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, helping you avoid common goal-setting pitfalls. Together, Fay and Ben discuss strategies for creating a clear vision, building motivation, and staying on track - even when the going gets tough.

Whether you're aiming to advance your career, tackle a challenging project, or introduce new initiatives in your organisation, this episode is packed with advice to help you achieve your goals with confidence and clarity.

[00:00] Introduction

[03:22] What is the ABCME® framework?

[07:03] The importance of clarity in goal-setting

[09:41] Practical tips for getting more clarity

[12:08] How to stay motivated with your goals

[20:13] Celebrating successes and why it matters

[28:43] Confidence-building tip: What would a role model do?

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Connect with Ben on LinkedIn
• Ben’s website: Make It Happen
• Ben’s free quiz to help you achieve your career goals
• Stickk.com website (mentioned in the episode to make a commitment to a goal)
• The Essential HR Planner

• Episode 141: Look back to look forward – how to reflect on 2024 to set goals for 2025
• Episode 39: Lost your direction & motivation at work? This one thing might help
• Episode 89: How to reach your HR career goals by understanding your ‘tendency’

(Disclosure: book links are affiliate links which means Fay will earn a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them)

• Tiny Habits: Why Starting Small Makes Lasting Change Easy, by BJ Fogg
• Think Big: Take Small Steps and Build the Career You Want, by Dr Grace Lordan

If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This video shows you how to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts (because it isn’t very intuitive). If you're kind enough to leave a review, let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected].

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy

Become a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.

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 no wonder we often lose sight of the bigger picture.

In this episode, I’ll guide you through 10 powerful reflection questions from The Essential HR Planner to help you push past these biases, recognise all you’ve accomplished this year, and approach 2025 with confidence and clarity. And to show that I’m right there with you, I’ll share my own answers to the questions too.

Whether you’re using The Essential HR Planner or simply jotting down notes as you listen, this episode of HR Coffee Time is your chance to pause, reflect, and start shaping the year ahead with purpose and positivity.

[00:00] Introduction

[03:10] Question 1: What did you achieve? - Small wins are just as noteworthy as big ones

[09:06] Question 2: What did you do to help others?

[11:35] Question 3: What are you proudest of from 2024?

[13:02] Question 4: What did you do for your wellbeing during the past year?

[15:50] Question 5: What did you learn during 2024?

[21:35] Question 6: Which relationships did you develop and build?

[23:22] Question 7: What are you grateful for?

[24:22] Question 8: What did you find challenging this year?

[27:10] Question 9: What insights do you have from reading through your answers to questions 1-8?

[29:32] Question 10: How can these insights influence your goals for 2025?

[32:51] Conclusion

• The Essential HR Planner website
• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Fay's blog post: Reflecting on 2024 - looking back to look forward
• Fay's YouTube channel

(Disclosure: book links are affiliate links which means Fay will earn a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them)

• Neuroscience for Learning and Development: How to Apply Neuroscience and Psychology for Improved Learning and Training, by Stella Collins
• Think Like a Coach: Empower Your Team Through Everyday Conversations, by Jude Sclater
• Chatter: The Voice in Our Head and How to Harness It, by Ethan Kross

If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This video shows you how to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts (because it isn’t very intuitive). If you're kind enough to leave a review, let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected].

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy

Become a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.

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, host Fay Wallis reflects on her experience running the first in-person HR Planning Day and shares five brilliant resources that most inspired her when designing the event. You’ll discover practical insights and creative techniques to transform your workshops and training sessions, whether in-person or online.

[00:00] Introduction and Overview

[03:27] Resource 1: Kirsty Lewis’ online masterclass on workshop design

[11:45] Resource 2: The Two-Hour Workshop Blueprint book

[22:07] Resource 3: The Flipchart Facebook group

[23:37] Resource 4: Neuroscience for Learning and Development book

[28:01] Resource 5: The Ten-Minute Trainer book

[31:28] Conclusion

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Kirsty Lewis’ website: School of Facilitation
• The Flipchart Facebook group
• The Essential HR Planner (hardback & digital versions available)

Episode 110: Why facilitation skills can help your HR career & how to develop them, with Kirsty Lewis

(Disclosure: book links are affiliate links, which means Fay will earn a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them)

• The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint: Design Fast. Deliver Strong. Without Stress, by Leanne Hughes
• Neuroscience for Learning and Development: How to Apply Neuroscience and Psychology for Improved Learning and Training, by Stella Collins
• The Ten-Minute Trainer: 150 Ways to Teach it Quick and Make it Stick, by Sharon L. Bowman

If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This video shows you how to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts (because it isn’t very intuitive). If you're kind enough to leave a review, let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected].

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.

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 explore why religious expression matters to the people in your workplace and how organisations can better support this.

Binna shares insights from his firm's comprehensive research into religion at work, including findings from their largest-ever survey response. He explains the various aspects of religious expression, discusses both challenges and positive developments in workplace inclusion, and offers practical guidance for HR professionals looking to create more inclusive environments.

[00:00] Introduction and Overview

[02:02] Meet the Expert: Professor Binna Kandola

[04:19] Defining Religious Expression at Work

[10:03] Why Religious Expression Matters

[18:36] Benefits to Organizations

[21:01] Key Research Findings

[26:49] Examples of Good Practice

[31:23] Book Recommendation

[33:28] Conclusion and Resources

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Connect with Binna Kandola on LinkedIn
• Binna’s website: Pearn Kandola
• Pearn Kandola’s, “Religion at Work Report”
• Binna’s podcast, Making the World Fairer (on Apple Podcasts)
• Binna’s podcast, Making the World Fairer (on Spotify)

Create an Equitable, Diverse & Inclusive Workplace – Podcast Playlist (on the Bright Sky website)

Create an Equitable, Diverse & Inclusive Workplace – Podcast Playlist (on Spotify)

(Disclosure: book links are affiliate links which means Fay will earn a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them)

‘World Religions: The Great Faiths Explored and Explained’ by John Bowker

You can find the transcript on this page of the Bright Sky Career Coaching website.

If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This video shows you how to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts (because it isn’t very intuitive). If you're kind enough to leave a review, let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected].

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy

Become a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.

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 episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis shares five practical tips to help you carve out time for strategic work, even when you're incredibly busy. These tips will help you overcome common barriers and create the space needed to focus on work that drives meaningful organisational change.

• Introduction and welcome
• Tip 1: Build your confidence about being strategic
• Tip 2: Schedule dedicated time for strategic work
• Tip 3: Make the most of AI to free up time
• Tip 4: Remember that less is more
• Tip 5: Communicate your strategic priorities clearly

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• The Essential HR Planner
• elementsuite
• Angela Moyle's eBook: AI for HR
• Angela' Moyle's eBook: HR's role in AI adoption

• Operate Strategically or Create a Powerful HR/People Strategy Playlist
• Episode 102: Boosting Your Strategic Knowledge to Step Up in Your HR Role
• Episode 108: How to Create a Simple but Powerful One Page Strategy with Dr. Max Mckeown
• Episode 134: Creating an HR Strategy - How to Get Started When You're Feeling Stuck
• Episode 7: What to Do When You Don't Have Enough Hours in the Day
• Episode 92: Time Management Tips to Stay on Top of Your Busy Day
• Episode 58: How to Feel More Confident Using Data & Analytics in Your HR Role

• Good Strategy, Bad Strategy: The difference and why it matters, by Richard Rumelt
• The One Thing, by Gary Keller

You can find the transcript on this page of the Bright Sky Career Coaching website.

If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This video shows you how to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts (because it isn’t very intuitive). If you're kind enough to leave a review, let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected].

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy

Become a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.

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 be seen as an effective HR professional – these self-imposed beliefs can significantly impact your career progress and wellbeing.

In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by Emma Djemil to help you identify and challenge these unhelpful beliefs that might be holding you back in your HR career.

[00:00] Introduction and Overview

[03:30] Meet Emma Djemil

[05:46] Common Lies in HR: Availability Equals Value

[08:29] Proving Your Worth in HR

[12:43] Recognising and Challenging Self-Lies

[17:11] Understanding Deep-Rooted Fears

[17:46] Challenging the Fear of Unavailability

[19:21] Recognising and Addressing Mistruths

[21:20] Empowerment Through Self-Questioning

[25:25] The Power of Internal Validation

[29:26] Book Recommendation and Wrap Up

[32:09] Final Thoughts and Farewell

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Connect with Emma Djemil on LinkedIn
• Emma’s HR Club
• Emma’s annual event: The HR Big Meet

HR Coffee Time Podcast Playlist: Build Your Confidence

• ‘Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway’ – Susan Jeffers
• ‘The Fix: How to Overcome the Invisible Barriers That Are Holding Women Back at Work’ – Michelle P. King
• All the book recommendations that have been given on HR Coffee Time

You can find the transcript on this page of the Bright Sky Career Coaching website.

If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This video shows you how to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts (because it isn’t very intuitive). If you're kind enough to leave a review, let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected].

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy

Become a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.

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: Annabelle Lawson, HR Manager at SPT Lab Tech, and Paula Brockwell, Founder and Chief Culture Shaper at the Employee Experience Project. Together, they explore practical strategies for defining, shaping, and embedding a winning workplace culture.

This episode is packed with actionable advice, from how to engage leadership in culture initiatives to how HR professionals can avoid becoming overwhelmed by the process. Whether you're just starting your culture journey or looking to refine your approach, this conversation is here to help.

[00:00] Introduction and Overview

[01:33] Meet the Guests: Annabelle Lawson and Paula Brockwell

[03:59] Annabelle Explains Her Culture Project

[08:32] Culture is a Strategic Enabler of Business Growth

[09:26] Using the Business Culture Canvas for Culture Conversations

[12:46] Embedding New Culture and Measuring Progress

[15:20] Timeframes for Seeing Cultural Changes

[19:55] Avoiding Overwhelm When Working on Culture Initiatives

[23:25] Starting a Culture Journey from Scratch

[24:33] The Importance of CEO Engagement in Culture Initiatives

[25:03] Book Recommendations

[26:06] How to Connect with Annabelle and Paula

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Connect with Annabelle Lawson on LinkedIn
• Connect with Paula Brockwell on LinkedIn
• Paula’s website: The Employee Experience Project

• Download Paula’s free culture change resources
• Access Paula’s Business Culture Canvas
• Access Paula’s Culture Catalyst Scorecard

• Episode 114: What workplace culture is, how to measure it, and a surprising way to improve it with Arend Boersema
• Episode 120: Crafting culture: unearthing and shaping the heart of your business with Louise Kennedy

• ‘Herd: How to Change Mass Behaviour by Harnessing Our True Nature’ by
• Mark Earls ‘Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking’ by Susan Cain

You can find the transcript on this page of the Bright Sky Career Coaching website.

If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This video shows you how to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts (because it isn’t very intuitive). If you're kind enough to leave a review, let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected].

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy

Become a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.

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 menopause, common symptoms, the business case for supporting employees, legal considerations, and practical strategies for creating a supportive work environment. This episode is packed with data-driven information and actionable advice for HR professionals looking to update policies, improve employee wellbeing, or build a stronger business case for menopause support.

[00:00] Introduction and Overview

[00:53] Meet Emma Thomas: Menopause Expert

[04:15] Defining Perimenopause and Menopause

[06:47] Common Symptoms of Perimenopause

[09:32] Impact of Menopause Symptoms at Work

[11:35] Research and Business Case for Menopause Support

[20:11] Practical Support for Menopause in the Workplace

[25:03] Book Recommendation: "Revolting Women" by Dr. Lucy Ryan

[26:06] How to Connect With Emma Thomas

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Connect with Emma Thomas on LinkedIn
• Emma’s website: Managing the Menopause
• Emma’s podcast: Middling Along

• CIPD 2023 Menopause at Work survey
• CIPD: Menopause at work – guide for people managers
• Deloitte Women at Work 2024 report
• BSI guide on menstruation and menopause in the workplace
• ACAS: Menopause at work
• Cycle of Change: Animation explaining the menopause

Episode 42: Diversity and Inclusion at Work, Seven Mistakes to Avoid and what to do instead with Dr. Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey

‘Revolting Women: Why Midlife Women Are Walking Out and What to Do About It’ by Dr. Lucy Ryan

You can find the transcript on this page of the Bright Sky Career Coaching website.

If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This video shows you how to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts (because it isn’t very intuitive). If you're kind enough to leave a review, let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected].

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy

Become a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.

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.

[00:00] Episode introduction

[00:32] There is a podcast playlist of strategy episodes for you

[02:46] You already are strategic (even if you think you aren’t)

[04:31] Insight from the book, ‘Good Strategy/Bad Strategy’

[05:29] The importance of aligning HR strategy with the overarching organisational strategy

[07:28] Resources from The Essential HR Planner to help

[13:41] Recap and final thoughts

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching

Operate Strategically or Create a Powerful HR/People Strategy Playlist

• The Strategy Book: How to think and act strategically to deliver outstanding results, by Max Mckeown
• Good Strategy, Bad Strategy: The difference and why it matters, by Richard Rumelt

You can find the transcript on this page of the Bright Sky Career Coaching website.

If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This video shows you how to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts (because it isn’t very intuitive). If you're kind enough to leave a review, let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected].

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy

Become a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.

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're aiming to boost your influence, establish credibility, or simply gain more confidence when presenting, this episode is packed with practical insights to elevate your presentation skills.

[00:00] Introduction and overview

[01:11] Meet the expert: Emma Serlin

[04:26] The Meal Plan framework: Protein, Vegetables, and Spice

[05:38] Deep dive into the protein component

[09:07] Crafting impactful presentations: The importance of three key takeaways

[11:31] Exploring the ‘vegetables’ component

[16:57] Adding ‘spice’ to make your presentation memorable

[19:46] The Dinner Party Planner

[23:50] Book recommendation

[25:48] How to contact Emma and London Speech Workshop

[27:23] Conclusion

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Connect with Emma Serlin on LinkedIn
• Emma’s website: London Speech Workshop
• London Speech Workshop on Instagram
• London Speech Workshop on YouTube

• Episode 36: Four simple but powerful techniques to banish imposter syndrome, with Joanna Lott
• Episode 73: 5 ways to feel more confident in your next interview, meeting, or presentation
• Episode 74: How to get better at presenting and feel more confident about it

• The Connection Book: 50 Ways to Communicate More Effectively, by Emma Serlin
• The Communication Equation: A How to Guide for Outstanding Communication, by Emma Serlin
• Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, by Marshall B. Rosenberg

You can find the transcript on this page of the Bright Sky Career Coaching website.

If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This video shows you how to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts (because it isn’t very intuitive). If you're kind enough to leave a review, let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]. 

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy

Become a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.