HR Coffee Time

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 you feel calmer, more in control, and more confident when it matters most.It's called 'distanced self-talk', and it might feel a bit strange at first – but it’s backed by research and can make a real difference in those moments where your confidence wobbles.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy confidence can disappear in high-pressure momentsA simple technique that helps you step back from anxious thoughtsHow this approach can reduce nerves and help you think more clearlyPractical ways to use it before and during challenging situations at workReal examples of when to try it – including meetings, presentations, and interviewsRecommended Book in This EpisodeChatter: The Voice in Our Head (And How to Harness It) – by Ethan KrossUseful Links from This EpisodeConnect with Fay on LinkedInLearn about Fay’s Essential HR PlannerLearn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeOther Relevant HR Coffee Time EpisodesEp 1: How to feel more confident at workEp 16: How to become more confident about networkingEp 36: Four simple but powerful techniques to banish imposter syndromeEp 43: The one thing that will boost your resilience throughout your HR careerEp 49: 7 tips to help you feel more confident for your job interviewEp 73: 5 ways to feel more confident in your next interview, meeting, or presentationEp 74: How to get better at presenting & feel more confident about itEp 82: 5 tips to tackle a challenge at work when you aren’t feeling confidentEp 101: How to build confidence with networking for HR career successEp 122: Unlocking confidence for your HR career – 5 tips from expert guestsEp 137: How to recognise & break free from the lies we tell ourselves at workEp 162: How to Feel More Confident Speaking Up in Leadership MeetingsEnjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up for the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

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 when creating an HR strategy - and what to do instead.Dean shares why traditional HR strategy documents can dilute impact, and explains how to connect HR priorities directly to the organisation’s business strategy.You’ll also hear practical ideas for thinking more strategically about HR, identifying the people capabilities organisations really need, and using tools like OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to bring strategy to life.Useful Links From This EpisodeConnect with Fay on LinkedInLearn about Fay’s Essential HR PlannerLearn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeConnect with Dean on LinkedInVisit Dean’s website: SOPEOPLEResources Mentioned in This EpisodeThe Leadership Code: Five Rules to Lead By– Dave Ulrich, Norm Smallwood, & Kate SweetmanPlaying to Win: How Strategy Really Works– A G Lafley & Roger L MartinAligning Human Resources and Business Strategy– Linda HolbecheThe Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organisation– Peter M SengeThink Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know– Adam GrantPerry Timms’ SustackEpisodes to Listen to NextEp 164:Becoming More Strategic as an HR Team - 3 Ways OKRs Can HelpEp 148:Skills That Shape a Great CPO: Communication, Coaching & Curiosity (with Jane Beeston)Ep 147:How to Become a Successful Chief People Officer: Insider Insights (with Kanika Mehra)Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

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 (and what it doesn't)Key financial terms explained: P&L, EBITDA, balance sheet, and cash flowHow to approach setting an HR budget with confidenceQuestions to ask when building a strong business caseHow to position budget requests so you're more likely to get what you needReal examples of how to demonstrate commercial thinking in your HR roleThe cost of attrition and how to build the business case for retention initiativesUseful Links From This Episode:Connect with Fay on LinkedInLearn about Fay’s Essential HR PlannerLearn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeConnect with Jo Bailey on LinkedInVisit Jo Bailey’s Website: Financial EmpowermentRecommended Book in This EpisodeExcellence in People Analytics: How to Use Workforce Data to Create Business Value, by Jonathan Ferrar & David GreenOther Relevant HR Coffee Time Episodes:Ep 147: How to Become a Successful Chief People Officer: Insider Insights (with Kanika Mehra) - has a great explanation of storytelling with dataEp 115: Why Negotiation Skills Can Help Your Career & How to Develop Them (with Simon Duncan)Ep 158: 3 Simple Ways to Build Business Acumen in Your HR RoleEnjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

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 you think differently about how HR goals connect to organisational priorities – and how to make that link clearer for your whole team.Drawing on real examples (including a memorable orange analogy 🍊), Fay breaks down how OKRs can:Create clarity and accountabilityConnect HR activity to business impactHelp team members see how their work contributes to the wider strategyYou’ll come away with three practical ways to use OKRs to strengthen your strategic focus as a team – without overcomplicating things.Chapters From This Episode[00:00] Why HR struggles to be strategic[01:10] What being strategic really means[02:45] Shaping the future in HR[03:50] Solving the biggest organisational problem[04:55] What OKRs are and where they started[06:10] Understanding objectives using a simple example[07:40] How HR objectives link to strategy[08:55] What good key results look like[10:10] Moving from activity to impact[11:25] How OKRs support prioritisation[12:35] Books and next steps for HR leadersBooks Mentioned in This Episode"Measure What Matters. OKRS - The Simple Idea That Drives 10x Growth" by John Doerr"Radical Focus: Achieving Your Most Important Goals With Objectives and Key Results" by Christina Wodtke“Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters” by Richard Rumelt“The Strategy Book: How to Think and Act Strategically to Deliver Outstanding Results” by Max MckeownWant to Build Your Strategic Confidence?If this episode has made you reflect on your own strategic impact, you might enjoy learning more about Fay’s:Inspiring HR Leadership Programme– designed to help existing and aspiring HR leaders build confidence, credibility and influenceHR Leadership Impact Assessment– a free self-assessment to help you reflect on your strengths and development areasThe Essential HR Planner– created to help HR professionals stay focused on what really mattersOther relevant HR Coffee Time Episodes:'Operate Strategically' HR Coffee Time Podcast PlaylistEnjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

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, accessible way and shares three simple but powerful ways to prove you’re strategic in your next HR interview – without sounding corporate or forced.In this episode, you’ll learn:What “being strategic” actually means in practice – and why it often feels so vagueHow using one specific word can make interview panels see your thinking more clearlyA common mistake HR candidates make when answering interview questions – and how to fix itHow to turn everyday HR examples into clear, strategic stories with business impactThe types of interview questions that signal strategic thinking straight awayFay also shares practical examples you can adapt for your own interviews, helping you move beyond listing what you’ve done to explaining why it mattered.Whether you’re actively interviewing or simply want to feel more confident talking about your strategic contribution, this episode will help you articulate your value far more effectively.Useful LinksConnect with Fay Wallis on LinkedInVisit Fay’s Bright Sky HR websiteLearn aboutThe Essential HR PlannerLearn about Fay’sInspiring HR leadership development programmeOther relevant HR Coffee Time Episodes'Operate Strategically' HR Coffee Time Podcast PlaylistEnjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

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 especially for HR and People professionals who find themselves second-guessing their ideas, worrying about being challenged, or holding back because the meeting feels high-stakes or fast-paced. Drawing on her coaching experience, Fay unpacks strategies to help.In this episode, you’ll hear:Why imposter feelings often show up more strongly in leadership meetings – and why that doesnotmean you do not belong thereHow your nervous system plays a big role in confidence, and simple ways to feel calmer and more grounded in the momentBreathing, grounding, and physical techniques you can use before and during meetingsThe different kinds of value you bring to leadership conversations – beyond having the “perfect” answerWhy you do not need to be the loudest voice in the room to make an impactPractical strategies to make speaking up feel more manageable, including:Setting a small, realistic goal for your contributionShaping meetings in advance so you are not waiting for the “right moment”Using professional phrases that buy you thinking timeHow to zoom out and remember that one meeting does not define your credibilityWhy confidence grows through familiarity and practice – not by forcing yourself to be someone you are notUseful LinksConnect with Fay Wallis on LinkedInVisit Fay’s websiteThe Essential HR Planner websiteLearn about Fay’sInspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeOther Relevant HR Coffee Time EpisodesEp 86: How to stop other people taking credit for your ideas in meetingsBuild Your Professional Skills - HR Coffee Time Podcast PlaylistEnjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

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 protect their wellbeing at the same time.If you want goals that feel motivating, aligned and supportive of your long-term success, this framework offers a clear place to start.You’ll Hear about:The Triple Win Framework explainedChoosing impactful HR goalsAligning goals to organisational strategyCareer-enhancing skills that matterWhy wellbeing must be a goalUseful LinksThe Build Your Professional Skills PlaylistConnect with Fay Wallis on LinkedInLearn About Fay'sInspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeLearn More AboutThe Essential HR PlannerEnjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

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 personally and professionally.This episode includes reflections on expanding the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, navigating the realities of running a business, experimenting with video, taking a long break from the podcast, and working through some unexpected moments of vulnerability along the way. My hope is that by sharing my experience, you'll feel encouraged to complete the exercise yourself and head into 2026 with more clarity and intention.Helpful LinksThe Essential HR PlannerThe free HR Leadership Impact AssessmentRead the full blog version of my reflectionsConnect with me on LinkedInLearn more about theInspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeEnjoyed This Episode? Don't Miss the Next One!Be notified each time a new episode of HR Coffee Time is released and get access to other free career tips, tools and resources by signing up to receive the free weekly HR Coffee Time email.

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 resilience and confidence, to shaping culture, developing better people practices, and setting yourself up for a successful year at work.All of the books recommended are practical, thoughtful, and grounded in real HR challenges.Book Recommendations from This EpisodeThe Little Book of HR Resilience: Practical Strategies for Busy People Professionals – Dr Felicity Baker & Dr Jo BurrellThe HR Confidence Playbook: The essential guide to being seen, heard, and respected in HR - by Kirsty Baggs-MorganWork Rules!: Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead - by Laszlo BockLet’s Talk Culture: The conversations you need to create the team you want - by Shane Michael HattonThe Essential HR Planner – by Fay WallisUseful LinksConnect with Fay Wallis on LinkedInVisit Fay’s websiteLearn about Fay’sInspiring HR leadership development programmeHR Coffee Time Episodes to Listen to NextEp 35: Helping Teams Thrive with Personal User ManualsEp 123: Avoid Burnout - How to Spot Signs Of Stress & Take Action (with Dr Jo Burrell)Ep 146: Lessons in HR Leadership: How to Succeed as a Chief People Officer: (with John Scrooby)Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.

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 discussions leading to job title changesBeing headhunted by executive recruitersStrengthening your LinkedIn profileApplying directly for senior HR rolesPreparing for high-level interviewsPitching for promotion with a business caseUseful LinksConnect with Fay Wallis on LinkedInVisit Fay’s websiteLearn about Fay’sInspiring HR leadership development programmeBuy a copy of The Essential HR PlannerOther Relevant HR Coffee Time EpisodesEp 31:3 little-known LinkedIn features which will help you get your next jobEp 106:7 types of posts to share on LinkedIn that will help your HR careerEp 149: The CPO Job Application That Worked, Strategic vs Operational HR, and Why Compassion Matters (with Funmi Onamusi):Audio link:https://brightskyhr.co.uk/hr-coffee-time-podcast/149/YouTube link:https://youtu.be/n-zYslILExc?si=dIJFbWDgo2SWlcUzEp 154: Step-by-Step Career Advice to become a successful CHRO/CPO (with Nicola Lyons):Audio link:https://brightskyhr.co.uk/hr-coffee-time-podcast/154/YouTube link:https://youtu.be/tdqjSSbKMmM?si=WpaKhorECI5-ieFkEp 147: How to Become a Successful Chief People Officer: Insider insights (with Kanika Mehra):Audio link:https://brightskyhr.co.uk/hr-coffee-time-podcast/147/YouTube link:https://youtu.be/R31JrBpT490?si=fikKsO8dJBahIRpxEnjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.