HR Coffee Time

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.

👉 Join The Strategic HR Sprint for free: brightskyhr.co.uk/sprint

[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

• Ep 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 Confidence
• Ep 177 | (Day 2) The Strategic HR Sprint - Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Ep 178 | (Day 3) The Strategic HR Sprint - Finding Your Strategic Focus
• Ep 179 | (Day 4) The Strategic HR Sprint - Look Beneath the Surface
• Ep 180 (Day 5) The Strategic HR Sprint - Making Strategic Work a Priority

• Join the free Strategic HR Sprint
• Connect with Fay Wallis on LinkedIn
• The Essential HR Planner
• Learn about theInspiring HR Leadership Programme

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.

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 episode
• Practical worksheet for each day
• Optional 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.

One 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.

• Why so many HR professionals underestimate how strategic they already are
• A simple definition of strategy that makes it much easier to understand
• How everyday experiences can demonstrate strategic thinking
• How to recognise the strategic strengths you've already demonstrated
• How today's worksheet and optional AI prompt can help build your confidence
• Why building evidence of your strengths is the first step towards becoming a more confident strategic HR professional

[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

The Strategy Book by Dr Max McKeown

• Ep 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 Confidence
• Ep 177 | (Day 2) The Strategic HR Sprint - Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Ep 178 | (Day 3) The Strategic HR Sprint - Finding Your Strategic Focus
• Ep 179 | (Day 4) The Strategic HR Sprint - Look Beneath the Surface
• Ep 180 (Day 5) The Strategic HR Sprint - Making Strategic Work a Priority

• Join the free Strategic HR Sprint:https://brightskyhr.co.uk/sprint
• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/faywallis
• Learn more about The Essential HR Planner:https://www.essentialhrplanner.co.uk
• Find out about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme:https://www.brightskyhr.co.uk/inspiring-hr-leadership-programme

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.

🎁 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.

• Why halfway through the year is the perfect time to pause and reflect
• How the Stop, Start, Continue framework can help you gain clarity
• Reflection questions to identify what you should stop doing
• Ideas for what to start doing to have more impact and enjoyment at work
• Why recognising what's already working is just as important as making changes
• How to turn your reflections into practical actions you'll actually follow through on
• Simple ways to finish the year feeling more focused, fulfilled and proud of what you've achieved

[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

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Learn about Fay’s Essential HR Planner
• Learn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership Programme
• Download your free Mid-Year Reset activity

• Ep 125:Create Your Perfect Professional Development Plan in 8 Simple Steps
• Episode 85:6 Questions to Prioritise What Matters for Your HR Career
• Episode 80:How Quarterly Reviews Can Help You Thrive in Your HR Career
• Episode 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.

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'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.

• 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.

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!

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

Join the sprint

Connect with Fay on LinkedIn

Questions? Email Fay at: [email protected]

• Ep 176 | (Day 1) The Strategic HR Sprint - Building Your Strategic Confidence
• Ep 177 | (Day 2) The Strategic HR Sprint - Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Ep 178 | (Day 3) The Strategic HR Sprint - Finding Your Strategic Focus
• Ep 179 | (Day 4) The Strategic HR Sprint - Look Beneath the Surface

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 expert Aoife O'Brien, founder of Happier at Work and author of the bestselling book Thriving Talent: How Great Leaders Drive Performance, Engagement and Retention.

Aoife shares her Thriving Talent framework and practical advice to help organisations create cultures where people can thrive. Together, Fay and Aoife explore psychological safety, leadership, values, strengths, employee needs, and practical ways to improve the experience of work for everyone.

• The framework Aoife uses to help organisations create cultures where people thrive
• Why psychological safety is the foundation of a thriving workplace
• Why culture is not HR's responsibility alone
• The role leaders play in shaping workplace culture
• How to identify what your workplace culture is really like today
• Practical ways to involve employees in shaping culture
• Why many organisations have "accidental leaders" - and the impact this can have on engagement and retention
• How HR can build the business case for investing in leadership development
• Why values, strengths, and employee needs play such an important role in helping people thrive at work
• Practical ways to identify your strengths and understand what helps you do your best work

[00:00] - Why workplace culture matters

[01:34] - Introducing Aoife O'Brien

[04:14] - Why Aoife wrote Thriving Talent

[07:09] - The Thriving Talent framework explained

[10:00] - The research behind the framework

[13:55] - Why psychological safety matters

[14:27] - Is workplace culture really HR's responsibility?

[17:28] - How to define the culture you want

[19:15] - The challenge of accidental leaders

[25:27] - Making the business case for leadership development

[30:03] - What helps people thrive at work?

[35:22] - Values, needs and strengths

[39:27 ]- Book recommendations

[40:44] - How to connect with Aoife

[41:49] - Closing and book giveaway reminder

Aoife has kindly arranged a 10% discount on her book, Thriving Talent: How Great Leaders Drive Performance, Engagement and Retention. Use this link to access the discount.

• Connect with Aoife O'Brien on LinkedIn
• Visit Aoife's Happier at Work website
• Learn more about the Thriving Talent book
• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Learn about Fay’s Essential HR Planner
• Learn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership Programme

• Thriving Talent: How Great Leaders Drive Performance, Engagement and Retention - Aoife O'Brien
• Insight: How to succeed by seeing yourself clearly - Dr Tasha Eurich
• Dare to Lead - Brené Brown
• Your Best Meeting Ever - Rebecca Hinds

• Ep 47:Discovering your values to help your HR Career, with Zoe Hawkins
• Ep 107: The Impact of Imposter Syndrome at Work and How to Tackle It Head-On, with Aoife O'Brien
• Ep 136: How to shape a winning workplace culture when you work in HR, with Annabelle Lawson and Paula Brockwell
• Ep 114: What Workplace Culture Is, How to Measure It, and a Surprising Way to Improve It, with Arend Boersema
• Ep 76: HR Insider tips on how to create an amazing remote working culture, with Claire Cathcart

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.

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 to helping employees feel comfortable experimenting with AI. Laura also shares her thoughts on job loss fears, the importance of human oversight, and why the reality of AI at work can be very different from what many leaders expect.

Whether your organisation is already embracing AI or you're just starting to think about what it might mean for your workforce, this conversation is packed with practical insights and thought-provoking ideas.

• Why Laura has mixed feelings about AI despite using it extensively at work
• How GP approached AI adoption across the organisation
• The role of AI champions and internal advocates
• Creating psychological safety around AI
• How to encourage experimentation without creating fear
• The importance of governance, security and guardrails
• Why prompting skills matter
• The risks of relying too heavily on AI outputs
• The growing importance of discernment and critical thinking
• The disconnect between executive expectations and employees' experiences of AI
• Practical examples of how AI is being used within HR and across the business

[00:00] Why I Finally Decided to Cover AI

[01:57] Meet Laura Maffucci

[02:51] Laura's Surprising View of AI

[04:45] How AI Is Being Used at G-P

[05:37] The AI Council and Governance

[06:40] AI Champions, Training and Adoption

[09:09] What's Had the Biggest Impact?

[10:05] Finding Your AI Champions

[11:33] Addressing Fear of Job Loss

[11:47] Creating Psychological Safety Around AI

[13:41] The Disconnect Between Leaders and Employees

[16:06] The Number One Skill – Discernment

[16:27] Cautionary Tale

[17:19] The Right Way to Introduce AI

[17:54] The Benefits of AI Adoption

[18:57] Using Gemini Gems and AI Workflows

[23:13] Creating AI Personas for Senior Leaders

[24:17] AI Security and Confidential Information

[26:15] Book Recommendation: Dare to Lead

[28:13] Key Takeaways from the Conversation

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Learn about Fay’s Essential HR Planner
• Learn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership Programme
• Connect with Laura on LinkedIn
• G-P article:Why your best 2026 AI strategy is still human

• Ep 181: HR in the AI Era - The 5 Foundations Every HR Leader Needs (with Charlotte Goulding)
• Ep 171: How to Build Trust & Get Buy-In Through Brilliant Employee Communication

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.

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 Howden) to unpack exactly how HR professionals can communicate in a way that builds trust, gets buy-in, and encourages people to take action - whether that is using their benefits, completing an engagement survey, preparing for a performance review, or navigating organisational change.

With over 20 years of experience in employee communications, Nik shares practical, immediately actionable advice — no jargon, no fluff.

• Why employee communication is the “connective tissue” of an organisation
• Why HR can sometimes feel like a faceless department - and how to change that
• The common mistake HR professionals make when writing employee communications
• Why your message needs to answer “So what?” within the first few seconds
• How to shift from explaining features to showing benefits
• Why phrases like “HR is pleased to announce” or “Please be advised” can stop people engaging
• How to make your communication feel more human, conversational and direct
• Why reading your message aloud can help you spot corporate language
• How to use Microsoft Word’s read-aloud feature to improve scripts and written communication
• Why a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works for benefits communication
• How to tailor messages for different groups and generations in your workforce
• Why line managers are so important when you want messages to land
• How a simple manager toolkit can make communication more effective
• Why listening for the first five minutes of a meeting can help build trust
• How to communicate during times of fear, uncertainty and change
• Why silence can lead people to create their own “horror story”
• How to be honest when you do not yet have all the answers
• Why storytelling and real-world proof can be more persuasive than project updates
• Why employee communication needs support from across the organisation - not just HR

00:00 - When great HR work goes unnoticed

03:24 - What employee comms really means

04:20 - Why HR can feel "faceless" — and how to fix it

06:19 - The #1 mistake: writing for yourself, not your audience

08:49 - Quick win: delete your opening line

09:49 - Drop the corporate speak — write like a human

11:35 - The Word trick that makes your writing sound natural

13:04 - How to get people to actually use their benefits

17:30 - Tailoring messages for different generations

20:58 - Line managers as your communication allies

22:59 - The "First Five" technique

24:01 - Communicating through change and uncertainty

25:58 - Use storytelling, not project updates

28:06 - Resource recommendation: Simon Sinek's Golden Circle

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Learn about Fay’s Essential HR Planner
• Learn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership Programme
• Take Fay’s freeHR Leadership Impact Assessment.
• Connect with Nik (Nikolas) Nawaaz on LinkedIn
• Find out more about Barnett Waddingham’s employee communications work
• Watch Simon Sinek’s TED Talk:How Great Leaders Inspire Action

If you enjoyed this episode and would like more support with writing clear, effective communication at work, listen to:

Ep 32: How to write work emails that get results, with Kim Arnold

Kim shares brilliant advice that complements Nik’s tips in this episode, especially if you want to make your emails clearer, more persuasive and easier for people to act on.

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.

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 create more space for focused work, helping you step up with more confidence and control in your role.

You’ll learn how to:

• Set clear boundaries without feeling unhelpful
• Reduce interruptions across your organisation
• Create uninterrupted time for deep work
• Stay focused on your most important priorities

This episode is designed to support HR and People professionals who want to feel more confident, effective and in control of their time at work.

[00:00] Do you get interrupted at work?

[00:16] Interruptions – a big time management problem

[00:55] Why HR gets pulled in

[01:35] Episode goal and boundaries

[01:56] Welcome and host intro

[02:33] Four tips overview

[03:00] Tip one: open door hours

[03:35] Scripts and signage

[04:06] Red sign boundary lesson

[05:07] Tip two: company focus time

[06:15] Deep work explained

[07:11] No meeting Wednesday example

[07:28] Tip three: working meetings

[10:21] Tip four: block a deep work day

[12:26] Recap and next steps

Connect with Fay on LinkedIn

Learn about Fay’s Essential HR Planner

Learn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership Programme

Take Fay’s free HR Leadership Impact Assessment.

• Ep 7:What to Do When You Don’t Have Enough Hours in the Day
• Ep 45:6 Ways to Stop Procrastinating & Find Time for Important Projects at Work
• Ep 52:Two Ideas to Help You Bounce Back From a Tough Day at Work
• Ep 67:How to Get on Top of Email Overwhelm When You’re in a Busy HR Role
• Ep 138:Can’t Find Time for Strategic Work in HR? 5 Tips to Help

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.

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 makes this conversation so powerful is how practical it is. You’ll hear how being strategic doesn’t require a big budget, a senior job title, or complicated frameworks. It starts with curiosity, observation, and asking thoughtful questions.

By the end of the episode, you’ll have a much clearer sense of how you can apply this way of thinking in your own role – in a way that feels realistic and achievable.

[00:00] Introduction with guest host Sarah Archer

[01:00] Why “being strategic” can feel vague and frustrating

[01:24] Introducing Harriet and her approach to strategy

[02:14] What being strategic actually means in practice

[03:02] Beginning of the interview with Harriet & Fay

[04:18] Defining what ‘being strategic’ means

[05:48] Why you can be strategic in any role

[07:22] Harriet’s example of being strategic in her role

[21:30] Learning about other departments & building trust

[23:39] Becoming an ‘apprentice’ for the day

[27:35] Introducing Lean Six Sigma thinking

[34:46] Harriet’s book recommendation

[37:12] Final reflections & close

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Connect with Harriet Mewis on LinkedIn
• Connect with Sarah Archer on LinkedIn
• Listen to Sarah’s Podcast – Unstuck & Unstoppable
• Learn about Fay’s Essential HR Planner
• Learn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership Programme
• Take Fay’s freeHR Leadership Impact Assessment.

• Ep 166:The Biggest HR Strategy Mistake – And How to Fix It, with Dean Corbett
• Ep 164:Becoming More Strategic as an HR Team – 3 Ways OKRs Can Help
• Ep 163:3 Ways to Prove You’re Strategic in Your HR Leadership Job Interview
• Ep 108:HR Leadership – How to Create a Powerful One-Page Strategy, with Dr Max McKeown
• Ep 98:HR Insider Insights – How to Create a Powerful People Strategy for an SME, with Kelly Vincent

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.

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.

[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

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Learn about Fay’s Essential HR Planner
• Learn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership Programme
• Take Fay’s freeHR Leadership Impact Assessment.

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

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

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.