After completing your CIPD qualification, it can be hard to decide what training to invest in next. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis shares four valuable and perhaps surprising training options to help you develop skills that will elevate your HR career: mediation, coaching, negotiation, and facilitation.

You’ll hear extracts from earlier episodes featuring expert guests who explain each skill and its benefits. Fay has personally attended training with all the featured experts, so she can confidently recommend their insights and advice.

Whether you’re considering what to focus on for your professional development this year or just want to understand how these skills can help you, this episode is packed with ideas and inspiration to guide your next steps.

[00:00] Introduction and overview

[03:38] Mediation skills with Pete Colby (Episode 99)

[08:07] Coaching skills with Charlie Warshawski (Episode 53)

[13:59] Negotiation skills with Simon Duncan (Episode 115)

[21:23] Facilitation skills with Kirsty Lewis (Episode 110)

[26:43] Closing thoughts

(Book links are Amazon affiliate links, which means Fay will receive a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them).

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: fay@brightskycareercoaching.co.uk.

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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...

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: