165 | What Being “Commercial” Really Means & How to Get Better at It (with Jo Bailey)

Struggling to feel confident when Finance conversations come up at work? Been told you need to be "more commercial" but not sure what that actually means? In this practical episode, Commercial HR Coach Jo Bailey demystifies what it means to be commercial in HR and shares actionable advice to help you speak the language of business with confidence.You’ll LearnWhat "being commercial" actually means (and what it doesn't)Key financial terms explained: P&L, EBITDA, balance sheet, and cash flowHow to approach setting an HR budget with confidenceQuestions to ask when building a strong business caseHow to position budget requests so you're more likely to get what you needReal examples of how to demonstrate commercial thinking in your HR roleThe cost of attrition and how to build the business case for retention initiativesUseful Links From This Episode:Connect with Fay on LinkedInLearn about Fay’s Essential HR PlannerLearn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeConnect with Jo Bailey on LinkedInVisit Jo Bailey’s Website: Financial EmpowermentRecommended Book in This EpisodeExcellence in People Analytics: How to Use Workforce Data to Create Business Value, by Jonathan Ferrar & David GreenOther Relevant HR Coffee Time Episodes:Ep 147: How to Become a Successful Chief People Officer: Insider Insights (with Kanika Mehra) - has a great explanation of storytelling with dataEp 115: Why Negotiation Skills Can Help Your Career & How to Develop Them (with Simon Duncan)Ep 158: 3 Simple Ways to Build Business Acumen in Your HR RoleEnjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources.Mentioned in this episode:Help That’s There when It’s Needed MostMenopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they don't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away. Kara ConnectJoin the Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeBuild your confidence, credibility & impact through the Inspiring HR Leadership Programme. The next cohort is now open for booking. Inspiring HR

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This episode was published on February 27, 2026.

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