136 | How to shape a winning workplace culture when you work in HR, with Annabelle Lawson and Paula Brockwell

HR Coffee Time

Shaping workplace culture is becoming an increasingly important part of HR's role, with many HR functions being renamed as "People and Culture" and culture-related responsibilities appearing in job titles. But how do you actually go about shaping culture, especially when you're already busy with your day-to-day work?

In this special episode of HR Coffee Time, host Fay Wallis is joined by two guests: Annabelle Lawson, HR Manager at SPT Lab Tech, and Paula Brockwell, Founder and Chief Culture Shaper at the Employee Experience Project. Together, they explore practical strategies for defining, shaping, and embedding a winning workplace culture.

This episode is packed with actionable advice, from how to engage leadership in culture initiatives to how HR professionals can avoid becoming overwhelmed by the process. Whether you're just starting your culture journey or looking to refine your approach, this conversation is here to help.

Chapters from This Episode

[00:00] Introduction and Overview

[01:33] Meet the Guests: Annabelle Lawson and Paula Brockwell

[03:59] Annabelle Explains Her Culture Project

[08:32] Culture is a Strategic Enabler of Business Growth

[09:26] Using the Business Culture Canvas for Culture Conversations

[12:46] Embedding New Culture and Measuring Progress

[15:20] Timeframes for Seeing Cultural Changes

[19:55] Avoiding Overwhelm When Working on Culture Initiatives

[23:25] Starting a Culture Journey from Scratch

[24:33] The Importance of CEO Engagement in Culture Initiatives

[25:03] Book Recommendations

[26:06] How to Connect with Annabelle and Paula

Useful Links

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Connect with Annabelle Lawson on LinkedIn
• Connect with Paula Brockwell on LinkedIn
• Paula’s website: The Employee Experience Project

Research and Resources Mentioned

• Download Paula’s free culture change resources
• Access Paula’s Business Culture Canvas
• Access Paula’s Culture Catalyst Scorecard

Other Relevant HR Coffee Time Episodes

• Episode 114: What workplace culture is, how to measure it, and a surprising way to improve it with Arend Boersema
• Episode 120: Crafting culture: unearthing and shaping the heart of your business with Louise Kennedy

Book Recommendation From the Episode

• ‘Herd: How to Change Mass Behaviour by Harnessing Our True Nature’ by
• Mark Earls ‘Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking’ by Susan Cain

Looking For the Transcript?

You can find the transcript on this page of the Bright Sky Career Coaching website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

3R Strategy's Free Resources & Fay's HR Planning Day

Become a member of 3R Strategy's free Pay & Reward Academy, or access their free resources by visiting: https://bit.ly/3racademy Learn more about Fay's HR Planning Day and get your ticket here: https://brightskycareercoaching.co.uk/hr-planning-day/