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Andrew Sharratt operates in the field of
Special Situations Management. Ask him what this means and he will describe
a typical project, where he is called in by a company to look at one of
its problem divisions, given 90 days and told to "save it, sell it
or shut it".
With an engineering degree, a PhD and an MBA, Andrew Sharratt has a formidable
background in technology, operations and general management. When we profiled
him for our JOurnal in 1997, he was General Manager of the UK company
of an international space-heating group. He had been on a number of courses
with Jo Ouston & Co and knew that, because of impending ownership
changes in the company, he faced new career challenges.
At the time he said, "Attending the Developing Personal Presence
course (at JO & Co) was the turning point. Equipping myself with greater
expertise in communication has proved a vital component in my career development."
When Sharratt spoke to us recently he had considerably developed his insight
into the longer-term implications of what had been termed 'career strategy'.
"I don't think a 'career strategy', in terms of a mapped out, step-by-step
plan, had much relevance. I am probably more effective now than I have
ever been, and that's partly because I am making the best use of my knowledge
and experience. But even more important, it's because what I do suits
my temperament. When I plug in to the problems and challenges of the work,
the current is compatible. The voltage is there."
Andrew Sharratt does not see career planning as a straight-line process,
but more as an issue of having a vision of where you want to be, and being
prepared to tack and turn on your way there. The design is broad brush.
"I thought I had done no planning,"
Sharratt says, "But I looked recently at some notes from my post-MBA
days, where I had written down long-term objectives, what I would like
to be. Underlined were the words 'company doctor'. That is now what I
am."
So does he still think equipping himself with greater expertise in communication
was the most important outcome of his work with JO & Co?
"Not necessarily. Of course the techniques have been useful, but
the most important thing was to let the whole process sink in and mature.
No one can tell me how to run my career. I have learned to be self-sufficient,
to listen to my own instincts. The work I do needs an uncluttered mind
and an uncluttered personality. Without confidence about who I am, I couldn't
do it. Working with JO & Co has made me realise that the vital factor
in finding the right role is not new skills, or even new plans, but changed
attitudes."
Andrew Sharratt can be contacted on sharratt@globalnet.co.uk
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Copyright Jo Ouston & Company Limited 2000-2008
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