In this episode of HRDQ-U in Review, host Sarah sits down with negotiation expert Laura Browne to talk about one of the toughest, and most important,career skills: asking for more money.

Laura shares the story of her first, unsuccessful attempt at requesting a raise—an experience that sparked her mission to help others confidently advocate for their worth. Since then, she’s authored Increase Your Income and A Salary Cinderella Story, guiding professionals (especially women) to approach salary conversations strategically and fearlessly.

Together, Sarah and Laura unpack the key principles behind effective salary negotiations, including how to research market rates, build a solid business case, and understand the timing of company raise cycles. Laura also offers practical advice for keeping the conversation professional, even when the answer is “not yet,” and explains how to turn that into a roadmap for future success.

Key Takeaways:

• Why you can’t assume good performance alone will earn you a raise
• How to prepare months in advance for salary discussions
• Tips for framing negotiation as collaboration, not confrontation
• Steps for researching pay ranges and company priorities
• What to do after a “no” to set up your next opportunity

Action Items:

• Listen to the webinar on hrdqu.com.
• Start sending weekly updates to your manager summarizing your accomplishments and results.
• Research salary data using salary.com and Indeed to understand your market value.
• Confirm your company’s priorities and performance expectations regularly with your manager.
• Begin preparing for raise discussions at least four months before formal review cycles.
• Use code HRDQU for 25% off Laura’s classes and coaching at careercoffeebreak.com.

🎧 Tune in to learn how to confidently ask for what you deserve—and get it.

Episode Sponsors:

HRDQ-U: Unlock your potential with HRDQ-U memberships! Gain exclusive access to top-tier training resources, webinars, and tools that elevate your team's performance. Use code HRDQUSAVE10 at checkout for 10% off your first year of your annual membership. Visit hrdqu.com to learn more and join the HRDQU community.

HRDQ: Providers of research-based, soft skills, training resources since 1977. Assessments, online learning, experiential hands-on games, customizable course content. Over 200 resources to improve performance, increase job satisfaction, and cultivate essential skills in your organization. Use code HRDQUPOD10 for 10% off your purchase today at hrdqstore.com.

In this episode of HRDQ In Review, host Sarah sits down with leadership expert Guy Harris to explore coaching for accountability beyond discipline and compliance.

Guy shares his journey from chemical engineering and naval nuclear service to a 24-year career in leadership development, focusing on conflict resolution, communication skills, and coaching new frontline leaders. Together, Sarah and Guy dive into the challenges leaders face with negativity bias—why we often notice what’s going wrong before what’s going right—and how shifting to a positive, future-focused coaching approach can create more accountable, high-performing teams.

This conversation is full of practical tools and quick wins, from recognizing and reinforcing positive behaviors to building coaching strategies that inspire growth and engagement. Guy emphasizes that effective coaching goes beyond correcting mistakes—it encourages behaviors that drive success and fosters stronger team dynamics.

Whether you’re a manager, team leader, or aspiring coach, this episode will help you guide your team toward accountability and performance without relying on discipline alone.

Chapters

‎00:00:00 – Introduction and Guest Background ‎00:00:45 – Guy’s Career Journey and Leadership Insights ‎00:01:44 – Understanding Negativity Bias in Leadership ‎00:03:12 – Coaching Beyond Discipline: Key Strategies ‎00:07:30 – Actionable Tips for Positive Reinforcement ‎00:10:55 – Closing and Resources

Action Items for Listeners

• Subscribe to the HRDQU.com newsletter for exclusive updates and upcoming webinars.
• Follow and review the HRDQ In Review podcast on your preferred platform.
• Focus on identifying and encouraging positive behaviors in your team rather than just correcting mistakes.
• Watch the webinar here.

Episode Sponsors:

HRDQ-U: Unlock your potential with HRDQ-U memberships! Gain exclusive access to top-tier training resources, webinars, and tools that elevate your team's performance. Use code HRDQUSAVE10 at checkout for 10% off your first year of your annual membership. Visit hrdqu.com to learn more and join the HRDQU community.

HRDQ: Providers of research-based, soft skills, training resources since 1977. Assessments, online learning, experiential hands-on games, customizable course content. Over 200 resources to improve performance, increase job satisfaction, and cultivate essential skills in your organization. Use code HRDQUPOD10 for 10% off your purchase today at hrdqstore.com.

In this episode of HRDQ-U In Review, host Sarah sits down with Richard Goring, a presentation design expert from BrightCarbon, to explore what makes professional PowerPoint slides effective and engaging.

Richard shares how presentation expectations have evolved since COVID-19, with audiences demanding higher-quality visual storytelling and the growing role of AI in content creation. Together, Sarah and Richard dive into the core principles of great slide design—avoiding bullet-point overload, creating clear visual hierarchy, using contrast effectively, and placing images with intention.

This conversation is full of practical tools and quick wins, from using PowerPoint’s Convert to SmartArt and morph transition features to leveraging branding tools for consistency. Richard emphasizes that slides shouldn’t just decorate—they should tell a story, meet clear objectives, and keep the audience focused.

Whether you’re preparing for a big pitch, training, or executive presentation, this episode will help you design slides that stand out and connect.

Special Offer!

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As a bonus, get 10 months free in the BrandIn Insider Programme with exclusive training, early feature releases, and special product drops. Learn more here,

Chapters

‎00:00:00 – Introduction and Guest Background ‎00:02:57 – Evolution of Presentation Expectations ‎00:04:45 – Key Presentation Design Principles ‎00:09:32 – Professional Slide Creation Tips ‎00:13:03 – Time Management and Efficiency ‎00:15:57 – Closing and Resources

Action Items for Listeners

• Subscribe to the HRDQU.com newsletter for exclusive updates and resources. (00:00:17)
• Explore the Convert to SmartArt feature for quick slide improvements. (00:07:24)
• Try the morph transition in PowerPoint for seamless slide movement. (00:08:52)
• Watch the webinar recording for detailed animation techniques. (00:15:57)
• Visit brightcarbon.com for free resources and weekly masterclasses. (00:23:28)

Episode Sponsors:

HRDQ-U: Unlock your potential with HRDQ-U memberships! Gain exclusive access to top-tier training resources, webinars, and tools that elevate your team's performance. Use code HRDQUSAVE10 at checkout for 10% off your first year of your annual membership. Visit hrdqu.com to learn more and join the HRDQU community.

HRDQ: Providers of research-based, soft skills, training resources since 1977. Assessments, online learning, experiential hands-on games, customizable course content. Over 200 resources to improve performance, increase job satisfaction, and cultivate essential skills in your organization. Use code HRDQUPOD10 for 10% off your purchase today at hrdqstore.com.

In this episode of HRDQ in Review, host Sarah sits down with Patti Massulo, a speaker and trainer specializing in personal and professional development, to explore the realities of imposter syndrome and how to overcome it.

Patti breaks down what imposter syndrome really is—confidence running on outdated software—and shares her own personal stories of self-doubt, including speaking to 650 people at her first engagement and turning down a major opportunity in Washington, D.C. Together, Sarah and Patti discuss why high achievers are particularly prone to imposter syndrome and provide listeners with actionable strategies to reframe negative thoughts, track progress, and build lasting confidence.

This conversation is full of practical tools, from the three-column journaling exercise to the power of mentorship and accountability partners, designed to help you stop questioning your worth and start owning your success.

Watch the webinar

Chapters

• ‎00:00:00 – Introduction and Guest Background
• ‎00:01:48 – Defining Imposter Syndrome
• ‎00:02:45 – Personal Experiences with Imposter Syndrome
• ‎00:03:45 – High Achievers and Imposter Syndrome
• ‎00:04:30 – Practical Strategies and Tools
• ‎00:09:32 – Building Lasting Confidence
• ‎00:11:08 – Closing and Resources

Action Items for Listeners

• Subscribe to the HRDQU.com newsletter for exclusive updates and resources. (00:00:17)
• Try the three-column journaling exercise to challenge and reframe self-doubt. (00:06:25)
• Seek out an accountability partner or mentor to reinforce confidence. (00:09:51)
• Keep a journal of your accomplishments to track growth and remind yourself of progress. (00:10:00)
• Connect with Patti Massulo at pattimassulo.com or on LinkedIn. (00:11:08)

Episode Sponsors:

HRDQ-U: Unlock your potential with HRDQ-U memberships! Gain exclusive access to top-tier training resources, webinars, and tools that elevate your team's performance. Use code HRDQUSAVE10 at checkout for 10% off your first year of your annual membership. Visit hrdqu.com to learn more and join the HRDQU community.

HRDQ: Providers of research-based, soft skills, training resources since 1977. Assessments, online learning, experiential hands-on games, customizable course content. Over 200 resources to improve performance, increase job satisfaction, and cultivate essential skills in your organization. Use code HRDQUPOD10 for 10% off your purchase today at hrdqstore.com.

In this episode, Sarah sits down with leadership coach Carlann Fergusson to unpack key insights from her webinar, QShatter Hidden Beliefs Sabotaging Your Self-Confidence. They explore how survival-oriented beliefs from childhood—often buried deep in the subconscious—can quietly limit leadership effectiveness, decision-making, and career growth.

Carlann shares practical strategies for spotting these patterns in yourself, from recognizing “always/never” thinking to catching overused strengths that backfire under stress. You’ll learn how to track judgmental mind chatter, test your assumptions with a simple two-step truth check, and use early physical cues to stop fight-or-flight reactions before they take over.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in self-doubt despite your accomplishments, this conversation offers a path to rewiring the beliefs holding you back—so you can lead with confidence, clarity, and presence.

Resources & Links:

• Watch the full webinar replay: HRDQU.com
• Connect with Carlann: erasingdoubt.com | Email: carlan@propelforward.com
• Subscribe to the HRDQU In Review Podcast for more leadership insights

Episode Sponsors:

HRDQ-U: Unlock your potential with HRDQ-U memberships! Gain exclusive access to top-tier training resources, webinars, and tools that elevate your team's performance. Use code HRDQUSAVE10 at checkout for 10% off your first year of your annual membership. Visit hrdqu.com to learn more and join the HRDQU community.

HRDQ: Providers of research-based, soft skills, training resources since 1977. Assessments, online learning, experiential hands-on games, customizable course content. Over 200 resources to improve performance, increase job satisfaction, and cultivate essential skills in your organization. Use code HRDQUPOD10 for 10% off your purchase today at hrdqstore.com.

Leadership Potential: Leadership Potential collaborates with small to mid-sized HR and business leaders, providing tailored coaching, training, and consultation services to elevate their strategic approach. Explore their "Mastering Difficult Conversations: Developing Confident Communication Skills for Challenging Situations" course and save 10% with code HRDQU at leadershippotential.teachable.com/p/mastering-difficult-conversations-how-to. Seize this opportunity to refine your skills, transcend obstacles, and propel your career to new heights.

In this episode of the HRDQ-U In Review Podcast, host Sarah sits down with leadership and organizational culture expert Devin C Hughes to unpack the power of emotional intelligence (EQ) in team dynamics. Drawing on 20 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and educational institutions, Devin shares why technical skills alone aren’t enough to succeed in leadership—and how understanding emotions is the real game-changer.

Devin defines emotional intelligence as the ability to recognize, understand, and manage both our own emotions and those of others. He challenges the myth that we’re “thinking machines that feel,” asserting instead that humans are “feeling machines that think,” and explains why this matters for leaders who want to build high-performing, connected teams.

Together, Sarah and Devin break down the five key components of EQ—self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills—and show how each one contributes to trust, communication, and psychological safety at work. They also dive into the red flags of low EQ, like chronic miscommunications, conflict avoidance, and blame-shifting, which can erode team morale.

Listeners will walk away with practical strategies for staying emotionally regulated under pressure, including the five-second pause technique, naming emotions to tame them, and micro-moments of recovery to recharge throughout the day.

Chapters:

• Introduction and Background ‎00:00:00
• Defining Emotional Intelligence ‎00:02:25
• Five Components of EQ ‎00:03:29
• Signs of Low EQ in Teams ‎00:06:36
• Practical Strategies for Emotional Regulation ‎00:10:11

Action Items:

• Implement daily self-check-ins with three key reflection questions. ‎00:12:44
• Encourage active listening and reduce multitasking during meetings. ‎00:07:41
• Create space for honest feedback and open dialogue. ‎00:09:06
• Build micro-moments of recovery into the workday. ‎00:11:39
• Practice the five-second pause technique in high-pressure situations. ‎00:10:24
• Watch the full webinar here

Tune in for an eye-opening conversation that will help you harness the power of emotional intelligence to lead more effectively and create a healthier, more connected team culture.

Episode Sponsors:

HRDQ-U: Unlock your potential with HRDQ-U memberships! Gain exclusive access to top-tier training resources, webinars, and tools that elevate your team's performance. Use code HRDQUSAVE10 at checkout for 10% off your first year of your annual membership. Visit hrdqu.com to learn more and join the HRDQU community.

HRDQ: Providers of research-based, soft skills, training resources since 1977. Assessments, online learning, experiential hands-on games, customizable course content. Over 200 resources to improve performance, increase job satisfaction, and cultivate essential skills in your organization. Use code HRDQUPOD10 for 10% off your purchase today at hrdqstore.com.

Leadership Potential: Leadership Potential collaborates with small to mid-sized HR and business leaders, providing tailored coaching, training, and consultation services to elevate their strategic approach. Explore their "Mastering Difficult Conversations: Developing Confident Communication Skills for Challenging Situations" course and save 10% with code HRDQU at leadershippotential.teachable.com/p/mastering-difficult-conversations-how-to. Seize this opportunity to refine your skills, transcend obstacles, and propel your career to new heights.

In this episode of the HRDQ-U In Review podcast, host Sarah welcomes Bill Ryan to discuss his powerful framework for effective delegation: The Clear Method. With over 25 years of experience as a CIO, CLO, and now principal strategist at Ryan Consulting, Bill brings insight into how leaders can build clarity, trust, and accountability—especially in today’s remote and hybrid work environments.

Bill kicks off the conversation by identifying four major trends shaping the learning and development landscape: the return of just-in-time learning, a focus on leadership development at all levels, the growing role of AI in learning design, and the renewed importance of mentorship.

He then introduces listeners to the five pillars of his Clear Method:

• Clarity as the foundation
• Letting go as a leadership mindset
• Evaluation without micromanagement
• Alignment that empowers autonomy
• Influence that drives outcomes, not authority

Throughout the conversation, Bill shares practical strategies to help leaders implement these concepts in real-world settings, build trust without losing oversight, and strengthen their teams through intentional delegation.

Chapters 00:00 – Introduction and Background 01:48 – Trends in L&D: Just-in-Time Learning, AI, Mentorship 03:56 – Overview of the Clear Method 07:12 – Common Implementation Challenges 07:41 – Integrating Clear into Development & Performance Programs 10:52 – Where to Learn More

Action Items

• Integrate Clear Method into performance management systems – 07:41
• Use Clear principles in ongoing developmental check-ins – 08:10
• Establish a continuous feedback loop for delegation – 09:48
• Download free resources and the ebook at williamjryan.com – 10:52
• Watch the full webinar – 11:33

🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Follow us on your favorite podcast app and leave a 5-star review to help others discover HRDQ-U In Review!

Episode Sponsors:

HRDQ-U: Unlock your potential with HRDQ-U memberships! Gain exclusive access to top-tier training resources, webinars, and tools that elevate your team's performance. Use code HRDQUSAVE10 at checkout for 10% off your first year of your annual membership. Visit hrdqu.com to learn more and join the HRDQU community.

HRDQ: Providers of research-based, soft skills, training resources since 1977. Assessments, online learning, experiential hands-on games, customizable course content. Over 200 resources to improve performance, increase job satisfaction, and cultivate essential skills in your organization. Use code HRDQUPOD10 for 10% off your purchase today at hrdqstore.com.

Leadership Potential: Leadership Potential collaborates with small to mid-sized HR and business leaders, providing tailored coaching, training, and consultation services to elevate their strategic approach. Explore their "Mastering Difficult Conversations: Developing Confident Communication Skills for Challenging Situations" course and save 10% with code HRDQU at leadershippotential.teachable.com/p/mastering-difficult-conversations-how-to. Seize this opportunity to refine your skills, transcend obstacles, and propel your career to new heights.

In this episode of the HRDQ-U In Review podcast, host Sarah welcomes speaker and trainer Patti Massullo to explore key insights from her webinar, Time Management Strategies: Run Your Day, Don’t Let It Run You. Drawing from decades of experience and study, Patti breaks down some of the most effective time management strategies that go far beyond the typical "just wake up earlier" advice.

Together, they unpack the Rule of Three, the power of time blocking, and how to identify high-impact tasks that actually move the needle. Patti shares why your energy matters just as much as your schedule, how to manage distractions with intention, and what it really means to set professional boundaries that stick.

Whether you're overwhelmed by your to-do list or just looking to work smarter, this conversation is packed with practical tools to help you stop reacting and start leading your day—with clarity, calm, and confidence.

Chapters

00:02 – Introduction and Background Sarah introduces the episode and welcomes Patti Massullo, who shares her background in professional development and time management training.

01:45 – Challenging Traditional Time Management Advice Patti debunks common myths—like the idea that waking up earlier guarantees productivity—and introduces the Rule of Three for daily focus.

04:22 – Time Blocking and Distraction Management Tips for implementing time blocking, batching, and the Pomodoro Technique, plus how to capture distractions without losing momentum.

05:43 – Setting Professional Boundaries Why clear communication around time and availability is essential—and how to do it without guilt.

07:14 – High-Impact vs. Low-Impact Tasks Using tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to distinguish between busy work and what truly matters.

09:31 – Managing Energy and Choosing Tools Wisely Patti talks about working with your energy rhythms and how to avoid shiny object syndrome when choosing productivity tools.

Action Items

00:02:18 – Conduct a time audit to identify patterns and time drains. 00:02:44 – Start each day by choosing your top three priorities using the Rule of Three. 00:04:56 – Create a “distraction capture list” to maintain focus during time blocks. 00:06:09 – Set and clearly communicate availability windows and define what qualifies as an emergency. 00:07:26 – Review your tasks at the end of each day to assess impact and alignment with goals. 00:09:47 – Track your energy patterns and schedule high-focus work accordingly. 00:11:57 – Before trying a new productivity tool, wait 48 hours and assess your true need for it.

🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Follow us on your favorite podcast app and leave a 5-star review to help others discover HRDQ-U In Review!

Episode Sponsors:

HRDQ-U: Unlock your potential with HRDQ-U memberships! Gain exclusive access to top-tier training resources, webinars, and tools that elevate your team's performance. Use code HRDQUSAVE10 at checkout for 10% off your first year of your annual membership. Visit hrdqu.com to learn more and join the HRDQU community.

HRDQ: Providers of research-based, soft skills, training resources since 1977. Assessments, online learning, experiential hands-on games, customizable course content. Over 200 resources to improve performance, increase job satisfaction, and cultivate essential skills in your organization. Use code HRDQUPOD10 for 10% off your purchase today at hrdqstore.com.

Leadership Potential: Leadership Potential collaborates with small to mid-sized HR and business leaders, providing tailored coaching, training, and consultation services to elevate their strategic approach. Explore their "Mastering Difficult Conversations: Developing Confident Communication Skills for Challenging Situations" course and save 10% with code HRDQU at leadershippotential.teachable.com/p/mastering-difficult-conversations-how-to. Seize this opportunity to refine your skills, transcend obstacles, and propel your career to new heights.