Most organisational conflicts are invisible, and costly. Fiona Kearns joins Anwen Bottois (your host) to reveal how small, overlooked 'politeness' issues can escalate into toxic environments, affecting productivity and morale in ways leaders often miss. All impacting individual and organisational performance, critical for the HR Strategy.

If you've ever wondered how minor disagreements snowball or why high-performing teams struggle with communication, this episode is for you.

Fiona, a business psychologist with a tech and telecoms background, shows you how to spot the warning signs of low-level conflict and turn them into opportunities for stronger, healthier workplaces.

You’ll discover:

• Why 'politeness' can be a form of avoidance and how to confront it effectively
• The hidden power dynamics behind small frustrations and microaggressions
• Practical action based on having more honest, low-stakes conversations that prevent bigger issues
• How to build a culture where feedback and conflict are seen as opportunities, not threats
• Actionable steps for HR and leaders to model open dialogue and strengthen team trust In an era where organisational health directly impacts profitability, ignoring small conflicts is a risk you can’t afford.

Fiona explains why addressing the 'small stuff' can prevent costly disruptions, reduce turnover, and foster a more engaged, resilient workforce. Perfect for HR leaders, managers, and executives eager to create workplaces built on trust and transparency, because clear, honest conversations are the foundation of high performance.

When you master the art of meaningful communication, you unlock extraordinary growth, innovation, and team cohesion. Tune in to learn how to turn polite avoidance into powerful leadership, because stronger conversations make stronger organisations.

Fiona Kearns is a business psychologist specialising in leadership, organisational culture, and high-performance teams. She’s passionate about unpicking hierarchical barriers to create more open, human-centered workplaces.

Find Fiona here:

The website: kearnsconsultancy.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fionakearns

Find out more about Anwen here:

The website: purpleskyconsulting.co.uk

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anwen-bottois-leadership-coach

What does it really mean to operate strategically as an HR leader?

If you’ve ever felt stuck refining your impact, this episode unlocks six core behaviours and approaches that transform your role from tactical to strategic.

Anwen Bottois, from Purple Sky Consulting, dives deep into the essential mindsets, relationships, and communication strategies that elevate HR from a support function to a key strategic partner.

Discover how understanding the true problem, beyond surface issues, can make or break the success of your initiatives. She shares approaches, like analysing the system each solution operates within, and emphasises the critical role of stakeholder relationships in unlocking organisational change. Operating strategically isn’t about a single skill; it’s about cultivating a growth-oriented mindset across six key areas.

Anwen’s insights help HR professionals assess where they stand, identify gaps, and develop a deliberate plan to elevate their strategic influence, plus she offers a self-assessment tool you can use immediately.

This episode is perfect for HR leaders aiming to accelerate their development, solidify credibility, and become indispensable to their organisations’ success.

If you’re ready to stop managing in chaos and start leading with vision and impact, tune in now and start transforming your HR approach today.

Anwen Bottois is an HR strategist and leadership consultant known for helping HR professionals unlock their strategic potential through practical frameworks and leadership development. Get ready to reframe your mindset, build stronger relationships, and demonstrate impact like never before.

Find Anwen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anwen-bottois-leadership-coach/

Find all episodes here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/hr-strategy-in-the-hot-seat/id1870588503

HR Strategy Insights: Executing and Operating Strategically

In this episode, Anwen Bottois shares her perspective on HR strategy, focusing on how HR functions can effectively execute strategy and what it truly means to operate as a strategic HR professional.

Whether you're an HR leader or a professional looking to elevate your strategic impact, this discussion offers practical insights and frameworks to help align HR activities with overall business success.

Anwen invites you to share your perspective on HR Strategy execution.

Key topics

- The relationship between HR strategy and overall business strategy

- The importance of executing HR strategy effectively

- Key components of HR strategy execution: development, translation, implementation, and review

- The role of HR in shaping organizational direction through strategic solutions

- How to evolve HR strategies based on lessons learned and organizational feedback

- Skills, behaviors, and mindset required for HR to operate strategically

- The significance of leadership involvement and communication in strategy initiatives

- Reflecting on success and barriers to improve future strategic efforts

- The transition from management to strategic leadership roles in HR

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to this solo episode and its purpose

00:33 - Anwen introduces the concept of prompts for conversation and reflection

01:08 - Her background and experience in HR strategy and leadership

02:04 - Why HR strategy should be aligned with business strategy

03:14 - The significance of understanding what HR strategy is and its core elements

04:23 - The importance of HR being part of organisational shaping and growth

05:49 - Focusing on strategy execution and how HR contributes

06:50 - Key elements of HR strategy execution from development to review

07:20 - Shaping the organization's direction through strategic solutions

08:48 - Translating strategic priorities into day-to-day activities

09:40 - The impact of change, engagement, and communication in execution

10:58 - Implementing and supporting solutions effectively

11:29 - Reviewing, learning, and iterating on strategy outcomes

12:10 - Identifying gaps and adjusting HR actions accordingly

13:08 - Engaging leadership and teams in ongoing strategic conversations

14:33 - Celebrating successes and learning from barriers

15:30 - The continuous evolution of HR strategies

16:41 - A preview of the next episode focusing on operating strategically in HR

19:04 - The speaker shares her personal journey and leadership development focus

21:57 - Closing remarks and call to action for listeners to connect and engage

Find Anwen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anwen-bottois-leadership-coach/

Find all episodes here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/hr-strategy-in-the-hot-seat/id1870588503