The Inner Strategist

Changes are afoot- I'm now only doing one podcast per week all about strategy and how they affect your success at work. In today's episode I'm looking at the strategy of being 'nice' Leaders are under pressure to be nice, but is it a good strategy to adopt? On the surface - yes of course who doesn't want a leader to be nice to them and be a nice person? We all do. But it can backfire and strategy is the key to understanding why.

Today, we’re going to take a deep dive into what’s really going on behind the scenes in the world of promotions and progress. I’ll share a practical process to help you shift your approach—so your work gets noticed by the people who matter. We’ll explore the hidden rules, the strategic moves, and the mindset shifts that can change the course of your career.

If you’ve invested time and energy into training your team, set clear expectations, and still seen their confidence unravel when plans go off course, you’re not alone. That moment when everyone looks to you, searching for direction, is more than just a fleeting frustration—it reveals something deeper about how your team operates under pressure

If being liked was all it took, the hardest workers would always get ahead. So why do some people suck up their boss? Truth is it works - at least in certain situations. But it doesn't work in all situations - for that you'll need something more powerful. So in this episode I talk about what you need to get on at work, how to short cut your progress and what circumstances needs to be there first.

"That's why I keep saying, that a manager is not a person, but a function" Andrzej Ławecki- This quote is the difference between you struggling to be a successful manager and not- and this is what I unpack in this episode. If you've ever wondered why you can't get your team to work to a high performance, you get dragged into the emotional stuff that people bring, you find you know what you want to do, should do as a manager then you really need to listen to this episode.

We're taught that If you work hard, deliver, and care, you’ll get ahead.

But the reality?

Excellence often just makes you the reliable one—the person who can be counted on to get things done. And while that’s valuable, it doesn’t always get rewarded with the next big opportunity.

You might see what’s going on—who gets picked for the big projects, who gets invited to key meetings—but not know what it means. So in this episode I show you what works and why- I even give you a 4 step framework to make it work- but i then throw you a curve ball and tell you why despite all that it still won't work unless you know this one thing.

A lot of professionals, especially those who’ve been promoted for their solo skills, want nothing to do with politics. It feels manipulative, unnecessary, maybe even beneath them. Office Politics isn’t just about manipulation or backroom deals. At its core, it’s about access—to information, to decision-makers, to opportunities. It’s also about protection for you and your team. In this episode I show you why you need office politics and give you a 4 step process to help you navigate it more effectively.

We all know that burnout if bad, but that's the the real problem it's what happens before burnout that scuppers you, burnout is the last straw. In this episode I talk you through what the real problem is for high achievers and if you're wanting to rise in your organisation I even give you intel on your next steps. There are many routes to the top- but the most popular and common behaviour that we all get sucked into is not it. So sit back and take on board what you need to do to have a better time of it at work

I interviewed Andrzej Lawecki in the last episode (EP18) and he revealed soooo much about his leadership and management style and practices. One of these practices is how he thinks of his team and does not allow his ego to become part of his leadership. And because of that he really doe believe his team is smarter than him and as a result he has a high performing team. So in this episode I'm pulling back the curtain on how he thinks as well as giving you some guidance on how you can pull back and create a high performance team.

If I say the words Office Politics- will you run and refuse to listen? Please don't because in this episode I share with you 8 things I wish I had known years ago about Office Politics that would have helped me have an easier time and more success. - truly. I'm sharing these with you do you do not have to waste decades believing office politics is a dirty word and we should stay away . If you are serious about your career then point/tip No. 6 will change your mind and tip No.8 will challenge you but is essential- if you don't want to get bitten in the posterior that is. Let me know what you've tried - contact me at elaineblidgeon.co.uk - look forward to hearing from you.