HR Coffee Time

Fay Wallis
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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/

  1. 2 days ago

    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 Charlotte Goulding to explore how HR professionals can help shape successful AI adoption across their organisations. Charlotte explains why HR should not wait to be invited into conversations about AI and shares how her Five People Foundations Framework can help organisations put the right people foundations in place as work changes. Together, Fay and Charlotte explore what each of these foundations means in practice, including why traditional job descriptions may no longer be enough, why managers will become even more important and how performance, recognition and HR operations may need to evolve. Charlotte also explains how HR can help organisations make thoughtful decisions about AI while keeping people, trust and culture at the heart of them. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why HR shouldn't wait to be invited into conversations about AIThe difference between “AI for HR” and “HR for AI”How the Five People Foundations work togetherWhy skills and capabilities could become more useful than job descriptionsHow managers can support people through AI-related changeHow performance, recognition and HR operations may need to adapt Chapters[0:00] Introduction: Why HR must lead AI adoption [2:01] Welcome, Charlotte Goulding [2:24] HR for AI, not just AI for HR [4:41] From pandemic hero to recent criticism [6:31] How the Five Foundations framework came about [10:42] Overview: The Five People Foundations [11:35] Foundation 1: Identity [15:34] Example: Values in your AI hiring process [19:13] Foundation 2: Clarity [23:28] Applying skills-based roles in HR [26:31] OKRs and quarterly goal-setting [28:05] Foundation 3: Enablement [29:12] Managers: the most overlooked foundation [36:51] Foundation 4: Recognition [39:01] Rethinking career progression and rewards [40:42] Foundation 5: Operations [42:22] Mapping your most critical processes [43:38] Working with Charlotte [45:37] Book recommendations [47:05] Wrap-up and outro Useful LinksConnect with Fay on LinkedInLearn about Fay’s Essential HR PlannerLearn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeComplete Charlotte’s free Five People Foundations diagnostic.Visit Charlotte's website: The People ThreadConnect with Charlotte Goulding on LinkedIn Books Recommended in This EpisodeHR Disrupted by Lucy AdamsBuilt for People by Jessica Zwaan Helpful Episodes to Listen to NextEp 164: Becoming More Strategic as an HR Team: Three Ways OKRs Can HelpEp 166: The Biggest HR Strategy Mistake and How to Fix It, with Dean CorbettEp 172: How One Company Helped Employees Embrace AI, with Laura MaffucciEp 173: How to Build a Better Workplace Culture (So People Thrive at Work), with Aoife O’Brien 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.

  2. 17 Jul

    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 episode, Fay explores how to create and protect time for strategic work, even when your diary is full and urgent tasks keep competing for your attention. You’ll use the Day 5 worksheet to design your ideal strategic week by considering when you think most clearly, where you can focus and what you could delegate, automate, shorten or stop to create more space. You’ll also think about the boundaries and accountability that could help you protect your strategic time and follow through on the work you’ve started during the sprint. By the end of the episode, you’ll have a realistic plan for making strategic work a regular priority. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:How to choose and protect time for strategic workWhy your energy levels and working environment matterPractical ways to create more space in your working weekHow boundaries and accountability can help you follow throughHow to use AI as a thinking partner and accountability coach Chapters[00:00] Welcome to Day 5 of The Strategic HR Sprint [00:48] Why strategic work gets pushed aside [01:39] Making deliberate space for strategic work [02:18] Designing your ideal strategic week [02:40] Working with your energy levels [03:11] Choosing the right environment [03:31] Creating more space in your diary [04:03] Protecting your focus and staying accountable [04:46] The Essential HR Planner [05:42] Using AI as a thinking partner and accountability coach [06:29] One final thought about strategy [07:31] Sharing your experience of the sprint [07:54] What happens next on HR Coffee Time Useful LinksJoin the free Strategic HR Sprint:https://brightskyhr.co.uk/sprint/Connect with Fay Wallis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faywallis/The Essential HR Planner:https://essentialhrplanner.co.uk/Learn about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme:https://brightskyhr.co.uk/hr-leadership-course/ Helpful Episodes to Listen to NextEp 174 | Free 5-Day Strategic HR Sprint (Struggling to Be Strategic? This Will Help)Ep 176 | (Day 1) The Strategic HR Sprint - Building Your Strategic ConfidenceEp 177 | (Day 2) The Strategic HR Sprint - Seeing the Bigger PictureEp 178 | (Day 3) The Strategic HR Sprint - Finding Your Strategic FocusEp 179 | (Day 4) The Strategic HR Sprint - Look Beneath the Surface

  3. 16 Jul

    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/sprint One of the most important parts of being strategic is taking the time to understand what is really driving a challenge before deciding how to respond. It is easy to assume that the answer is training, a new policy, more people or better pay. But if you have not explored what is really causing the challenge, you could invest time and energy in an idea that only treats the symptoms. Getting to the root cause helps you make better decisions about where HR can have the greatest impact and identify actions that are more likely to create lasting improvements. In this episode, you’ll learn how to stay curious for longer and use a simple technique called the Five Whys to explore the challenge you identified during Day 3. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why understanding the root cause is an important part of being strategicHow to use the Five Whys techniqueHow to avoid treating a symptom instead of the underlying causeWhy involving people who are close to the challenge can lead to better insightsHow to ask “why” without sounding critical or pushy Your Day 4 ActivityToday’s worksheet will help you explore the challenge you chose during Day 3 and identify what may be causing it. You’ll work through the Five Whys, think about where HR could have the biggest influence and note down your first ideas for how the challenge could be addressed. You might also find it helpful to talk the challenge through with someone who sees or experiences it day to day, as they may notice things that are easy to miss from your perspective. Once you have completed the worksheet, you can also use the optional AI prompt to suggest practical HR and People initiatives, including quick wins and longer-term ideas. Before using the prompt, remember to remove or change anything that could identify your organisation or the people involved. Access all the sprint resources here: https://brightskyhr.co.uk/sprint Chapters[00:00] – Welcome to Day 4 of The Strategic HR Sprint [01:09] – A recap of the sprint so far [01:42] – Why we jump straight to solutions [02:41] – Staying curious for longer [03:03] – How the Five Whys works [03:37] – Finding the right starting point [04:45] – The employee turnover example [06:10] – Your Day 4 worksheet [07:18] – Involving other people [07:43] – How to ask “why” without sounding critical [08:51] – Using the optional AI prompt [09:34] – Protecting confidential information [10:42] – What to expect from Day 5 Useful LinksJoin the free Strategic HR Sprint:https://brightskyhr.co.uk/sprint/Connect with Fay Wallis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faywallis/The Essential HR Planner:https://essentialhrplanner.co.uk/Learn about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme:https://brightskyhr.co.uk/hr-leadership-course/ Helpful Episodes to Listen to NextEp 174 | Free 5-Day Strategic HR Sprint (Struggling to Be Strategic? This Will Help)Ep 176 | (Day 1) The Strategic HR Sprint - Building Your Strategic ConfidenceEp 177 | (Day 2) The Strategic HR Sprint - Seeing the Bigger PictureEp 178 | (Day 3) The Strategic HR Sprint - Finding Your Strategic FocusEp 179 | (Day 4) The Strategic HR Sprint - Look Beneath the Surface 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.

  4. 15 Jul

    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/sprint In today’s episode, you’ll identify one important challenge to focus on for the rest of the sprint. Drawing on an insight from Richard Rumelt’s book Good Strategy/Bad Strategy, Fay explains why good strategy isn’t a long list of everything an organisation could do. It requires focus: understanding the challenges being faced and directing time and energy towards the ones that matter most. You’ll explore different ways to identify a worthwhile challenge, whether that means looking at your organisation’s strategy, reflecting on what you discovered about the external environment during Day 2, reviewing HR data or noticing the frustrations that repeatedly arise in conversations with managers and employees. Your chosen challenge doesn’t have to affect the entire organisation. If you’re earlier in your HR career, it could be something closer to your own role that you can influence. What matters is choosing an area where you have the opportunity to make a positive difference. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why being strategic includes deciding what not to focus onHow to identify the challenges behind your organisation’s strategic prioritiesWhere to look for ideas if your organisation doesn’t have a clear or up-to-date strategyHow external trends, HR data and recurring workplace frustrations can highlight important challengesThe question that can help you decide which challenge to prioritiseWhy there isn’t an optional AI prompt for today’s activity Chapters[00:00] Welcome to Day 3 of The Strategic HR Sprint [01:09] Recapping Days 1 and 2 [01:30] What good strategy looks like in practice [02:52] Identifying one challenge worth focusing on [03:42] Using your organisation’s strategy [04:43] What to do if the strategy isn’t helpful [05:14] Learning from data and recurring frustrations [05:34] Choosing the challenge with the greatest potential impact [06:15] Why today’s activity doesn’t include an AI prompt [06:38] Share how you’re getting on Resources MentionedJoin The Strategic HR Sprint for free: brightskyhr.co.uk/sprint Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters by Richard Rumelt Useful LinksJoin the free Strategic HR SprintConnect with Fay Wallis on LinkedInThe Essential HR PlannerLearn about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme Helpful Episodes to Listen to NextEp 174 | Free 5-Day Strategic HR Sprint (Struggling to Be Strategic? This Will Help)Ep 176 | (Day 1) The Strategic HR Sprint - Building Your Strategic ConfidenceEp 177 | (Day 2) The Strategic HR Sprint - Seeing the Bigger PictureEp 179 | (Day 4) The Strategic HR Sprint - Look Beneath the Surface 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. If you’re taking part in The Strategic HR Sprint, Fay would love to hear how you’re getting on. Leave a comment underneath the YouTube video, share your progress on LinkedIn and tag Fay, or reply to one of your daily sprint emails.

  5. 14 Jul

    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 and colleagues, she explains why understanding your industry's challenges, opportunities and emerging trends can help you anticipate what's coming next and make a greater strategic contribution. You'll also discover a simple habit you can build into your routine to strengthen your commercial awareness, along with an optional AI prompt that can quickly generate an executive briefing about your sector. Whether you're early in your HR career or already leading a people function, this episode will help you become more curious, more commercially aware and more confident about contributing strategically. Chapters[00:00] Welcome to Day 2 of The Strategic HR Sprint [01:09] Why understanding your organisation's world matters [02:39] The "outside-in" approach from Dave Ulrich & colleagues [03:47] How external trends shape strategic HR priorities [04:38] Today's worksheet: building your outside-in awareness [05:55] Using AI to understand your industry more quickly [07:10] Building a lasting strategic habit [08:14] Looking ahead to Day 3 Useful LinksJoin the free Strategic HR SprintConnect with Fay Wallis on LinkedInThe Essential HR PlannerLearn about theInspiring HR Leadership Programme 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.

  6. 13 Jul

    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/sprint When you sign up, you'll receive 5 daily emails, containing each day's: Podcast episodePractical worksheet for each dayOptional AI prompt to deepen your learning Even if you're discovering this episode months or years after it was first released, you can still sign up and work through the sprint at your own pace. About this episodeOne of the biggest challenges I hear from HR professionals isn't a lack of strategic ability. It's a lack of confidence. Many people assume strategy is something reserved for CEOs, senior leaders or people with MBAs. But what if you've actually been thinking strategically for years without realising it? In Day 1, you'll discover a simple way of thinking about strategy that completely changed the way I see it. You'll also complete a practical reflection exercise to help you recognise the strategic strengths you already have, giving you evidence to build your confidence throughout the rest of the sprint. In this episode you'll learn:Why so many HR professionals underestimate how strategic they already areA simple definition of strategy that makes it much easier to understandHow everyday experiences can demonstrate strategic thinkingHow to recognise the strategic strengths you've already demonstratedHow today's worksheet and optional AI prompt can help build your confidenceWhy building evidence of your strengths is the first step towards becoming a more confident strategic HR professional Chapters[00:00] Welcome to Day 1 of The Strategic HR Sprint [02:35] A simple definition of strategy [03:18] You're already strategic [04:38] Today's worksheet [05:44] Examples of strategic thinking in everyday life [07:24] Using the AI prompt [09:54] Share your strategic strengths [10:32] Coming up in Day 2 Resources mentioned in this episodeThe Strategy Book by Dr Max McKeown Useful linksJoin the free Strategic HR Sprint:https://brightskyhr.co.uk/sprintConnect with Fay on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/faywallisLearn more about The Essential HR Planner:https://www.essentialhrplanner.co.ukFind out about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme:https://www.brightskyhr.co.uk/inspiring-hr-leadership-programme 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.

  7. 3 Jul

    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/a2ea9eb841 Have 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, reflect and decide where you'd like to focus next, instead of simply drifting through the rest of the year. Using the simple Stop, Start, Continue framework, you'll reflect on what's helping you, what's holding you back and the changes that could make the biggest difference during the second half of the year. In this episode you'll discover:Why halfway through the year is the perfect time to pause and reflectHow the Stop, Start, Continue framework can help you gain clarityReflection questions to identify what you should stop doingIdeas for what to start doing to have more impact and enjoyment at workWhy recognising what's already working is just as important as making changesHow to turn your reflections into practical actions you'll actually follow through onSimple ways to finish the year feeling more focused, fulfilled and proud of what you've achieved Chapters[00:00] Why a mid-year reset matters [02:10] Introducing the Stop, Start, Continue framework [04:00] Stop: What needs to change? [06:26] Start: What will make the biggest difference? [07:41] Continue: What's already working well? [09:28] Turning reflection into action [10:15] Final thoughts Useful Links from This EpisodeConnect with Fay on LinkedInLearn about Fay’s Essential HR PlannerLearn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeDownload your free Mid-Year Reset activity Other HR Coffee Time episodes you might enjoyEp 125:Create Your Perfect Professional Development Plan in 8 Simple StepsEpisode 85:6 Questions to Prioritise What Matters for Your HR CareerEpisode 80:How Quarterly Reviews Can Help You Thrive in Your HR CareerEpisode 170:Constant Interruptions at Work? 4 Ways to Take Back Control If you're enjoying HR Coffee Time, I'd be so grateful if you could follow the show, leave a rating or review, or share this episode with another HR or People professional who might enjoy it too. 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.

  8. 29 Jun

    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 day's activity takes just 10 to 15 minutes, making it easy to fit into a busy working week. In this special bonus episode, I'll explain why I created the sprint, what you'll learn over the five days and how you can sign up. In this episode you'll learn: Why so many HR professionals find it difficult to be strategic.What's included in the Free 5-Day Strategic HR Sprint.How the sprint will help you build your confidence with strategic thinking.Why each day's activities take just 10 to 15 minutes.How you can complete the sprint with a colleague or your HR team. Join the Free 5-Day Strategic HR Sprint Sign up here: Strategic HR Sprint The sprint includes: A short daily video or audio lesson.A practical worksheet every day.An optional AI prompt to deepen your learning.Activities that take just 10 to 15 minutes a day. The sprint begins on Monday 13th July 2026, and I'd love you to join me! Podcast Chapters 00:00 Welcome 00:19 Why so many HR professionals struggle to be strategic 02:29 Introducing the Strategic HR Sprint 03:22 What's included in the sprint 04:17 How to join the sprint 04:49 Take part with a colleague or your HR team 06:01 Thank you for listening Helpful HR Links Join the sprint Connect with Fay on LinkedIn Questions? Email Fay at: hello@brightskyhr.co.uk Helpful Episodes to Listen to NextEp 176 | (Day 1) The Strategic HR Sprint - Building Your Strategic ConfidenceEp 177 | (Day 2) The Strategic HR Sprint - Seeing the Bigger PictureEp 178 | (Day 3) The Strategic HR Sprint - Finding Your Strategic FocusEp 179 | (Day 4) The Strategic HR Sprint - Look Beneath the Surface

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About

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/

Information

  • Creator
    Fay Wallis
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    182
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 Bright Sky HR Ltd
  • Show Website
    HR Coffee Time

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