenges I faced, what I learned, and the moments that shaped my year both
160 | The 5 Best HR Books to Read (Or Gift!) This Christmas
5 Brilliant HR Books That Deserve a Spot Under Your Christmas Tree!If you work in HR and you’re not sure what to ask for this Christmas – or you’d love to buy a thoughtful, genuinely useful gift for an HR colleague – this episode is for you.Fay Wallis shares five brilliant HR book recommendations she’s read this year. Each one supports HR professionals in a slightly different way – from building r
159 | 4 methods to get your first Chief People Officer (or CHRO) role
What’s the best way to land your first Chief People Officer or CHRO role?In this episode, Fay Wallis breaks down the four most common routes that real CPOs have taken to step into the top people leadership job for the very first time. You’ll also hear short clips from several CPO guests who generously shared their stories and insights.You’ll hear about:Four routes into first CPO rolesInternal disc
158 | 3 Simple Ways to Build Better Business Acumen in Your HR Role
If the idea of improving your business acumen feels intimidating, this episode will help make it feel achievable and clear. Host, Fay Wallis, breaks down what business acumen really means for HR and why it has nothing to do with being “naturally commercial” and everything to do with curiosity, awareness and understanding how your organisation works.To make building business acumen feel even more p
157 | The #1 Difference Between HR Directors and Chief People Officers
If you’ve ever wondered what truly separates an HR Director from a Chief People Officer (CPO) or CHRO, you’re not alone. It’s a common question, and after months of speaking with incredible CPOs for this series, a powerful theme kept coming up again and again.In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis shares the one big difference that defines the step up, a shift that’s far more about min
156 | Why Chief People Officers Need Strong Networks (And How to Build Yours), with Nebel Crowhurst
Why do Chief People Officers need strong networks — and how can you build one that truly supports you?In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Nebel Crowhurst, who’s featured on the HR Most Influential list several years running and has held senior roles with Virgin, River Island, Roche, and Reward Gateway.Nebel talks about the realities of being a CPO — the highs, the press
155 | The Mindset, Skills & Plan to Become a Successful Chief People Officer (With Dr Andrew Stephenson)
There’s so much more to becoming a successful Chief People Officer (CPO) or CHRO than experience alone - it’s about building the mindset, skills and plan that help you succeed and make an impact.In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Dr Andrew Stephenson, Chief People Officer at Equiniti, who has held CPO roles in three major international businesses. Under his leadership,
154 | Step-by-Step Career Advice to Become a Successful CHRO/CPO (With Nicola Lyons)
What does it take to land your first Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) or Chief People Officer (CPO) role – and succeed once you’re in it?In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Nicola Lyons, Group CHRO at Getlink Group. With more than 15 years of international experience leading transformation and culture change, Nicola shares a wide range of valuable insights from her
153 | Inside the Fractional CPO/CHRO Role – What It Involves & How to Succeed (With Lorna Bains)
What does it really mean to be a fractional Chief People Officer (CPO) or Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) – and could it be the right next step in your career?In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Lorna Bains, a hugely experienced HR and business transformation leader who has thrived as a fractional CPO for the past seven years. Lorna lifts the lid on what the role i
152 | How to Prove HR’s True Value: Lessons From a Chief People Officer (With Leah Carnegie)
How do you prove the true value of HR so the business takes you seriously – and appoints you as Chief People Officer?In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Leah Carnegie, Chief People Officer at Lottoland. Leah shares her journey from VP of People to CPO, explaining how she made sure HR wasn’t just seen as a support function but as a vital business partner.As part of our s
151 | Could an Interim CPO/CHRO Role Be Your Perfect Career Option? (With Dotty Day)
Could an interim Chief People Officer or interim Chief Human Resources Officer role be your perfect career move? In this episode, we explore what the job is really like, the skills that help you succeed, and how to decide if it’s the right path for you.HR Coffee Time Host, Fay Wallis, is joined by Dotty Day, an experienced interim CPO, strategy consultant, and founder of Nu Leaf (supporting ambiti
150 | How She Went From HRD to the Firm’s First Chief People Officer (With Victoria Pounder)
What if there’s no Chief People Officer role in your organisation - but you know it needs one, and you think you’re the right person for it?In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Victoria Pounder, Chief People Officer at Moore Kingston Smith - a multi-disciplinary firm providing audit, accountancy, advisory and tax services to a diverse range of clients. Victoria shares he
149 | The CPO Job Application That Worked, Strategic vs Operational HR, and Why Compassion Matters, with Funmi Onamusi
What makes a job application for the Chief People Officer role stand out, how do you balance being strategic and operational in HR, and why is compassion such an important leadership strength?In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Funmi Onamusi, Chief People Officer at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Funmi shares her inspiring and non-traditional journey to becomi
148 | Skills That Shape a Great CPO: Communication, Coaching & Curiosity, with Jane Beeston
Which skills really make the difference at the top of the HR profession?In this episode of HR Coffee Time, you'll meet the brilliant Jane Beeston, Chief People Officer at Colart. With nearly 40 years of experience in HR – spanning generalist roles, transformation, and international work – Jane has a huge amount of insight to share.We learn from her about the shift from HR Director to CPO, what the
147 | How to Become a Successful Chief People Officer: Insider Insights, with Kanika Mehra
What does it really take to become a successful Chief People Officer – and how can you prepare for the step up?In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay Wallis is joined by Kanika Mehra, an inspiring CPO with over 20 years of global HR experience. Having worked in fast-paced environments ranging from global giants like Amazon to scaling organisations going through rapid transformation, Kanika shares
146 | Lessons in HR Leadership: How to Succeed as a Chief People Officer, with John Scrooby
If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to succeed as a Chief People Officer - or whether stepping into the role might be right for you - this episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help.Host Fay Wallis is joined by John Scrooby, Chief People Officer at tech company Masabi. John shares honest and thought-provoking insights about what the role really involves, the challenges it brings, and how t
145 | HR career ambitions: Is the Chief People Officer (CPO) role right for you? (With David D’Souza, CIPD)
Are you aiming for the top HR role - but not sure what being a Chief People Officer (CPO) actually involves, or how to get there?In this special launch episode of the new series of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by David D’Souza, Director of Profession at the CIPD. Together, they demystify the CPO / CHRO role - exploring what it is, how it differs from other senior-level HR roles (like
144 | A new chapter for HR Coffee Time – here’s what’s happening
This episode is a little different from usual, as I’ll be sharing some exciting updates about the future of the podcast. After three and a half years of releasing episodes every week, I’m taking a short sabbatical to prepare for the next stage ofHR Coffee Time - and I’d love your input to help shape it!In This Episode, You'll Hear About:[00:00] Why I'm taking a short break – Why now feels like the
143 | 4 surprising training options to achieve excellence in your HR role
After completing your CIPD qualification, it can be hard to decide what training to invest in next. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis shares four valuable and perhaps surprising training options to help you develop skills that will elevate your HR career: mediation, coaching, negotiation, and facilitation.You’ll hear extracts from earlier episodes featuring expert guests who expla
142 | The 5 key factors that will help you achieve your goals, with Dr Ben Levy
Do you want to set yourself up for success for the year ahead? In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Dr Ben Levy, creator of the ABCME® framework, to explore the five key factors that can make all the difference when it comes to achieving your goals.Dr Ben shares practical insights into how clarity, belief, motivation, and other essential elements influence success, helpi
141 | Look back to look forward: how to reflect on 2024 to help you set goals for 2025
As the year comes to a close, taking time to reflect on 2024 can be a wonderful way to celebrate your successes and uncover inspiration for your goals in 2025.It’s so easy to fall into the trap of focusing on what didn’t go to plan or overlooking achievements, thanks to the negativity bias we all experience. Add to that the recency bias—where only the most recent events stick in our minds—and it’s
140 | 5 brilliant resources to transform your workshops & training sessions
Have you ever been asked to design or deliver a workshop and found yourself worrying whether it will be as good as it could be? Whether you’re preparing your first training session or looking to enhance your facilitation skills, this episode of HR Coffee Time is packed with ideas and resources to help you create training and workshops that are impactful, engaging, and memorable.In this episode, ho
139 | Creating an inclusive workplace: a focus on religion and Faith, with Binna Kandola
As organisations work to create more inclusive workplaces, some aspects of diversity receive more attention than others. Being able to express religious beliefs at work is an area that often remains unexplored despite its significance to many employees. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Professor Binna Kandola, senior partner and co-founder of Pearn Kandola, to explor
138 | Can’t find time for strategic work in HR? 5 tips to help
When you're in a busy HR or People role, finding time for strategic work can feel incredibly challenging. There are always urgent issues that need your attention and endless tasks on your to-do list. However, strategic work often has the greatest impact - helping you craft an organisation where people are proud to work, can thrive, and are empowered to drive the organisation forward.In this episod
137 | How to recognise and break free from the lies we tell ourselves at work, with Emma Djemil
Are there lies you're telling yourself at work that feel like cold, hard facts? Whether it's believing you don't deserve a promotion, thinking you're not qualified enough to apply for a different role, feeling guilty about taking time off because everyone "needs" you, prioritising colleagues above your own wellbeing, striving for unrealistic perfection, or feeling you need to be available 24/7 to
136 | How to shape a winning workplace culture when you work in HR, with Annabelle Lawson and Paula Brockwell
Shaping workplace culture is becoming an increasingly important part of HR's role, with many HR functions being renamed as "People and Culture" and culture-related responsibilities appearing in job titles. But how do you actually go about shaping culture, especially when you're already busy with your day-to-day work?In this special episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by two guests
135 | Why & how to support women experiencing the menopause at work, with Emma Thomas
Menopause is a topic that impacts everyone in the HR and People profession, whether personally or through supporting colleagues. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Emma Thomas, founder of Managing the Menopause, to discuss the importance of understanding and supporting employees through menopause in the workplace.Emma shares valuable insights on perimenopause and menop
134 | Creating an HR strategy: how to get started when you’re feeling stuck
If you need to create an HR or People strategy but are feeling completely stuck, this episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help. Host Fay Wallis, a career and leadership coach for HR and People professionals, shares practical advice on how to feel more confident about creating the strategy, where to start and resources to help spark your ideas.Key Points from This Episode[00:00] Episode introducti
133 | How to Deliver Brilliant Presentations That Win Over Hearts and Minds, with Emma Serlin
Want to know the secret to delivering presentations that truly captivate your audience? In this episode of HR Coffee Time, we explore how to craft and deliver presentations that resonate deeply and win over both hearts and minds.Host Fay Wallis is joined by Emma Serlin, founder of London Speech Workshop, who shares her unique "Meal Plan" framework for creating impactful presentations. Whether you'
132 | Strategic Workforce Planning – Why It’s Important and How to Improve Your Skills, With Jen Allen Jardine
Whether you’d like to learn more about how to use Strategic Workforce Planning in your current role or considering whether specialising in Strategic Workforce Planning could be the perfect career option for you, this episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help.Host Fay Wallis is joined by Jen Allen Jardine, a Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) expert, who explains what SWP is, why it’s important, ho
131 | Coaching Demystified: What to Expect and Tips for a Successful Session
Thinking about booking a coaching session but not sure what to expect? Or maybe you've already arranged some coaching sessions and want to make sure you get the most out of them. This episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help. Host Fay Wallis, a career and leadership coach for HR and People professionals, shares practical advice on how to prepare for your coaching sessions and make them as effecti
130 | Build managers’ confidence and skills with ‘the coaching two-step’, with Jude Sclater
You may have heard that coaching skills can be incredibly helpful for managers to have in their toolbox, boosting their confidence and effectiveness in their roles. But why are these skills so useful, and how can you help managers start using them? This episode of HR Coffee Time is here to answer those questions.Host Fay Wallis is joined by Jude Sclater, an experienced coach and author of "Think L
129 | 5 essential techniques to become a great manager, with James Rose
How do you develop the people within your workforce to become great managers? Poor management negatively impacts everyone, often resulting in the HR/People team having to help with performance issues, manage grievances, or recruitment challenges due to high turnover. It can feel hard to know what to do or where to start. So, this episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help.Host Fay Wallis is joined
128 | How to unlock the strengths that dyslexia brings to your workplace, with Kirsty Heap
Dyslexia, often misunderstood and underappreciated, holds a wealth of untapped potential for the workplace. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, we explore how to appreciate and unlock the unique strengths it can bring to our workplaces.Host Fay Wallis is joined by Kirsty Heap, a neurodivergent specialist coach with a rich background in HR, who shares her personal journey with dyslexia and her trans
127 | What to do if your boss is a micromanager
Have you ever felt stifled by a micromanager? Whether you're currently dealing with one or want to help someone else navigate their micromanager boss, this episode of HR Coffee Time is packed with practical advice to improve the situation.Key Points from This Episode[00:00] Examples of micromanagement[01:38] Welcome to HR Coffee Time[03:00] Micromanagement defined[03:16] Dealing with micromanageme
126 | Inclusive workplaces: how to empower and support your deaf colleagues, with Victoria Williams
Navigating the workplace as a deaf individual comes with unique challenges that can often go unnoticed. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, we delve into practical strategies to foster an inclusive and empowering environment for deaf colleagues.Host Fay Wallis is joined by Victoria Williams, founder and CEO of terptree, an organisation dedicated to transforming the experiences of deaf employees and
125 | Create your perfect professional development plan in 8 simple steps
Creating your professional development plan is a great way of ensuring you don't stagnate at work and get bored in your role. It can help you thrive at work and feel fulfilled no matter what stage you're at in your HR/People career.In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host, Fay Wallis talks you through how to create your perfect professional development plan in 8 simple steps.Key Points from This Ep
124 | How to ask your employer to fund your place on Inspiring HR, with Kathryn Bryan & Larissa Smith
Looking to elevate your professional development and would like to ask for your employer’s support?Whether it’s joining Inspiring HR or embarking on another professional learning journey, this episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help.Guests Kathryn Bryan and Larissa Smith, alumni from previous Inspiring HR cohorts, generously detail their paths to gaining employer support for their professional g
123 | Avoid burnout – how to spot signs of stress & take action, with Dr Jo Burrell
Working in the fast-paced, busy world of HR can feel stressful. As a dedicated and hardworking HR professional, you may find yourself prioritising looking after everyone else in the organisation above your own wellbeing. But it’s so important you are able to take care of yourself too, so that the stress doesn’t reach the point of burnout. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, released during Stress A
122 | Unlocking confidence for your HR career: 5 tips from expert guests
Throughout your HR journey, it's normal for your confidence to sometimes dip or wobble. That's exactly where HR Coffee Time steps in to lend a hand. In this episode, you’ll hear insights from five expert guests whose advice spans from broad confidence-boosting tips to specific strategies for navigating those tricky moments in your career. Tune in for a blend of perspectives that will lift your spi
121 | Pay practices that pay off: how to attract, reward & retain talent fairly, with Rameez Kaleem
Are you struggling with how to get pay right in your organisation, feeling the weight of its complexity and cost? You're not alone. Payroll can be the largest expense for a business, running into millions, and it's a crucial aspect of HR that doesn't come with a handbook. Whether you're facing challenges with pay dissatisfaction among your talent, confronting unsettling pay gaps, or stepping into
120 | Crafting culture: unearthing and shaping the heart of your business, with Louise Kennedy
If you’re stuck about defining or shaping culture in your organisation, you’re not alone. The concept often appears fuzzy, theoretical, and more suited for addressing in large corporations than smaller teams. But it’s a vital component of every thriving workplace. In this episode of HR Coffee Time host, Fay Wallis is joined by Louise Kennedy from Oculus HR, known for her ability to simplify seemin
119 | How using Agile can drive positive change & prove HR’s value, with Kate Maddison-Greenwell
If you've ever wondered how to shift your organisation's perception of HR from being an operational, admin-heavy function, to one that is strategic, innovative and drives positive change; this episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help. Host, Fay Wallis is joined by Kate Maddison-Greenwell from People Efficient and together they take a deep dive into the exciting world of Agile HR.Key TakeawaysAgil
118 | 9 tips to unlock training success when you’re a busy HR professional
Even though you’re excited about the course you’ve signed up to, it’s easy to veer off track with it when you’re juggling a demanding HR job. So, to help set you up for success & make the learning from the course stick, this episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help. In it, host, Fay Wallis shares 9 tips to unlock training success when you’re a busy HR professional.Useful LinksConnect with Fay
117 | How to create a performance management process that drives success, with Lucinda Carney
How is your performance management strategy impacting employee engagement? Understanding how to use it effectively can lead to better results for employees and therefore the organisation, as well as save money through staff retention. Performance management should be about more than KPIs and day-to-day tasks, it should be seen as an individualised opportunity to support career growth. With continu
116 | Look back to look forward: how reflecting on 2023 can help you set goals for 2024
Instead of launching yourself into another busy year at work, it is helpful to take a moment to pause and reflect so that you can set your goals. There will be powerful lessons to learn from the year that has just passed and so many positives that you may overlook unless you take the time to stop.In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis guides you through the ‘Look Back to Look Forward’
115 | Why negotiation skills can help your HR career & how to develop them, with Simon Duncan
Unless you are working for a truly enormous organization where all supplier negotiations are handled by a procurement team, you are going to find yourself having to negotiate at some point. Whether it’s with the recruitment agencies you use to fill vacancies, the supplier of your HRIS system, or the company that administers your benefits scheme for you – there are a whole host of occasions when ne
114 | What workplace culture is, how to measure it & a surprising way to improve it, with Arend Boersema
‘Culture’ can seem like a vague and woolly concept. You can feel what a culture is like as soon as you start working in an organization but it can be hard to describe it and even harder to know what to do to measure or improve it. But with many HR teams being renamed as ‘People and Culture’ and job titles being changed to reflect this, understanding workplace culture and knowing how to shape and i
113 | The trustee advantage: enhance your HR leadership and make a difference, with Roisin Williams
Have you set your sights on a senior HR role but feel like you’re missing out on strategic experience in your current job? Or perhaps you’re not confident enough to operate at board level? Bridging this gap could be more fulfilling than you think. Becoming a trustee for a charity is a smart career move that not only sharpens your strategic skills and gives you board-level exposure, it also offers
112 | Behind the scenes: what to expect (& how to prepare) when you are interviewed on HR Coffee Time
Go behind the scenes of HR Coffee Time and learn what to expect if you’re a guest on the show, and how to set yourself up for a successful interview. In this episode, Fay explains:The benefits of being a guest on HR Coffee TimeOvercoming nervousness and preparing for the interviewThe interview processTips for a successful interviewTechnical aspects of the interviewTips to reduce filler wordsThe im
111 | Thriving as an introvert at work: myths busted & success strategies shared, with Tom Cleary
With claims that we’re working in a world designed for extroverts, it’s important we understand how to make our workplaces more inclusive, so that we can all thrive.In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay is joined by Tom Cleary, Founder of Introverts & Co. Tom shares how to thrive at work as an introvert, and busts myths you may have heard before about introversion. He also explains practical
110 | Why facilitation skills can help your HR career & how to develop them, with Kirsty Lewis
Facilitation skills can help you thrive in your HR/People career. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay is joined by Kirsty Lewis, Founder of the School of Facilitation (SOF) who generously shares valuable insights, tips, and resources for honing facilitation skills. Listen to this episode to learn:What facilitation isThe difference between facilitation and trainingHow facilitation skills can hel
109 | A simple way to succeed with annual projects (and not get overwhelmed)
Do you have an annual project coming up? A project you only need to do once a year that can feel a bit daunting because it can feel hard to remember everything involved, what you need to do and what order to do it all in? Maybe the end-of-year performance management process is looming, or you’re working towards launching the annual employee engagement survey, or you run a graduate recruitment sche
108 | HR leadership: How to create a simple but powerful one-page strategy, with Dr Max Mckeown
Strategy is a topic we’ve explored before on HR Coffee Time (and we’ll look at again in the future) because it’s an important aspect of HR leadership. Whether you’re a seasoned strategist, or you feel uncomfortable and worried when it comes to strategy, this episode is here to help you build your skills and confidence.Strategy expert and author of the award-winning book, “The Strategy Book: How to
107 | The impact of imposter syndrome at work & how to tackle it head-on, with Aoife O’Brien
Have you ever felt like a fraud at work and worried you were about to be found out at any moment? Do you ever hold yourself back from asking for what you want for fear of hearing the word, “no”? Do you ever procrastinate because you’re worried about getting things ‘perfect’ enough? Do you work incredibly hard – perhaps harder than your colleagues and peers because you want to make sure you’re achi
106 | 7 types of posts to share on LinkedIn that will help your HR career
If you have no idea what to post on LinkedIn, or why you should be posting on there, this episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help. Fay explains why it’s so important to be active on LinkedIn to build your professional and employer brands. She then explains 7 types of posts to share on LinkedIn that will help your HR career.Useful LinksConnect with Fay on LinkedInFay’s website: Bright Sky Career
105 | Brilliant not boring – unlocking financial wellbeing with pensions at work, with Pete Hykin
Although pensions can feel like a boring or complicated topic (especially if you’re not a Reward specialist), HR Coffee Time guest Pete Hykin shows this doesn’t have to be the case. In this episode he helps strip away any worries you might have about choosing a pension provider or talking about pensions at work. He also shares some great tips on how to get everyone engaged with their pensions and
104 | How to improve your gravitas to make an impact throughout your HR career, with Antoinette Dale Henderson
Gravitas can help you make an impact throughout your HR career, but it can feel hard to define, and even harder to work out how to develop it. Antoinette Dale Henderson is on hand to help. Having made it her life’s work to decode the elements that contribute to gravitas and teach us how to improve our own personal gravitas, she shares some of her key insights and tips in this episode of HR Coffee
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