Having spent many years supporting organisations, leaders and employees through some of the most challenging moments of their careers, I know firsthand the emotional, strategic and relational demands that HR professionals carry.
I know how much thought can sit behind a recommendation, how carefully a difficult conversation needs to be approached and how the responsibility can remain with you after a meeting has ended.
I also know that behind the professional others turn to is a person who needs support themselves.
I founded The Holding Space HR because I wanted to create somewhere for that person: a place to think honestly, someone to turn to when they need support, and access to practical guidance to help them continue developing while navigating the realities of the profession.
The experiences that shaped this purpose
Throughout my career, I have supported people through situations that reached far beyond the immediate question they brought to HR.
I have sat with employees who needed space to cry. I have supported colleagues facing deeply difficult personal circumstances and walked alongside people who were physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. I have helped people navigate uncertainty during organisational transformation, when decisions about work also affected their confidence, security and plans for the future.
Those experiences taught me how much the quality of our presence matters. Sometimes a person needs a clear explanation or a practical next step. Sometimes they first need someone who will listen carefully enough to understand what they are carrying.
They also taught me that care requires judgement and boundaries. Being present for someone means understanding how we can help, what sits within our responsibility and when further support is needed.
That understanding is central to The Holding Space HR. I want to support practitioners in bringing care to their work while recognising their own needs and limits.
Recognising the person behind the responsibility
HR professionals work within relationships that can be complex. We support employees, advise managers and challenge leaders, often while balancing competing expectations and incomplete information.
We may need to explain a decision someone finds painful. We may recognise a concern that others would prefer to leave unaddressed. We may be asked for confidence and clarity while still working through uncertainty ourselves.
Professional experience helps us navigate these situations, but it does not remove their human impact.
A difficult conversation can stay on our minds. A prolonged period of change can affect our energy. Repeatedly carrying responsibility without enough authority or support can leave us questioning whether we are doing enough.
I wanted The Holding Space HR to make room for those realities. The practitioner’s wellbeing, working conditions and development deserve attention alongside the responsibilities attached to their role.
When the challenge sits within HR itself
Sometimes, the person an HR professional would normally approach for support is part of the difficulty.
A challenging relationship with a senior leader, manager or colleague within HR can leave someone unsure where to turn. They may need to examine what has happened, understand their options or prepare to raise a concern while continuing to work alongside the people involved.
Other practitioners work alone, without a colleague who understands the decisions they carry. Senior professionals can also find it difficult to identify someone with whom they can speak openly without feeling they must already have the answer.
These are important reasons for creating an external space for reflection and guidance.
I want professionals to be able to ask questions without treating uncertainty as a failure. Seeking another perspective can help us recognise assumptions, clarify responsibilities and approach the next step with greater care.
Bringing experience into practical guidance
My experience in strategic HR partnering has taught me to consider both the immediate situation and the wider organisational context.
A concern about performance may involve unclear expectations. A recurring recruitment difficulty may reveal a capability gap. A professional who feels they lack confidence may actually be working with insufficient authority, resources or support.
Understanding those differences matters. Useful guidance begins with listening, asking thoughtful questions and examining what is known before deciding how to proceed.
Through The Holding Space HR, I bring that approach into HR Mentoring & Advisory, Complex HR Support and Professional Development.
A conversation may focus on testing a recommendation, preparing for a sensitive discussion or considering a career decision. It may also explore how a practitioner can develop their strategic contribution, strengthen their influence or communicate what they need to carry their responsibilities effectively.
My aim is for support to be practical enough to help now and thoughtful enough to strengthen judgement over time.
Faith shaping how I care and carry responsibility
Galatians 6:2 says:
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
NKJV
For me, this speaks to the importance of walking alongside people. There is value in making time, listening with attention and helping someone consider a responsibility that has become difficult to carry alone.
My faith shapes how I understand service, compassion and the responsibility to care for others. It also shapes how I carry the burdens that can come with this work. I pray into these situations, bringing the people involved and the challenges they face before the Lord, and releasing them to Him to do what only He can do.
Prayer helps me remain grounded as I take the practical steps within my responsibility. It reminds me that I can offer care, guidance and presence while trusting God with what lies beyond my ability to resolve.
Creating space for continued growth
I believe support belongs throughout a career.
An early career practitioner may be learning to apply knowledge in situations that are less straightforward than a textbook example. An experienced professional may be moving into a broader remit. A senior leader may need space to consider decisions with significant consequences.
Proverbs 27:17 says:
“As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
NKJV
I see value in that picture of growth through relationship. Being heard matters, and so does thoughtful challenge. Another perspective can help us examine our reasoning, recognise a development need and become more deliberate in how we practise.
Growth can mean preparing for leadership, deepening specialist expertise or becoming more effective in a role we already value. The direction should reflect the professional’s own ambitions and circumstances.
Supporting those who support others
The Holding Space HR means so much to me because it recognises work that can be demanding and deeply personal, yet often remains unseen.
I want HR professionals to have somewhere to pause, reflect and receive guidance before uncertainty becomes isolation. I want them to feel able to invest in their development and recognise when the conditions around their work need attention.
Supporting practitioners can strengthen the care and judgement they bring to others. It also recognises that they deserve support in their own right.
My experience has taught me the value of presence, clarity and trusted conversations. The Holding Space HR is where I bring those lessons together, creating space for the people behind the profession to navigate their work and continue growing.
If you are an HR professional seeking guidance with a challenging situation, space to reflect or support with your professional development, book a consultation with The Holding Space HR. I would welcome the opportunity to hear what you are navigating and explore how I can support you.