HR Coffee Time

Understanding and supporting neurodiversity at work is important for many different reasons. Not only can it help you unlock access to talent and skills that are currently missing from your organisation; it can also lead to higher levels of engagement, inclusion and innovation.In this episode of the HR Coffee Time podcast, Neurodiversity Champion, Speaker & experienced HR professional, Mel Francis, shares her extensive knowledge and insights on the topic. Key Points From This Episode[00:35] Introduction to Melanie Francis[02:17] What is the definition of neurodiversity[04:45] What is dyslexia[05:51] Developmental coordination disorder/dyspraxia[06:39] Developmental language disorder[06:55] Autistic spectrum disorder[08:00] Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder[08:21] Tourette syndrome[16:42] What to find on DO IT Solutions[18:43] Neurodiversity in the workplace[20:12] Taking a look at the statistics in 2021[23:00] The business case for understanding & supporting neurodiversity - a case law example[23:52] The business case - useful research including Matthew Syed's book, "Rebel Ideas"[25:34] Practical strategies to use throughout key stages of the employment lifecycle[31:37] Becoming a Neurodiversity Champion[33:00] Melanie's book recommendation, "Neurodiversity at Work" by Professor Amanda Kirby and Theo Smith[33:42] How to get in touch with MelanieUseful Links From This EpisodeConnect with Fay on LinkedInThe Bright Sky Career Coaching websiteThe Essential HR PlannerConnect with Mel on LinkedInEverymind At Work’s webinar featuring Melanie Francis, “How HR can be more neuro-inclusive across the employee lifecycle”·     Access to Work SchemeTake a further look at DO IT SolutionsRate and Review the PodcastIf you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: fay@brightskycareercoaching.co.uk.Enjoyed This Episode? Don't Miss the Next One!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 AcademyBecome a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.Learn More About Inspiring HRLearn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme and save your place on the cohort that starts on 30th April 2025.Inspiring HR

Starting a new job at any organisation can feel daunting but stepping into an HR leadership role can feel particularly nerve-racking. You care about doing a great job and you know that all eyes will be on you during your first few months, waiting to see how you perform.In this episode of the HR Coffee Time career coach, Fay Wallis shares four tips that will help to set you up for success in your new HR leadership role.Key Points From This Episode[01:00] There will be more than one episode to help you succeed as a leader in HR[01:35] In this episode, Fay shares 4 key things to set you up for success in your new HR leadership role[02:51] Tip 1: put things in place to protect your wellbeing and mental health[04:09] If you find self-care particularly challenging, episode 10, ‘Tackling stress & building resilience, with Adele Stickland’ may be helpful for you[04:26] Tip 2: plan your pre-boarding & onboarding activities[05:05] Plan your introduction to your team[08:16] Tip 3: get a sense check about strategic priorities, mission & vision[09:58] The SHRM has some good templates to help with creating a mission & vision[12:09] Michael D. Watkins’ STARS framework to help you assess what situation you’re walking into[14:23] Tip 4: focus on people and products[16:10] The importance of building relationships across the organisation[17:48] Other episodes focused on networking and building relationships:Episode 11: Networking – the three most important networks for your careerEpisode 15: How networking can help your careerEpisode 16: How to become more confident about networkingEpisode 21: The 8 people who will set you up for career success, with Sharon PeakeUseful Links From This EpisodeMission & vision resources from the SHRMMichael D. Watkins HBR article, “Picking the right transition strategy”Episode 10: Tackling stress & building resilience, with Adele SticklandEpisode 11: Networking – the three most important networks for your careerEpisode 15: How networking can help your careerEpisode 16: How to become more confident about networkingEpisode 21: The 8 people who will set you up for career success, with Sharon PeakeRate and Review the PodcastIf you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: fay@brightskycareercoaching.co.uk. Enjoyed This Episode? Don't Miss the Next One!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 AcademyBecome a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.Learn More About Inspiring HRLearn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme and save your place on the cohort that starts on 30th April 2025.Inspiring HR

You’ll have to handle conflict at work on many occasions throughout your HR career. Whether it’s conflict you’re experiencing yourself, or people in the organisation are turning to you for help because there is conflict within their teams. This episode is packed full of tips to help you handle it confidently and effectively.Career Coach Fay Wallis interviews Ginny Radmall from The Ivy Way, who gets to the root of why conflict exists, why it isn’t necessarily a bad thing and how to work through it to find positive outcomes. Key Points From This Episode[02:00] Introduction to Ginny Radmall and The Ivy Way[04:10] What conflict is and why it exists [06:02] Why conflict can feel stressful to deal with [09:25] Mistakes to avoid when handling conflict[12:00] The importance of listening & using open-ended questions [17:05] What to do if your technique for handling conflict doesn’t work straight away [21:48] Finding mutual ground in conflict situations [23:43] How understanding different personality profiles (using a profiling tool like C.Me) can help [26:53] Fay explains that episode 3 of the podcast explores how behavioural tool DiSC can help to build relationships at work [28:21] The difference between observing and evaluating someone else’s behaviour[32:18] How Covid has impacted on conflict at work [36:00] Why we shouldn’t avoid dealing with conflict [36:48] Ginny’s book recommendation – ‘Changing the Conversation’ by Dana Caspersen[37:46] How to get in touch with Ginny Useful Links From This EpisodeReview the HR Coffee Time podcast on Apple PodcastsConnect with Fay on LinkedInThe Bright Sky Career Coaching websiteConnect with Ginny on LinkedInThe Ivy Way websiteEpisode 3 of HR Coffee Time: Building relationships with difficult people at work  Rate and Review the PodcastIf you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts.If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: fay@brightskycareercoaching.co.uk.Enjoyed This Episode? Don't Miss the Next One!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 AcademyBecome a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.Learn More About Inspiring HRLearn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme and save your place on the cohort that starts on 30th April 2025.Inspiring HR

In this episode of HR Coffee Time Sharon Peake (CEO of Shape Talent) talks through the 8 people in your network who will set you up for career success. Listen to the episode to find out who these 8 people are and what you can do to identify them and build a relationship with them.This is the last in a series of episodes about networking. The other episodes on this topic are:·     Episode 16: How to become more confident about networking·     Episode 15: How networking can help your career·     Episode 11: Networking – the 3 most important networks for your careerKey Points From This Episode[01:52] Introduction to Sharon Peake and the work that Shape Talent does[03:31] How Sharon identified the 8 people you need in your network[05:31] Why women find it harder to build strong networks for their careers[07:41] Your operational network – experts and navigators[08:37] Your network for growth – mentors, challengers & accountability partners[10:31] Your strategic network – connectors[14:20] The power of weak ties[17:18] Your strategic network – sponsors & key bearers[20:38] How to find a sponsor[25:39] How to take action to identify and build relationships with the 8 key people[30:00] Easy-to-implement networking tips[34:17] Sharon’s book recommendation, “Working Identity” by Herminia IbarraUseful Links From This EpisodeReview the HR Coffee Time podcast on Apple PodcastsConnect with Fay on LinkedInThe Bright Sky Career Coaching website Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn Shape Talent’s websiteWhitepaper: 3 barriers to women’s progression – what organisations can doSharon’s article: The 8 critical people you need in your network & how to find them Rate and Review the PodcastIf you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts.If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: fay@brightskycareercoaching.co.uk. Enjoyed This Episode? Don't Miss the Next One!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:Learn More About Inspiring HRLearn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme and save your place on the cohort that starts on 30th April 2025.Inspiring HRJoin 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward AcademyBecome a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.

Whether you've never done succession planning, or you have it in place but aren't sure it's going as well as it could, this episode is here to help. Jo Taylor from Let's Talk Talent shares her insights into why the traditional 9 box grid method doesn't work and what to use instead. She also has some helpful examples of organisations that are doing succession planning well. Key Points From This Episode [01:57] Introduction to Jo Taylor and her role as Managing Director of Let’s Talk Talent  [03:44] The misconceptions of running your own business and the lifestyle it brings you [06:38] Working long hours[12:10] Taking time for yourself and finding coping mechanisms when you are feeling stressed [15:11] Unlocking the potential in people using succession planning [17:50] The nine-box grid and why Jo believes this isn’t the best method for succession planning [23:13] Using emotional intelligence rather than the nine-box grid to see people’s potential [24:28] Asking people want they want when it comes to succession planning and the importance of having conversations rather than making assumptions [27:07] Looking at how you define talent with your organisation by looking at data and how the business will benefit from doing work in succession planning [29:15] Defining the succession planning process as an organisation[32:57] Saville Wave explained[34:39] Tips for getting buy-in from the senior team when looking at new ways to do succession planning [36:45] Ways to measure the success of implementing new success planning processes [39:06] The types of businesses that should be considering succession planning [40:15] Jo’s book recommendation – Everyone Died So I Got a Dog, by Emily Dean [41:30] How to get in touch with Jo Useful Links From This Episode Review the HR Coffee Time podcast on Apple Podcasts Connect with Fay on LinkedIn The Bright Sky Career Coaching website Connect with Jo on LinkedIn Let’s Talk Talent website Let’s Talk Talent’s succession planning whitepaper Let’s Talk Talent’s succession planning Whatsapp course  Rate and Review the Podcast If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts. If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: fay@brightskycareercoaching.co.uk.  Enjoyed This Episode? Don't Miss the Next One! 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 AcademyBecome a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.Learn More About Inspiring HRLearn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme and save your place on the cohort that starts on 30th April 2025.Inspiring HR

For the last HR Coffee Time of 2021, Fay shares 10 questions for you to reflect on, to help you look back on the year and make a plan to take forward to next year. Looking back is a good way of learning from the past, taking the time to recognise your achievements and key learnings. It can also give you ideas for your next goals and want you want to achieve from the year aheadKey Points From This Episode[00:30] Why it’s a good idea to look back and reflect on the year[02:19] Becoming the Programme Manager of your own career[02:52] Considering success and what it means to you[03:33] The problem with linking success and happiness[04:37] Sean Achor’s teachings: creating the happiness advantage through positive thinking[05:00] Fay’s blog article about the best TED talks for your career[05:21] How to remember everything you’ve done over the past year[06:17] Question one: what did you achieve?[07:11] If you lack self-confidence or find it hard to see yourself as having achievements, episode one of the podcast may help, “How to feel more confident at work”[07:11] Question two: what did you do to help others?[08:13] Question three: what are you proudest of from this year?[08:40] Question four: what did you do for your wellbeing this year?[09:35] For more inspiration about wellbeing, episode 10, “Tackling stress and building resilience, with Adele Stickland” may be useful [10:10] Question five: what did you learn this year?[10:38] Question six: which relationships did you develop or build?[10:56] Useful podcast episodes about building relationships:·     Episode 5: how to progress your career using the 3E model·     Episode 11: the three most important networks for your career·     Episode 15: how networking can help your career·     Episode 16: how to become more confident about networking[11:45] Question seven: what are you grateful for?[13:11] Question eight: what did you find challenging this year?[13:49] If you find time management challenging, episode 7 may be helpful, “What to do when you don’t have enough hours in the day”[14:17] If your challenge is a difficult person at work, episode 3, “Building relationships with difficult people at work” might be useful[14:38] Question nine: what key insights do you have from reading through your answers to questions 1 – 8?[15:15] Question ten: how can these insights influence your goals for next year?Useful Links From This EpisodeThe Essential HR PlannerReview the HR Coffee Time podcast on Apple PodcastsConnect with Fay on LinkedInThe Bright Sky Career Coaching website Rate and Review the PodcastIf you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts.If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: fay@brightskycareercoaching.co.uk. Enjoyed This Episode? Don't Miss the Next One!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:Learn More About Inspiring HRLearn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme and save your place on the cohort that starts on 30th April 2025.Inspiring HRJoin 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward AcademyBecome a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.

If you’re committed to your HR career and want to make a positive impact in the organisation you work in, this episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help. Karen Moran, one of the co-founders of Disruptive HR, shares her views on the future of HR. She explains how to get rid of outdated practices and future-proof your career by changing your approach and building your skills.Key Points From This Episode[01:17] Introduction to Karen Moran, co-founder of Disruptive HR[03:01] Information on the Disruptive HR Club for those working in HR[06:36] The benefits of changing from being process driven to focusing on outcomes[08:15] The parental approach, how creating rules and processes for people to follow stops them from using their own judgement[09:20] Silos of expertise and how these are problem in the way HR teams work[10:20] How skills gaps in HR teams are why they can lack influence and credibility[11:50] What skills need to be developed with HR teams to fix these problems[13:35] How we can help leaders to help themselves and making the experience for our people as good as it can be[17:01] The tools that can be used to take steps forward for changing the mindset of how HR teams work[19:20] Creating environments to help change behaviours and build skills.[25:23] Examples of challenging current HR processes, policies and practices and ensuring they are in place for the right reasons[32:15] Karen’s book recommendations – HR Disrupted and the HR Change Toolkit by Lucy AdamsUseful Links From This EpisodeThe Essential HR PlannerReview the HR Coffee Time podcast on Apple Podcasts Connect with Fay on LinkedIn The Bright Sky Career Coaching website Disruptive HR website The Disruptive HR club  Rate and Review the Podcast If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts. If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: fay@brightskycareercoaching.co.uk.  Enjoyed This Episode? Don't Miss the Next One! 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:Learn More About Inspiring HRLearn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme and save your place on the cohort that starts on 30th April 2025.Inspiring HRJoin 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward AcademyBecome a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.

Do you find it hard to set yourself goals, or to stick to them? If this is the case, don’t worry, you’re not alone! It’s something that most people struggle with. In this episode of the HR Coffee Time podcast, career coach Fay Wallis shares her tips for creating meaningful career goals (that you can stick to) for the year ahead.Key Points From This Episode[00:17] The Essential HR Planner has a career goals planning section in it.[01:45] The 3 main problem with traditional goal setting methods[05:25] Looking inwards – answering the questions, “What’s important to you when it comes to your career?” and “What do you want to do next to help your career?”[10:12] Asking for feedback to help inform your career goals[12:35] Looking outwards – the key topics and areas that HR has influence over[13:19] Considering the employee lifecycle for career goal ideas[14:54] Setting goals with the rest of your HR team[15:44] Don’t set yourself too many goals – starting off with 3 is a good idea[16:09] You can use the HR Coffee Time podcast as a resource to help you pin down or work towards achieving your career goals[16:54] Writing down your goals – step by step instructions to help you clarify and achieve them[23:08] Fay will be running an online masterclass/workshop in January to help you with goal settingUseful Links From This EpisodeThe Essential HR PlannerReview the HR Coffee Time podcast on Apple PodcastsConnect with Fay on LinkedInThe Bright Sky Career Coaching websiteRate and Review the PodcastIf you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts.If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: fay@brightskycareercoaching.co.uk. Enjoyed This Episode? Don't Miss the Next One!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:Learn More About Inspiring HRLearn more about the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme and save your place on the cohort that starts on 30th April 2025.Inspiring HRJoin 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward AcademyBecome a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy.

Networking can be a game-changer for your career, and it doesn’t have to be intimidating! Discover nine tips to boost your confidence and create a positive mindset. Small talk is key—learn how to master it and remember personal details to deepen connections. Explore the value of giving over taking in networking dynamics and how to leverage LinkedIn effectively. Plus, find out how arriving early at events can make the experience more welcoming and enjoyable. Embrace networking as a powerful relationship-building tool!

Explore how networking can be a game-changer for your career! Discover key strategies to help you secure a new role, transition to a different career, or shine in your current job. Learn the importance of sharing your job search within your network and the power of informational interviews to uncover hidden opportunities. Delve into the myth that hard work is all it takes for recognition, and understand why building relationships is essential for career growth. Get ready to unlock your potential through connections!