AT Home with Lorraine Kelly - April 2011 - (Page 46)

moment’ GOING THE EXTRA MILE ylvia Jones (above), 56, has always had a strong work ethic, and a determination to tap into all of her strengths, but her career path has taken many twists and turns before bringing her to where she is today, at senior management level in Morrisons. ‘I started my working life 39 years ago, slicing and serving bacon on a deli counter,’ she explains. But through sheer graft and a positive mind-set, Sylvia gradually built up her career, developing new talents along the way. On thinking back to her 1983 beginnings at Morrisons, Sylvia reﬂects, ‘I am a loyal person by nature, and knew that I would be working with Morrisons for a long time. I felt it was the right place for me and that I would be supported and my work valued – which it has been throughout.’ ‘A eureka FOR SYLVIA JONES, JOINING MORRISONS HAS MEANT A VARIED CAREER THAT HAS SEEN HER GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH She explains: ‘I grow and nurture every member of my team, the majority of whom later go on to be great, and some members go on to be even bigger than that.’ A recent member of her team, who Sylvia had trained since he was a graduate, has just progressed to a senior management level, and Sylvia speaks of this with great pride as she recognises her own involvement in his successful career progression. Sylvia is also supported by another family; at home she has enjoyed the backing of a caring husband for most of her working life, and this is something she is very grateful for. Sylvia was quickly recognised as a strong member of staff, and was now making her mark in the company after demonstrating that she had the skills required to lead a project well. When she was offered the daunting task of implementing the very ﬁrst Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) conversions across 52 stores, it was a trail blazing venture, but she seized the challenge with both hands, and 18 months later, the task was complete. This was down to some long days on her part. ‘I remember at the time I was driving from store to store in my old Ford Escort, making sure that the operations were running smoothly. You could say I was quite literally going the extra mile to make it happen! ‘I can’t take all the credit though,’ she protests. ‘After that initiation, I built a fantastic and reliable team who helped to maintain the project.’ Years later, and, Sylvia still manages a large team of people, who she affectionately refers to as ‘her family’. S PERSONAL GROWTH A FOOT IN THE DOOR Sylvia ﬁrst joined the company as an admin manager, a role that was new to Morrisons at the time. Through her serious hard work and planning she established the shape of this new title, setting high standards for all the future admin managers who later followed in her footsteps, and the job title developed into something both respected and valued, thanks to her input. 046 | MAY 2012 Don’t shy away from work that will take you out of your comfort zone. Pushing yourself is how you grow your career WORDS: Dee Anderson | PHOTOGRAPH: Getty Images RISE TO THE CHALLENGE On the surface, Sylvia looks like a conﬁdent, successful woman who has achieved greatness in her career, but it has been a tough personal journey for her to reach this point. ‘When I joined Morrisons in the 80s, similar to most places at the time, senior management was predominantly male,’ she explains. ‘So in spite of delivering large scale operations, I initially felt that as the “token female” I should also take on the task of organising the tea and taking the minutes in meetings.’ A task that she soon realised was not actually part of the job description. Much has changed at Morrisons since then and two years ago, Sylvia was approached by a new member of senior management, Toni Eastwood, who asked her to evaluate her own contribution within the organisation. ‘This was my turning point, the eureka moment I needed. I realised I deserved to be comfortable in my own skin as a woman, and as a valued employee.’ Sylvia was then asked by Toni to speak publically at a meeting chaired { {

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AT Home with Lorraine Kelly - April 2011

EDITOR’S LETTER
HELLO FROM LORRAINE
NOTEBOOK NEWS
ONE FOR THE DIARY
LITTLE BLACK BOOK
GOING STRONG
WIN BIG!
LORRAINE UNCUT
TOP HONOURS
FIT FOR A QUEEN
KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON
SEX LIVES
CAREER CORNER
MOTOR SKILLS
DRIVING MISS DAISY
RETIRE HAPPY
CURTAIN CALL
ON TREND TRAPPINGS
IT'S A WRAP
BAGS OF STYLE
STEP AHEAD
WEDDING BELLES
FROCK FRENZY
WHAT YOUR CLOTHES SAY
JEWELLERY BOX BOUNTY
WOMANLY WOES
A BUMP IN THE ROAD
LOVELY BONES
FANCY FOOTWORK
PROTECT YOUR PEEPERS
VITAMIN VITALS
LOOK TO THE STARS
BE WELL
A RACE AGAINST TIME
MANAGE YOUR MAN’S HEALTH
EXPERT OPINION
MEZZE MADE EASY
DIG IN!
METABOLISM EXPLAINED
HEALTHY HYDRATION
READY, STEADY, RUN
THE GYM-FREE WORKOUT
MIRACLE WORKERS
NAKED AMBITION
WHEN LESS IS MORE
HAIR HEROES
FOXY LOCKS FOR OVER 40S
ASK THE ADULTS
TRAVELLING TOTS
KIDS ON THE CATWALK
A HELPING HAND
WHY I BECAME A FOSTER PARENT
FUN HOUSE
PAMPER TIME
LIFE AT THE RSPCA
WHAT'S FOR DINNER?
MINI MENAGERIE
ANIMAL INSURANCE
MUM'S THE WORD
EASY ON THE EYE
WEDDING BLISS
CREATE YOUR OWN
ONE MORE THING
COMING SOON
STOCKISTS
STYLISH LIVING SUPPLEMENT
SPRING HOME STYLE
GOT TO HAVE IT
HEART OF THE HOME
BEDROOM BLISS
LIVING IT UP
BOLD BATHROOM
SMALL CHANGE
DON'T SLIP UP
IMPROVE, DON'T MOVE
LET ME IN
WINDOW DRESSING
AL FRESCO DINING
DECK IT OUT
CLEVER CONSERVATORIES
GLAZE OVER
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
TRAVEL SUPPLEMENT
HELLO FROM LORRAINE
TRAVEL NEWS AND VIEWS
WILD AND FREE
BRILLIANT BLIGHTY
ONE FINE DAY
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
ISLAND HOPPING
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
PARK LIFE
BEFORE YOU JET OFF
GLOBE TROTTER
JUST THE JOB SUPPLEMENT
LORRAINE'S WELCOME
YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL
GO GIRL
FIRST-CLASS EMPLOYER
THE SKY'S THE LIMIT
A RIGHT BALANCE
A WOMAN'S WORLD
BUILDING BEAUTIES
GET SWOTTING
BACK TO WORK
COUNT ON BANKING
BRIGHT SPARK
PLAYING HOUSE
PLACE YOUR BETS
SHOP AROUND

AT Home with Lorraine Kelly - April 2011