Colin Gautrey

You can run, but you can’t hide…

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You may be able to run, but you can’t hide…

…from one uncomfortable, unpalatable truth.

Right now, you may be struggling with the politics:
  • Annoyed that people can’t look at the bigger picture.
  • Ignoring your suggestions and ideas, failing to realise how they could benefit.
  • Angry they manipulate events to serve their own agenda.
In which case, you will probably be tempted to:
  • Consider your career options.
  • Get your resume up-to-date.
  • Reconnect with the headhunters.
Except there is a problem. What will you tell the recruiters? How can you explain Read More

The Socially Adept Leader

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Shareholders of many bastions of industrial and commercial stability are waking from their afternoon nap. It was only a short one, after lunch with a glass or two but, as they rub the sleep from their eyes, the world has changed. Not Armageddon, nor the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, but they can hear the sirens wailing in the distance. It seems like only yesterday they were watching the big technology firms in turmoil. Firms such as RIM, Nokia and the like, almost wiped out within a year. “Uber? What is uber? Isn’t that German for over, or finished or something like that?” They could be forgiven for wandering off to a long lunch at the club with a wry smile, and a smug swagger. Complacency is only discovered with hindsight. Read More

Learning to Appreciate and Value Battle-Hardened Stakeholders

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Sometimes, from the very beginning of a workshop, it is evident that the delegates have a common problem with a big powerful stakeholder. As we start to delve into their influencing objectives, “his” name keeps being mentioned. Round the table with the power cards ― there he is again. Who is this guy to be such a problem for everyone around the table? Why is he being so difficult and making everyone’s life a misery? On a recent occasion when this happened, one thing I noticed was that his name was being used as a code for “don’t even try to influence”. It was also apparent that there was a great deal of bad feeling in the room towards this character ― even the mere mention of his name. Well actually, for a long time, they wouldn’t even mention his name, somewhat akin to the fear held by elves mentioning the name of the dark lord in Middle-Earth. Something needed to be done. Troublesome, battle-hardened people exist in most organisations. These high-ranking individuals wield great power and usually do not have the time, or the patience, to let others know where they are coming from or why they are making the decisions they are making. They represent an extremely tough road-block or obstacle. Unfortunately, they are also usually misunderstood and it is this which makes them particularly difficult to handle. If you (or your team) are plagued by one of these characters, here is a simple Read More

Have You Arrived Yet?

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In terms of your work and career, have you got to where you expected or hoped you would? A position where life is fun, stimulating, rewarding. Where your performance is in flow, and no obstacle is insurmountable. A place that demonstrates you have been recognised, as you deserve to be? Most people haven’t. They are so busy doing a great job, banging in the results, that the success they dreamed of eludes them. They see the opportunities, but before they can seize them, they slip away beyond reach. Others seem to have all the luck, getting these opportunities with less effort, less capability and likely, less intelligence. So, the feelings of doubt, uncertainty and unfairness grow. At some point, Read More

Your Public Image Matters, More Than You Think

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You would be well advised to invest time in making sure your social media presence, especially your professional profile(s), are in tip-top condition to make you look your best. The relevance of this to people in the spotlight, seeking work, or trying to tease out the head-hunters is obvious. So, why should this matter to everyone else, especially those happily ensconced in large organisations? Read More

How to Get Recognised by Powerful People

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Many people have told me that the biggest challenge they face is that they are not able to get the attention of the senior people in their organisation. In fact, my articles on gaining visibility and building reputation are among the most popular of the 500+ that I have written over the last few years. The frustration is palpable. One recent example was Alan, a VP in risk management:
“I’m arguably one of the best qualified people on my topic in the business, and maybe externally too. I’ve been interviewed by the media, am prominent in my institute and have even published articles. But, will my executive listen to me? Not a chance. There is a major problem emerging and none of the senior team are in the least bit interested. Sure, they make the right noises, but do they do anything? Well, it is starting to present a risk to my career now. If this thing blows…”
When I worked it through with Alan, it was clear that the executives should be taking notice, recognising what he can contribute and certainly, taking concrete action. Right now, we are taking steps to ensure that Alan, and his organisation, avoid a calamitous and very public reputational nose-dive. Gaining the appropriate level of recognition can do a lot more than avoid catastrophes. Over the last year alone, many that I have worked with have reported back that the increased recognition has given them benefits such as: Read More

Aiding and Abetting Machiavellian Characters

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Workplace politics make people angry, or at least frustrated. Politics gets in the way of the work, creating delays, disagreements and bad feeling. It is very difficult to pin down exactly what workplace politics is, partly because it means different things to different people. We made a valiant attempt at codifying the mayhem back in 2005 with 21 Dirty Tricks at Work. Since then, I’ve concluded that the majority view regards office politics as any act in pursuit of personal gain, especially where manipulation or dishonesty is involved. To most people I speak with, it evokes the feeling that it is either a necessary evil, or a complete waste of their time. All the game playing, positioning and subterfuge simply gets in the way of doing a good job. What do you think? Necessary evil, or waste of time? Read More

Your Corporate Manifesto

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Metaphors in business life are a great way of developing new ideas about what you can do to become more successful. If you are ambitious and working in a large organisation, consider for a moment the metaphor that gaining promotion to a senior post is akin to running for election. This would mean that you need to stand for something that the electorate identify with and believe it is an important issue affecting them. They would also need to feel confident that they can trust you and that you are the right person to get the job done. You would need to understand them well, have critical insights about the threats and opportunities your country faces, and keep a canny watch on the political moves of the opposition. Indeed, just like a politician, you would need to really stand out from the crowd with a compelling and inspirational manifesto. Read More

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