Episode 03: The Modern Career Playbook - Dr Hayley Dawson

<p>In this episode of <strong>The Modern Career Playbook</strong>, Alex speaks with <strong>Dr Hayley Dawson</strong> about why being good at your job is not always enough on its own, and why the human side of work matters more than ever.</p><p>Hayley is the founder of <strong>Let’s Talk Human Skills</strong>, creator of <strong>Human Skill School</strong>, and host of <strong>Let’s Talk</strong>. Her work focuses on helping people communicate more clearly, collaborate more effectively and build stronger working relationships, so they can feel more confident and make a greater impact at work.</p><p>This is a thoughtful and practical conversation about communication, collaboration, confidence and career development. Hayley puts into words something many people feel but do not always know how to name - that the way we handle people, relationships and difficult moments at work shapes far more than we realise.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, Alex and Hayley discuss:</p><ul><li>why technical ability alone is not always enough for career progression</li><li>what human skills actually are and why they matter</li><li>the difference between technical, operational, human and human-machine interaction skills</li><li>why durable skills like communication and relationship-building matter even more in an AI-shaped world</li><li>how to become more confident in meetings, emails and difficult conversations</li><li>the role of managers in helping people build stronger human skills</li><li>the value of feedback in the moment</li><li>why small actions and “micro moves” can transform working relationships</li><li>why work friends matter, not just professionally, but personally too</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Key takeaways:</p><ul><li>Being technically strong is important, but it is often human skills that shape trust, visibility and progression.</li><li>Communication, relationship-building and collaboration are durable skills that will remain valuable even as work changes.</li><li>Small day-to-day actions can have a huge impact on how relationships at work develop.</li><li>Managers can play a big role by giving feedback in the moment rather than waiting for formal reviews.</li><li>Building friendships at work can make working life more meaningful, supportive and fulfilling.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Connect with Hayley:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.letstalkhumanskills.com/">Let’s Talk Human Skills</a></li><li><a href="https://www.letstalkhumanskills.com/humanskillschool">Human Skill School</a></li><li><a href="https://letstalkhumanskills.beehiiv.com/">Newsletter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/letstalkhumanskills">Instagram</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drhayleydawson/">LinkedIn</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Follow Favourite Positions:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/favouritepositionspodcast">Instagram</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/">LinkedIn</a></li><li><a href="https://www.favouritepositions.com/">Website</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p>About the series:</p><p><strong>The Modern Career Playbook</strong> is a series of conversations with credible leaders and specialists exploring what progression, leadership and career development actually look like today.</p><p>If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who’s figuring out how to grow in their career, lead people more effectively, or simply feel more confident at work.</p>