…I started to work with Carmel in September 2005. At the
time I had a role that involved line managing 12 individuals
within a very task driven / customer focused environment.
The team structure I worked within was not ideal and a
climate survey revealed that my line manager was very
unpopular within the team and to a certain extent, I was
too. It was a difficult time to say the least.
When my line manager resigned in October 2005 I wasn’t
even entertaining the idea of applying for the job. I hadn’t
realised my own ability at that stage. Luckily for me Carmel
became my mentor and through a series of sessions she helped
me to see my potential and to realise that I was not only
good enough to apply for this role – I could actually do it
better than my old boss!!
With Carmel’s encouragement and support I went on to
secure the role in March 2006, fending off some stiff
competition – Credit Management in Leeds is a pretty tough
business! As I write this I’ve just completed my first full
year as Sales to Cash Manager and what a year its been.
Staff morale is at an all time high and we have produced
some fantastic results.
Don’t get me wrong, its not all plain sailing, you have
to be really open, brutally honest and most of all really up
for self improvement in order to get the most out of working
with someone with the experience, knowledge and skills that
Carmel possesses. Some days you really just want to go away
and cry, but you get through it and you use your worry dolls
when you find it hard to get to sleep etc!!
That said, I can honestly say that its been the most
successful year of my working life. I have more than doubled
my salary as well – which is an added bonus!!
This year holds more exciting challenges as I take over
another team within our organisation and relocate it to
Leeds giving me an additional 10 staff, taking the total in
my team to 25. I am really looking forward to working with
Carmel for a third year as I feel confident that she will
recognise my ‘knowledge gaps’ and equip me with all I need
to get through it!
