Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Coaching and mentoringLearning & developmentWorkplace Issues and Advice

Natalie Bickford: My mentor

by Personnel Today 21 Apr 2008
by Personnel Today 21 Apr 2008

Mentoring to me has always meant having somebody more senior within my organisation whom I spend time with, once every three months or so, thinking and talking about both long-term career development and managing the here and now well, and better.

The challenge, as I have always seen it, is to find somebody to work with that you like enough to want to spend time with, but who is different enough to create some real tension and challenge. There is no point in having a mentor who is so like you that meetings simply become a mutual admiration society, Similarly, if your personal styles and values are too disparate, then it is extremely hard to form a good enough basis for a relationship.

Generally, and largely unintentionally, I have gravitated towards senior women as mentors, who perhaps better understand the challenges of being a female driving her career in the predominantly male-dominated environments of finance, DIY retailing and pharmaceuticals.

My first mentor was Alison Hopkins (now Brittain), who is currently the retail managing director for Abbey.

I met Alison in 1995 when she appointed me to my first HR role in a major Barclays Business Banking organisation change programme.

Alison has an extraordinary ability to deliver tough and challenging messages in a way that inspires rather than alienates, and she is highly respected for her combination of strategic vision and ability to drive operational delivery.

When at times I have lacked the self confidence to push for bigger and better things, Alison has given me a good kick, and made me realise that the barriers standing in the way have been entirely self-imposed.

The most important thing, however, that I ever learned from Alison is that you don’t have to be one person at home, and a different person in the workplace. She is funny, irreverent, and builds relationships with everyone from the security guard to the chairman, and is also one of the most successful female executives in the UK. Throughout my career I have adopted a similar style and find that it works very well for me.

Over the years I have used a range of other mentors at different times and in different companies to great effect, but I still come back to Alison for support, challenge and advice when I have a real toughie to crack.

Avatar
Personnel Today

previous post
Jane Anderson: how I made a difference
next post
On the move – latest HR appointments

You may also like

What has cyber security got to do with...

29 Jun 2022

Retaining talent during the great resignation (webinar)

29 Jun 2022

Young people need more guidance over ‘green jobs’

24 Jun 2022

Three in 10 workers’ skill sets not being...

23 Jun 2022

CIPD Festival of Work: ‘Push the boundaries’ with...

17 Jun 2022

How career pathways can attract and retain talent

13 Jun 2022

MPs threaten supply chain levy if HGV driver...

1 Jun 2022

Would a general training levy solve the UK...

1 Jun 2022

Age remains a barrier to upskilling finds research

27 May 2022

‘Inequality is embedded in our labour market’ says...

27 May 2022
  • NSPCC revamps its learning strategy with child wellbeing at its heart PROMOTED | The NSPCC’s mission is to prevent abuse and neglect...Read more
  • Diversity versus inclusion: Why the difference matters PROMOTED | It’s possible for an environment to be diverse, but not inclusive...Read more
  • Five steps for organisations across the globe to become more skills-driven PROMOTED | The shift in the world of work has been felt across the globe...Read more
  • The future of workforce development PROMOTED | Northumbria University and partners share insight...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+