Go behind the scenes of HR Coffee Time and learn what to expect if you’re a guest on the show, and how to set yourself up for a successful interview. In this episode, Fay explains:

• The benefits of being a guest on HR Coffee Time
• Overcoming nervousness and preparing for the interview
• The interview process
• Tips for a successful interview
• Technical aspects of the interview
• Tips to reduce filler words
• The importance of keeping the audience in mind
• How to become a guest on HR Coffee Time

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• The Essential HR Planner

You can find transcripts for all episodes on the HR Coffee Time section 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:

Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?

Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.

Inspiring HR

With claims that we’re working in a world designed for extroverts, it’s important we understand how to make our workplaces more inclusive, so that we can all thrive.

In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay is joined by Tom Cleary, Founder of Introverts & Co. Tom shares how to thrive at work as an introvert, and busts myths you may have heard before about introversion. He also explains practical strategies to help set yourself, your colleagues and your workplaces up for success. Some of the many things he covers include:

• Understanding introversion: definition and misconceptions
• The impact of introversion in the workplace
• Tom’s personal journey: from introversion to advocacy
• Why introversion is such an important topic for us all to be aware of & learn more about
• Creating inclusive meetings & team building events for introverts
• Strengths and challenges of being an introvert
• Strategies for introverts to thrive in the workplace
• The importance of identifying personal values

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Connect with Tom on LinkedIn
• Tom’s website
• Tom’s free online community: Introverts and co

(Disclosure: the book link is an affiliate link which means that Fay will receive a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through it)

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain

• Episode 43: The one thing that will boost your resilience throughout your HR career, with Tom Cleary
• Episode 47: Discovering your values to help your HR career, with Zoe Hawkins
• Episode 75: What psychometrics are, how you can use them & why they’re so helpful, with Sue Colton
• Episode 110: Why facilitation skills can help your HR career & how to develop them, with Kirsty Lewis
• HR Coffee Time inclusion playlist (on Spotify)
• HR Coffee Time inclusion playlist (online)

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 (if you’re not sure how to do it). 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:

Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?

Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.

Inspiring HR

Facilitation skills can help you thrive in your HR/People career. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay is joined by Kirsty Lewis, Founder of the School of Facilitation (SOF) who generously shares valuable insights, tips, and resources for honing facilitation skills. Listen to this episode to learn:

• What facilitation is
• The difference between facilitation and training
• How facilitation skills can help your HR career
• Practical tips on facilitating or running an online workshop (to make it as effective and engaging as possible)
• How to develop facilitation skills
• Recommendations for further learning & helpful resources

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Connect with Kirsty on LinkedIn
• Kirsty’s website: School of Facilitation
• The Essential HR Planner

• Liberating Structures
• Sessionlab (this is Kirsty’s affiliate link)
• Miro – online collaboration tool
• Mural – online collaboration tool
• Never Done Before
• L&D Shakers
• Butter
• The High Performance Podcast

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

• The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, by Priya Parker
• Neuroscience for Learning and Development, by Stella Collins

Episode 94: Summer reads: 3 great books to help your HR career

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 (if you aren't sure how). 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:

Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?

Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.

Inspiring HR

Do you have an annual project coming up? A project you only need to do once a year that can feel a bit daunting because it can feel hard to remember everything involved, what you need to do and what order to do it all in? Maybe the end-of-year performance management process is looming, or you’re working towards launching the annual employee engagement survey, or you run a graduate recruitment scheme that starts up in January. In a busy HR/People role, the possibilities for projects you might be working on are endless.

This episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help you succeed with annual projects and not get overwhelmed. Fay talks through the Simple Process Plan template she uses to help her stay on track with projects that roll around once a year. (Although she does use it for everyday processes too).

She explains what it is, how it’s laid out, how to use it and the 4 reasons it’s so effective. 

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

You can find transcripts for all episodes on the HR Coffee Time section 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:

Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?

Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.

Inspiring HR

Strategy is a topic we’ve explored before on HR Coffee Time (and we’ll look at again in the future) because it’s an important aspect of HR leadership. Whether you’re a seasoned strategist, or you feel uncomfortable and worried when it comes to strategy, this episode is here to help you build your skills and confidence.  

Strategy expert and author of the award-winning book, “The Strategy Book: How to think and act strategically to deliver outstanding results”, Dr Max Mckeown shares: 

• What strategy is & what it isn’t 
• How you’re already a strategist (even if you don’t realise it) 
• Why people doubt themselves when it comes to being strategic 
• The three parts of being strategic – timescale, scope, & sequence 
• An example of strategy done badly 
• An example of a good strategy (McDonalds) 
• Strategy is simple but simple is complex 
• Max’s strategy tool, Speed Strategy – where are we now, where do we want to go, what do we need to do to get there, how do we need to do it, what do we need to measure along the route, what is pushing us, what might stop us? 

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn 
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching 
• Free Speed Strategy template 
• Max’s website 
• Connect with Max on LinkedIn 

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

• The Pocket Oracle and Art of Prudence, by Baltasar Gracián 
• The Strategy Book: How to think and act strategically to deliver outstanding results, by Max Mckeown 
• The Innovation Book: How to manage ideas and execution for outstanding results, by Max Mckeown 
• Adaptability: The art of winning in an age of uncertainty, by Max Mckeown 

• Episode 102: Boosting your strategic knowledge to step up in your HR role 
• Episode 98: HR insider insights: how to create a powerful People Strategy for an SME, with Kelly Vincent 
• Episode 93: Creating a more inclusive work culture: how to make an impact, with Toby Mildon 
• Episode 77: How to create an effective DEI strategy, with Metra Rowe 
• Episode 61: The 4 pillars that will help you be strategic in your HR role 
• Episode 26: How to be strategic in your new HR leadership role 

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. 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:

Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?

Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.

Inspiring HR

Have you ever felt like a fraud at work and worried you were about to be found out at any moment? Do you ever hold yourself back from asking for what you want for fear of hearing the word, “no”? Do you ever procrastinate because you’re worried about getting things ‘perfect’ enough? Do you work incredibly hard – perhaps harder than your colleagues and peers because you want to make sure you’re achieving good results at work?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you are not alone. You may be experiencing imposter syndrome; something that affects many of us at certain points throughout our career.

In this episode of HR Coffee Time, guest Aoife O’Brien explains what imposter syndrome is, the impact it has at work and how to tackle it head-on.

Listen to the episode to learn:

• What imposter syndrome is (and what it isn’t)
• Where her interest in imposter syndrome comes from
• Results from Aoife’s research into imposter syndrome
• How imposter syndrome impacts performance (including procrastination and burnout)
• What Aoife thinks about claims that imposter syndrome doesn’t exist or that it’s an unhelpful label
• Practical strategies to tackle imposter syndrome throughout your organisation
• Tips to help you overcome imposter syndrome for yourself, including ABC (A = acknowledge, B = belief, C = courageous action)
• How knowing your strengths and asking for feedback can help

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Aoife’s Imposter Syndrome Survey Report
• Aoife’s Happier at Work website
• Aoife’s Imposter Syndrome website
• Gallup Clifton Strengths Assessment
• The Essential HR Planner

• Connect with Aoife on LinkedIn
• Follow Aoife on Instagram
• Follow Aoife on Twitter / X
• Subscribe to Aoife’s YouTube channel

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

High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way, by Brendon Burchard

• Episode 1: How to feel more confident at work
• Episode 36: Four simple but powerful techniques to banish imposter syndrome, with Joanna Lott
• Episode 57: Using the Johari Window to develop & grow in your HR career (the Johari Window is a feedback tool)
• Episode 75: What psychometrics are, how you can use them & why they’re so helpful, with Sue Colton (psychometrics can be a helpful way of learning about your strengths)
• Episode 78: 5 tips to get useful feedback at work to help your HR/People career

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. 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:

Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?

Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.

Inspiring HR

If you have no idea what to post on LinkedIn, or why you should be posting on there, this episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help. Fay explains why it’s so important to be active on LinkedIn to build your professional and employer brands. She then explains 7 types of posts to share on LinkedIn that will help your HR career.

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

• Episode 11: Networking – the three most important networks for your career - Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Episode 15: How networking can help your career - Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Episode 16: How to become more confident about networking - Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Episode 17: 3 little-known LinkedIn features which will help you get your next job - Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Episode 101: How to build confidence with networking for HR career success, with Yvonne Walsh - Bright Sky Career Coaching

You can find transcripts for all episodes on the HR Coffee Time section 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. 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:

Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?

Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.

Inspiring HR

Although pensions can feel like a boring or complicated topic (especially if you’re not a Reward specialist), HR Coffee Time guest Pete Hykin shows this doesn’t have to be the case. In this episode he helps strip away any worries you might have about choosing a pension provider or talking about pensions at work. He also shares some great tips on how to get everyone engaged with their pensions and focused on their financial wellbeing.

Listen to the episode to learn:

• Why it’s important to prioritise getting pensions right, even though you have other projects and issues competing for your time and attention.
• You can draw a direct line from employee productivity to employee wellbeing and financial wellbeing.
• Aside from their house, their pension is the largest financial asset your employees will have in their lives.
• Pensions are a major part of financial wellbeing.
• The importance of educating people about pensions.
• Help bring the amount of money in peoples’ pensions to life.
• You can use tools like salary sacrifice to put more money in your employees’ pockets.
• Create a culture and environment where people can talk about money and their financial wellbeing.
• Inclusion and pensions.
• Tips on choosing a new pension provider – consult with your employees to find out what’s important to them.

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Book a virtual chat with Penfold

(Disclosure: the book link is an affiliate link which means that Fay will receive a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through it)

Becoming, by Michelle Obama

Episode 48: How to support your colleagues with bereavement at work, with Michelle Smith

You can find transcripts for all episodes on the HR Coffee Time section 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. 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:

Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?

Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.

Inspiring HR

Gravitas can help you make an impact throughout your HR career, but it can feel hard to define, and even harder to work out how to develop it. Antoinette Dale Henderson is on hand to help. Having made it her life’s work to decode the elements that contribute to gravitas and teach us how to improve our own personal gravitas, she shares some of her key insights and tips in this episode of HR Coffee Time, including:

• Antoinette’s definition of gravitas, “The ability to command respect, get taken seriously, and get your voice heard. All while retaining your own authentic self.”
• How gender impacts perception of gravitas.
• The six components of Antoinette’s model, The Gravitas Wheel.
• Internal components: self-awareness, expertise, authenticity
• External components: presence, connection, projection
• Sitting in the centre of the wheel: purpose
• How to plan using OPRAHS to make sure you have maximum presence in a situation:
• O: objective – what’s your objective?
• P: people – which people will be there & what’s their objective?
• R: role – what role am I playing?
• A: attitude – what attitude do I need to have?
• H: hear – what am I going to hear?
• S: say – what am I going to say?
• Increasing or decreasing your presence using body language, voice, eye contact and clothing

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

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

• Leading With Gravitas: Unlock the six keys to impact and influence, by Antoinette Dale Henderson
• Power Up: The Smart Woman’s Guide to Unleashing Her Potential, by Antoinette Dale Henderson
• Look Like The Leader You Are: A 7 step strategy for ambitious women, by Lizzie Edwards
• Compelling People: The Hidden Qualities That Make Us Influential, by John Neffinger & Matthew Kohut

• Episode 91: How to be more assertive at work – a fresh approach, with Trisha Lewis
• Episode 73: 5 ways to feel more confident in your next interview, meeting, or presentation

You can find transcripts for all episodes on the HR Coffee Time section 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. 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:

Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?

Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.

Inspiring HR

Contracting (taking on a role that isn’t a permanent position) can be a great option for your HR career. But how do you know whether it’s the right fit for you?

This episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help you answer that question. Experienced HR contractor – Eleanor Minshall, shares her insights and explains:

• How she made the switch from permanent employment to contracting.
• The benefits of contracting
• The downsides of contracting to be aware of
• Useful skills to have as a contractor
• How to get a contract role
• How to set yourself up for success in a contract role

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

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

• ‘Will It Make The Boat Go Faster?: Olympic-winning Strategies for Everyday Success’ by Harriet Beveridge & Ben Hunt-Davis
• ‘Legacy: 15 Lessons in Leadership’ by James Kerr 

• Episode 04: Finding your next HR job – key tips from an HR Recruiter, with Tansel Omer
• Episode 13: How to get a senior-level role, with Craig Elvin
• Episode 101: How to build confidence with networking for HR career success, with Yvonne Walsh

You can find transcripts for all episodes on the HR Coffee Time section 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. 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:

Ready to learn more about Inspiring HR?

Learn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme, and sign up to join the next cohort, that starts on 10th September 2025.

Inspiring HR