Adding value to the working day

This interview was first published on the site Organizational Health and Wellbeing for Assistants

Interview with Nico Jones

This time I want to introduce you to a Yorkshire woman I met for some years ago. I was attending a seminar for Executive Assistants in Manchester and one of the persons who came my way during the coffee break networking was Nico Jones. She is one of these professionals who want to be the greatest they can be. She accepts that her beliefs are decisions. She has decided that she can get good at anything. From a career as Executive Assistant, she has jumped into a new path and has now a role as Head of Human Resources.

For the past three years, she has been responsible for the operational element of HR for two successful businesses, solely responsible for introducing an HR presence. Nico has thoroughly enjoyed introducing platforms, aligning policies and procedures, conducting internal audits on signed contracts, new starter documents and right to work documents, together with on-the-job support and training for managers.

Nico believes that a business’s success is driven by its employees and their belief in the service they offer their customers.

JULIA: People with high Career Wellbeing are more than twice as likely to be thriving in their lives overall. To what extent is your career helping you succeed in life?

NICO: I have a strong work-life balance. I ensure that I put my all into both aspects of my life and within both merge time to reflect on my activities to promote a sense of achievement. Within my role, I am always reviewing workloads of myself and my team to ensure we are committed to meeting deadlines during our working hours and addressing risks and, subsequently, priorities as/when things arise. As a result, I am confident in my continued growth as a senior leader within my business as I have a balance towards things I am presented with.

I have a strong work-life balance. I ensure that I put my all into both aspects of my life and within both merge time to reflect on my activities to promote a sense of achievement.

JULIA: One of the essentials to having fun at work is getting the opportunity to use our strengths every day. When we build on our strengths and daily accomplishments, we simply learn more. How do you ensure that you have the opportunity to use your strengths every day at work?

NICO: My strength is my ability to demonstrate integrity and empathy throughout my working day. This morning, I made my cup of tea (wellbeing for myself) and whilst the tea bag was brewing, I updated the employee notice with all of the new employee benefits we have recently launched. I touched base with those employees who I had seen that week and touched on issues they had addressed earlier, engaging them and adding value to their working day.

JULIA: A 1958 study conducted by the late George Gallup found that Career Wellbeing is one of the major differentiators that help us live into our 90s. A more recent study shows that people with high Career Wellbeing wake up every morning with something to look forward to doing that day. Which advice would you give to a colleague who has become a disengaged worker and is experiencing dramatic drops in happiness and interest at work?

NICO: What matters to you? If it is your family, does your job fit with your family, can anything be adapted to ensure it fits better or works better for you? Do you need to address anything with your employer about the way you work or your long-term commitment to the company? Take yourself back to when you were at your peak, why are you different now in your mind, why is your mind deflated? Think of ways to address this. Concentrate on the small wins initially. As a Yorkshire woman through and though I always advise to take five minutes and have a brew to start your way of thinking.

JULIA: What are a couple of the best moments in your career journey? Did they involve other people?

NICO: Nothing specific as I have a weakness in not rewarding myself for doing something well or focusing on my successes. However, in general, the most rewarding moments are when I execute something which makes a difference to someone: my family, neighbor, employee, colleague, or friend. The list is endless.

My strength is my ability to demonstrate integrity and empathy throughout my working day.

JULIA: Career Wellbeing is also about focusing most of your time and attention on what is working. What is the most meaningful praise or recognition you have received in the last year? What made this recognition stand out for you?

NICO: I raised with our Managing Director that I needed a break from projects and executing change, which required a lot of follow up and influence of others, turning their way of thinking to that of acceptance and more positive. He responded with a comment which touched me that it is OK to take a break, and you don’t need to ask. Manage expectations as you are doing here today and reflect on the steep mountain you have just climbed. Plato for a month or so and begin another challenge up the ever-growing hill of your career journey.

JULIA: In 2015, the United Nations (UN) came up with 17 new global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental. These goals reflect the UN’s supremely ambitious and transformational vision to envisage a world free of poverty, hunger, disease and where all life can thrive. Four of these goals are directly related to work opportunities and career development: No poverty, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Reduced Inequalities, and Gender Equality. For me, we cannot attain these goals without ensuring that people around the globe have sustainable careers.

Are your thoughts on this?

NICO: Poverty is at an all-time high in Manchester where I reside. It is on the agenda of our local Mayor also. I trust his capabilities and will, therefore, continue to vote. As an individual, I make a difference to those local to me and impact on their day rather than the bigger picture at this point in time. Managing a full-time career with three young children, and a career-driven husband is more commitment than I need for one year. I would hate to stretch myself and not be able to make a difference to anything or exhaust my wellbeing balance by doing so.

Thank you, Nico, for showing us that we have to believe in the service we offer to our customers. Also have integrity and the ability to be emphatic every day.

More about Nico Jones: Nico’s journey into the HR function started at an early age, always taking the mother hen role and striving to undertake additional learning to develop, a stationery enthusiastic, her ambition was to be a PA where she could put her organizational and support skill-sets to best use. A challenging journey, a lot of attention to detail and introduction to project management, Nico reached her peak in her mid-20’s. Her mentor at the time suggested she moved into a Managerial role for further experience prior to looking into EA positions reporting into a Board member. She did just that and progressed into Admin Management and HR, and loved every minute of bringing colleagues together under both proactive and reactive circumstances.

After three years in a managerial role and reporting into Managing Directors, Nico welcome further opportunities to branch out on her coaching expertise, work closely with a Leadership Team creating training needs analysis, formal training plans for employees, writing and leading wellbeing strategies, reward, and recognition, expanding on existing employer brands to name a few.

You can contact Nico Jones via LinkedIn.

About Julia Schmidt: She is an award-winning Executive Assistant with over 20 years of experience working in different industries. She is known for being a passionate advocate for people development and in helping others succeed and embrace their leadership skills. Julia is an active networker, mentor, and the author of The Executive Secretary Guide to Building a Successful Career Strategy, available now on Amazon.

Julia is also a proud member of IMA – International Management Assistants.

About Organizational Health and Wellbeing for Assistants: It is a Facebook community page created by Julia Schmidt for sharing and learning. We are sharing success stories, and encouraging Assistants to proactively build and maintain healthy workplaces and improve personal wellbeing.