Colin Gautrey

Executive Isolation: Beyond the Impenetrable Wall

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“I’m at my wits’ end. I need to decide if I should stay or go. If I stay, I’ve no idea how to survive and make it work.” These words began a fascinating call with Rex, the COO of one of the biggest corporations of its type in the US, if not the world. Founded decades ago with an amazing USP, it has been immensely profitable. Revered, respected, envied – and on the inside – broken. Several years ago, the founder, recognising there was a need to change, hired in a bunch of talented executives and directors to bring about change. Rex is one of the few survivors. What seems to have happened is that the old guard, those people who have been with the company from the start, have closed ranks. They have convinced the founder that these new ideas and changes were going to wreck his legacy. They have united to protect the enterprise from the outsiders. Read More

Impact Makers Podcast: Jennifer McClure

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Recently I sat down with Jennifer McClure on The Impact Makers Podcast where we had a conversation about the importance of power, influence, and politics in the corporate world. It was a stimulating conversation and we especially dove into the importance of understanding how to not only survive politics, but thrive with politics.

Some of my favourite parts of the episode are:

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Don’t Fret It: Fix It or Forget It

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Have you noticed how long it takes you to make a decision? Weighing up the options. The pros and cons. Have you ever though how much indecision is costing you? The stress, the worry, the time and the missed opportunities. Personally, I’m starting to think that if I had acted on the lesser or two options I’d be better off than having delayed the decision. Which led me to my new favourite, kick starting motto: Read More

Learning How to Influence Behind the Scenes

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Chris is a senior-level change consultant. He is extremely good at his job, and with diligent networking has recently landed a fantastic opportunity to work on a team implementing change across Europe. Already he has made good inroads and has begun to exert influence because he has started to build strong relationships. He can see much more potential, but there’s a problem. What if he oversteps the mark and makes the guy who hired him feel threatened? What if he outshines the boss, and becomes viewed as an enemy? He is totally dedicated to the cause, for the good of the client, and is determined to do everything he can to ensure that the change works. Yet at the same time, he cannot afford to become a casualty, and his boss seems to have a very personal agenda in flight. Read More

Releasing the Ball and Chain

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We all start new endeavours full of enthusiasm, energy and positive attitude. Confident that we have the skills, the knowledge and the ability to make it happen. At the start, there is little to hold us back. With time, these feelings lessen. Problems arise, people challenge us and the going starts to get tough. Before we realise it, we are carrying a huge weight that is dragging down our performance, motivation and progress. Everyone faces these challenges and breaking free of this ball and chain requires awareness, courage and usually, a little help from a friend. With practice it gets easier each time too! To build awareness and prepare my clients for fast progress, I use a list of twelve factors that in my experience Read More

How to Transform a Technical Career

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It seems that there is a growing tendency for technical careers to stall. Worse than that, as they start to falter, the typical responses tend to make matters worse. One individual I spoke with had noticed his career slowing down over the last 3-4 years. His level of influence declining, despite being one of the best in his field, and working at a global level in one of the big consultancies. His attachment to his expertise is now becoming a career limiter and he needs to move away from the notion that his results will speak for themselves. Another, Ana, came to me at the beginning of December. She felt she was drifting. Unsure what to do. In summary: Read More

Your Annual Performance Appraisal

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Several clients have recently been talking to me about preparing for their annual review. It seems to be getting earlier every year, and is as sensitive as ever. The annual clash of expectations, perceptions and rewards, or lack of them. And, the time the politics come to the fore, for good, or for ill. The common approach is to prepare your own summary of achievements, and progress. What the challenges and problems have been, and also, suggestions on what next. Oft times one wonders what the boss’ role in this is, apart from meting out the judgment, on behalf of the omnipotent HRD policy on such matters. Ah, the good old game of My Hands are Tied! Anyway, enough of that negative frame, let’s use this as an opportunity, a personal one, to Read More

“It’s a bit political” Walking into Danger

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When a new assignment, project or job carries the caveat – it’s a bit political – be very careful. Costas came on our third call and immediately I could tell that he had news. We had been doing some preliminary work to reposition him with the global IT leadership team, and to start thinking differently. To date, he has built his brand on hard delivery of tough/big projects, but lately has found this out of favour. “Good news, I’ve been offered a new project based in Seoul. It’s will take 50% of my time and is a major challenge. The boss has said it’s a bit political, and I’ve been sold in to save it.” “Fantastic, tell me more.” I’d love to say it was down to me but, I think that this had been brewing for a little while, and I just came along at the right time to help Costas land it. Costas went on to say that he has been asked to go in and fix Read More

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