When a larger company took over the one I’d been working in for 4 years, all aspects of my role changed; company strategy, my boss, reporting structure and ways of working. Suddenly I felt I was in an alien environment. We were also encouraged to often work remotely which left me feeling isolated. As I hadn’t had a chance to build a relationship with my new boss - who worked in another time zone and was very “hands off”, I felt quite unsupported.
There were still good things about the company, but I felt adrift, I needed help to work out how to manage my role and career in this new context. Could I improve my current situation and if not, how could I move on?
Right from the getgo I felt really supported by Trudy. She’s empathetic and a fantastic listener. Even in the first session I gained many new insights about my situation. During my coaching programme Trudy helped me to become more aware of how organisational politics ‘works’. She helped me develop the skills to better influence my boss. She also helped me map the key stakeholders in my career and helped me build the skills and emotional intelligence to expand my network and deepen relationships across the new bigger organisation.
Trudy helped me uncover blindspots including my tendency to sometimes ‘charge ahead’ without fully listening to people’s objections to my proposals. Trudy helped me develop strategies to maintain my awareness in this area and tools I could use to help improve things.
Results
Over the next 12 months I greatly increased my network within the organisation and also outside of it. When the role of Commercial Director came up I was encouraged by my senior colleagues to apply. …And I got the role! Apart from it being a more interesting and higher profile role there was a nearly 20% increase in my remuneration package.
I don't feel I would have been able to achieve this promotion if I had not improved my emotional intelligence and influencing skills by working with Trudy.