Tag: ambition

Blogging, Business, Business books, Business Woman, Career, Career Journey, Career Woman, Conference Speaker, Employee well being, Equality and Diversity, Goals, Health, HR, HR Acts of Kindness, HR Blogger, Human Resources, Inspiration, International Women's Day, Kindness, Leadership, Love, management, mental health, Motivation, Motivational Speaker, People Management, Productivity, Spice Girls, UK Blog Awards, Uncategorized, wellbeing, Wellness, women in business

International Women’s Day 2019; career lessons I’ve learned from the Spice Girls

by Natalie EllisLeave a Comment on International Women’s Day 2019; career lessons I’ve learned from the Spice Girls

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Happy International Women’s Day everyone, I hope you are all celebrating all things women power today! In this post, I’m giving IWD a 90’s twist, with some of the lessons I learned from the Spice Girls and how that has stuck with me throughout my career.

Back in 1996, the world was a very different place and it seemed to be dominated by men. For me, those five girls, Scary, Baby, Ginger, Posh and encouraged young women everywhere and inspired them to dream big by following their ambitions and being the best version of themselves.

When I first set my heart on a career in HR and started applying for jobs, I heard “I’m sorry, you’re wasting your time, you don’t have any HR experience.” despite having a wealth of transferrable skills, it felt impossible to actually find a way in, but I soon discovered that it is all about being positive and having a determination to succeed.

Continue reading “International Women’s Day 2019; career lessons I’ve learned from the Spice Girls” →

Blogging, Business, Career, Career Journey, Career Woman, CIPD, Conference and Exhibition, Employee well being, Equality and Diversity, Gender pay gap, Getting Organised, Goals, HR, Human Resources, Inspiration, Manchester, Motivation, Organisation, People Management, Plan Ahead, Uncategorized, women in business

#CIPDACE17 Embracing The New World of Work

by Natalie EllisLeave a Comment on #CIPDACE17 Embracing The New World of Work

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Today is day one of the 70th CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition or ACE for short which is taking place in the beautiful city of Manchester. Here is a brief summary of what we can expect from his years’ conference and don’t forget, you can follow all the activity in real time via Twitter!

Continue reading “#CIPDACE17 Embracing The New World of Work” →

Blogging, Business, Career, Career Journey, Career Woman, CIPD, Conference and Exhibition, Getting Organised, Goals, HR, Human Resources, Inspiration, Love, Motivation, Organisation, People Management, Plan Ahead, Random Acts of Kindness, Recruitment, Uncategorized, women in business, Working Week

Hip Hip Hurray – My Blog Turns Two Today!

by Natalie EllisLeave a Comment on Hip Hip Hurray – My Blog Turns Two Today!

Birthday Cake

Wow, where did those two years go?

This post is short and sweet but filled with nothing but gratitude.

I could never have imagined the opportunities I’ve been offered, connections I have made and support that I have received as a result of creating this little blog.

Don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t all been plain sailing, there has been a fair share of clouds, but there has always been that silver lining and for that I am truly grateful.

On reflection, the highlights for me have been my appearance in People Management magazine, being part of the Blog Squad at the CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition in 2016, a feature in the CIPD’s “The Power of One” campaign and my ultimate achievement to date; HR Acts of Kindness. It would not have been possible without this blog.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my followers, colleagues, friends and family who have supported me over the past couple of years; I wouldn’t be at this stage of my journey without you.

Here’s to the next two years, now let’s cut the cake!

 

Blogging, Business, Career, Career Journey, Career Woman, CIPD, Getting Organised, Goals, HR, Human Resources, Inspiration, Motivation, Organisation, People Management, Plan Ahead, Recruitment, Uncategorized, Wellness, women in business, Working Week

Mentoring – it’s something HR are born to do

by Natalie EllisLeave a Comment on Mentoring – it’s something HR are born to do

“Focus on what you have to offer rather than what you don’t have to offer”

When you went for your very first HR interview, how did you feel? Apprehensive? Nervous?

Looking back at that experience now, a few years later; a little bit older, much wiser; what do you think about it? Do you look back and laugh and think it’s crazy you were so nervous and unsure? I know I do!

Continue reading “Mentoring – it’s something HR are born to do” →

Blogging, Business, Career, Career Journey, Career Woman, CIPD, Employee well being, Getting Organised, Goals, HR, Human Resources, Inspiration, Motivation, Organisation, People Management, Plan Ahead, Random Acts of Kindness, Recruitment, Uncategorized, Wellness, women in business

What I’ve learned from mentoring

by Natalie EllisLeave a Comment on What I’ve learned from mentoring

“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.”    Bob Proctor

It’s no secret that I have mentored for a number of years as a CIPD Steps Ahead Ambassador and mentor; I am incredibly lucky to have met some wonderful people through helping over these years from different industries, career levels and backgrounds.

Recently, I have undertaken the responsibility of supporting my CIPD branch by coordinating a mentoring scheme which aims to encourage HR professionals to share their experiences with a view to helping them to progress their membership or careers.

The long and short of it is that some perceive mentoring as a time consuming and long drawn out process, with many struggling to commit the time to mentor. In reality, it only takes up two hours a month and sometimes it’s a simple case of assisting with a CV.

Being a mentor isn’t just about feeling good, it’s about experiencing different perspectives.

It’s certainly not a one sided relationship, there are so many benefits and I have learnt so much, not just about people, but about the differences in generations, how to expand on existing skills, recruitment challenges and of course about different industries. This exposure has also helped me within my career especially with benchmarking and best practice exercises.

As a mentor I am there to listen, to offer practical advice, offer constructive criticism (which in the right way, is a good thing), and to help in any way that I can. However, it’s equally important that your mentee offers a different perspective or insight into their career, industry and aspirations. Believe it or not, mentees can help mentors as much as they help you!

In respect of the branch mentoring, this is distinctly different to the work I have done with Steps Ahead; I find that peer mentoring, can sometimes be more impactful than a traditional mentoring relationship. It can strengthen your network, enhances leadership capabilities and most of all supports your peers; as a branch, we are growing and progressing together, and one day we’ll be leading together, so it’s important to help one another along the way; I consider it future proofing our profession by inspiring future HR professionals.