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HR Coffee Time

HR Coffee Time

By: Fay Wallis
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About this listen

 Welcome to the HR Coffee Time podcast; a fortnightly podcast full of tips and ideas to help you have a successful and fulfilling HR career (without working yourself into the ground). It can feel hard to put yourself and your own career first when you're so busy looking after everyone around you. It can leave you at risk of burning out, finding that you're not where you want to be in your career, or feeling unsure about what you want from your career anymore. This podcast is here to help. Join career coach and founder of Bright Sky HR, Fay Wallis as she and her expert guests share advice on how to get what you want from your career. If you enjoy the podcast, learn more at: https://brightskyhr.co.uk/ or connect with Fay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faywallis/Copyright 2022 Bright Sky HR Ltd Career Success Economics
Episodes
  • The 5 Things That Will Help You Become a Successful HR Director

    The 5 Things That Will Help You Become a Successful HR Director
    Apr 10 2026

    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 you’re aiming for.

    In this episode of HR Coffee Time, I share the five key areas I’ve identified from working with more than one hundred aspiring and existing HR leaders that really make the difference.

    And make sure you listen all the way to the end - because the fifth area is often the most overlooked, yet can have the biggest impact on your success.


    Chapters From This Episode

    [00:00] HR Director Roadmap

    [00:31] Five Key Areas Preview

    [01:00] Free HR Leadership Impact Assessment

    [02:27] Key Area 1 Confidence

    [02:51] Confidence in Practice

    [03:51] More Confidence Resources

    [04:15] Key Area 2 - Strategic Thinking

    [04:44] What Strategic Really Means

    [05:13] Strategy Benefits and Tools

    [06:25] Key Area 3 - Influencing

    [08:35 Key Area 4 - Empowering Others

    [09:51] Key Area 5 - Be Distinctive

    [11:09] How to Assess Where You Are Now & Next Steps


    Useful Links from This Episode:
    1. Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
    2. Learn about Fay’s Essential HR Planner
    3. Learn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership Programme
    4. Take Fay’s free HR Leadership Impact Assessment.

    Helpful Episodes to Listen to Next

    If you’d like to go deeper on some of the ideas from this episode, here are a few great next listens:

    1. Ep 167: A surprising way to feel calm and more confident in stressful moments
    2. Operate Strategically Playlist (multiple episodes)
    3. Ep 34: Influencing: How to get buy-in for your ideas at work
    4. Ep 44: Succeeding as an HR professional: How to influence at a senior level


    Enjoyed 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.


    Mentioned in this episode:

    Help That’s There when It’s Needed Most

    Menopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they don't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away.

    Kara Connect

    Join the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme

    Build your confidence, credibility & impact through the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme. The next cohort is now open for booking.

    Inspiring HR
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    15 mins
  • 167 | The Weird Confidence Trick That Actually Works

    167 | The Weird Confidence Trick That Actually Works
    Mar 27 2026
    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.Mentioned in this episode:Help That’s There when It’s Needed MostMenopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they don't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away. Kara ConnectJoin the Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeBuild your confidence, credibility & impact through the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme. The next cohort is now open for booking. Inspiring HR
    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
  • 166 | The Biggest HR Strategy Mistake – And How to Fix It (with Dean Corbett)

    166 | The Biggest HR Strategy Mistake – And How to Fix It (with Dean Corbett)
    Mar 13 2026
    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.Mentioned in this episode:Help That’s There when It’s Needed MostMenopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they don't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away. Kara ConnectJoin the Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeBuild your confidence, credibility & impact through the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme. The next cohort is now open for booking. Inspiring HR
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
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Most relevant
These bite size chunks are brilliant to listen to, will help me develop my HR career and give me the confidence to push forwards !

Invaluable career advice!

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I’m in the process of leaving the RAF after 26 years and venturing into a new (to me) world of HR/People & Culture. I was recommended Fay Wallis’s epic podcast and 6 episodes in and I’m hooked. Incredibly informative and articulated to perfection, what I’m learning will hopefully be expertly used in future job interviews. Thank you Fay, now on to the other 100+ episodes.

Understanding the Jargon of a New World

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