This episode is sponsored by Deel.
Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/
In this episode of @thehrldpodcast Nick Day is joined by Michael Campion, executive coach, corporate trainer, motivational speaker, and host of the Playing the Inner Game podcast, with over two decades of experience helping leaders, executives, and high performers communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact.
Michael brings a rare combination of professional sport, investment banking, and 15 years on the global speaking circuit into the world of leadership communication. Together, Nick and Michael explore why communication is the single most overlooked skill in HR and leadership development, and why the gap between a good leader and a great one almost always comes down to how well they can communicate, influence, and connect.
This conversation unpacks what it truly means to master the art of communication from the inside out. Nick and Michael discuss why talent is nothing more than practice in disguise, how preparation is the real source of confidence on stage, and why the spotlight effect is quietly destroying the impact of otherwise brilliant leaders. They explore why most professionals have never received a single hour of public speaking or presentation training, and why that gap is costing organizations more than they realize.
They also explore how elite communicators listen just as powerfully as they speak, why reading the room is a skill that separates good presenters from exceptional ones, and how the deepest wounds in our personal story often sit right next to our greatest strengths. The discussion highlights why most presentations fail not because of poor content but because of poor emotional design, and how shifting the question from what do I want to say to how do I want them to feel changes everything.
In a world where AI is rapidly commoditizing information and content, this episode examines why human communication has never been more valuable, why effort and personalization are the ultimate costly signals in business, and how HR and L&D professionals can invest in the one skill that touches every part of their role.
A must-listen for HR leaders, L&D professionals, and anyone ready to stop leaving their communication potential on the table and start showing up with the presence, preparation, and emotional intelligence their message deserves.
Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!
Connect with Michael Campion: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelxcampion/
Michael Campion's website: www.michaelxcampion.com
Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/
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Stay tuned for the next episode of the HR L&D Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!
Timestamp:
(00:00) Introduction and Welcome to the HR L&D Podcast
(02:10) What Human Resources Means to Michael Campion
(03:59) From Banking to Football to Executive Coach
(08:46) Purpose, Curiosity, and Why "Follow Your Passion" Is Bad Advice
(16:52) How to Nail Your Next Presentation: Strategies for HR Leaders
(24:03) The Art of Listening in Public Speaking
(29:11) Energy, Effort, and the Two-Way Street of Communication
(36:48) What Michael's Corporate Workshops Actually Cover
(41:46) AI, Human Connection, and the Costly Signal
(47:09) Designing Emotion, Not Slides
(51:47) HR Vault: Michael's Rapid Fire Advice
(55:12) Michael's Greatest Skill and Its Dark Side
