HR Coffee Time

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.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
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

Chapters
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

Useful Links
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

Helpful Episode to Listen to Next
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.

Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!
Sign up for the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.
Mentioned in this episode:
Inspiring HR Leadership Programme Starts in June
Learn more about The Inspiring HR Leadership Programme.
Inspiring HR
Help There When It's Needed Most
Menopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they don't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away.
Kara Connect

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.

Chapters
[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

Useful Links from This Episode:
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.

Helpful Episodes to Listen to Next
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

Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!
Sign up for the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.
Mentioned in this episode:
Help There When It's Needed Most
Menopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they don't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away.
Kara Connect
Inspiring HR Leadership Programme Starts in June
Learn more about The Inspiring HR Leadership Programme.
Inspiring HR

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.

Chapters
[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

Useful Links from This Episode
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.

Helpful Episodes to Listen to Next
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

Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!
Sign up for the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.
Mentioned in this episode:
Inspiring HR Leadership Programme Starts in June
Learn more about The Inspiring HR Leadership Programme.
Inspiring HR
Help There When It's Needed Most
Menopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they don't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away.
Kara Connect

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.

Chapters From This Episode
[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

Useful Links from This Episode:
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.

Helpful Episodes to Listen to Next
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

Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!
Sign up for the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.
Mentioned in this episode:
Inspiring HR Leadership Programme Starts in June
Learn more about The Inspiring HR Leadership Programme.
Inspiring HR
Help There When It's Needed Most
Menopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they don't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away.
Kara Connect

Is there something at work you know you’re capable of… but in the moment, your nerves take over?
Whether it’s speaking up in a meeting, handling a difficult conversation, or stepping into a high-pressure situation - that disconnect between what you can do and how you feel can be incredibly frustrating.
In this episode of HR Coffee Time, I share a simple but slightly unusual technique that can help you feel calmer, more in control, and more confident when it matters most.
It's called 'distanced self-talk', and it might feel a bit strange at first – but it’s backed by research and can make a real difference in those moments where your confidence wobbles.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why confidence can disappear in high-pressure moments
A simple technique that helps you step back from anxious thoughts
How this approach can reduce nerves and help you think more clearly
Practical ways to use it before and during challenging situations at work
Real examples of when to try it – including meetings, presentations, and interviews

Recommended Book in This Episode
Chatter: The Voice in Our Head (And How to Harness It) – by Ethan Kross

Useful Links from This Episode
Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
Learn about Fay’s Essential HR Planner
Learn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership Programme

Other Relevant HR Coffee Time Episodes
Ep 1: How to feel more confident at work
Ep 16: How to become more confident about networking
Ep 36: Four simple but powerful techniques to banish imposter syndrome
Ep 43: The one thing that will boost your resilience throughout your HR career
Ep 49: 7 tips to help you feel more confident for your job interview
Ep 73: 5 ways to feel more confident in your next interview, meeting, or presentation
Ep 74: How to get better at presenting & feel more confident about it
Ep 82: 5 tips to tackle a challenge at work when you aren’t feeling confident
Ep 101: How to build confidence with networking for HR career success
Ep 122: Unlocking confidence for your HR career – 5 tips from expert guests
Ep 137: How to recognise & break free from the lies we tell ourselves at work
Ep 162: How to Feel More Confident Speaking Up in Leadership Meetings

Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!
Sign up for the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.
Mentioned in this episode:
Help There When It's Needed Most
Menopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they don't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away.
Kara Connect
Inspiring HR Leadership Programme Starts in June
Learn more about The Inspiring HR Leadership Programme.
Inspiring HR