The HR Leaders’ Reset: Creating Space to Finish the Year Strong

The session could not have come at a better time. With World Mental Health Day taking place on 10 October, Bryony’s message served as an important reminder that performance and wellbeing are not competing priorities. Instead, they are deeply connected. When HR professionals create space to regulate, reflect and recharge, they are better equipped to support their people, influence business decisions and lead through complexity.

Bryony guided attendees through a structured framework designed to help them approach the remainder of 2026 with greater clarity and intention. Rather than focusing solely on professional objectives, the session encouraged participants to think about how they wanted to feel by December and what success would look like on both a personal and professional level.

The webinar began with grounding exercises, including breathing techniques, body awareness and EFT tapping. Participants were invited to slow down, reconnect with the present moment and create a sense of personal space before moving into goal-setting activities. Feedback during the session suggested that many attendees felt noticeably lighter and more focused afterwards, demonstrating the power of taking even a few minutes to reset the nervous system.

One of the most thought-provoking aspects of the session was Bryony’s challenge to think beyond outputs and consider impact.

Attendees reflected on questions such as:

This shift from simply completing tasks to intentionally shaping behaviour, mindset and leadership presence resonated strongly with the HR leaders in attendance.

Bryony also explored the different factors that can prevent progress, encouraging participants to distinguish between hurdles, challenges and barriers.

Hurdles were described as external constraints, such as competing priorities or limited capacity. Challenges related to practical or relationship-based issues, including team resource gaps or difficult stakeholder dynamics. Barriers, however, were positioned as the internal obstacles many professionals experience, including self-doubt, limiting beliefs and the influence of an inner critic.

By identifying these obstacles and recognising the people and communities that can provide support, attendees were encouraged to create a more realistic and sustainable path towards their goals.

A key theme throughout the session was the importance of turning intention into action.

Rather than setting large, overwhelming objectives, participants were encouraged to identify three achievable milestones between October and December. Bryony referred to these as “baby milestones” that make progress visible, manageable and motivating.

Whether that means committing to regular exercise, creating more thinking time in the diary or tackling an important strategic project, the principle remains the same: consistent small actions often drive the greatest long-term impact.

In recognition of the pressures many HR professionals face, Bryony shared several practical techniques that can be used during busy periods or difficult conversations.

One particularly popular tool was box breathing, which involves inhaling, holding, exhaling and holding again for four counts each. This simple practice can be used discreetly before meetings, presentations or challenging discussions to support a calmer and more regulated response.

The session also highlighted the value of taking genuine breaks throughout the day. Rather than automatically reaching for a phone between meetings, attendees were encouraged to step away, relax their shoulders and allow themselves a few moments of true recovery.

Alongside this, Bryony recommended regular handwritten reflection, encouraging individuals to acknowledge how they currently feel and consciously decide how they want to feel moving forward.

The webinar concluded with a guided visualisation exercise, inviting participants to imagine themselves at the end of the year having achieved the goals they had set.

By considering their environment, interactions, emotions and sense of achievement, attendees were able to connect more deeply with what success looks and feels like. To reinforce this commitment, each participant identified one action they could take within the next seven days to move themselves forward.

The enthusiasm and engagement throughout the webinar demonstrated just how important these conversations are for the HR community. As we approach World Mental Health Day, the session served as a timely reminder that taking care of ourselves is not a luxury, it is an essential part of effective leadership.

We would like to thank Bryony Williams for sharing such practical, thought-provoking insights and everyone who joined us for the session.

For those who attended, the webinar recording and workbook remain valuable resources to revisit as the year progresses. We are also excited to continue the conversation through future events, including a further webinar later this autumn and plans for an in-person HR leaders’ gathering in London next spring. Details of this will be shared on our LinkedIn page – please ensure you are following for all of the latest updates.

As we move into the final quarter, perhaps the most important takeaway is this: progress does not require perfection. Sometimes, the most effective thing we can do is pause, reset and take the next small step forward.