I’m Elaine Blidgeon, creator of The Inner Strategist’s Strategic Power Mapping System — [Strategic Power Mapping for short]

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“Every room is scanning for who’s useful, who’s safe, and who can be ignored.”
— Me.

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Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

You’re being read long before you’re being recognised.

That means your colleagues, managers, and stakeholders are constantly interpreting:

• What you say – and what you don’t
• How you respond in meetings
• What tasks you volunteer for
• Who you’re seen with
• How confident or compliant you appear under pressure

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And they’re building a quiet narrative about you – often without meaning to.

This narrative shapes who gets the best projects.

Who’s seen as ready for more.

Who gets protected when things go wrong – and who gets thrown under the bus.

It’s not always fair. But it is how it works.

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If you don’t know how to read the room – or position yourself within it – you’ll keep doing the work, but not getting the outcomes.

Strategic Power Mapping gives you the tools to shape that perception, ethically and deliberately.

So people don’t just see what you do – they understand what you’re really worth.

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The obvious question:
How do you get ahead — without selling your soul or burning out?

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If you’ve already figured out the politics at work and you’re moving up with ease, this probably isn’t for you.

But if you’re tired of working hard and still feeling behind — keep reading.

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First, let’s talk about how most people try to “progress”:

• Saying yes to everything (to be seen as a team player)
• Staying late (because visible effort must equal value, right?)
• Trying to be more “resilient” when the real issue is structural
• Hoping that if they just keep their head down and deliver, someone will notice

Let me be direct:
That’s not strategy. That’s survival.

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And in most organisations, survival mode keeps you stuck.

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What actually moves people forward — quietly and consistently — is knowing how to:

• Spot the real decision-makers early
• See which projects will elevate you, and which will bury you
• Understand how you’re being positioned — and when to shift it
• Predict power shifts, so you’re never the last to know

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That’s what Strategic Power Mapping gives you.

Not a promotion script. Not another productivity hack.

A system that upgrades how you move through the workplace — so you stop surviving and start shaping your path.

Influence isn’t just about being good at your job.
It’s about staying relevant in rooms where perception shapes outcomes.

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So how do you stay in control — especially in organisations where the rules are always shifting?

You don’t need charisma. Or politics. Or endless self-promotion.

What you need is strategic positioning.

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People lose control at work when they:

A) Do good work, but ignore how it’s being framed
B) Overextend themselves without real leverage
C) Miss the signals that a shift is coming — until it’s already happened

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Those mistakes don’t just slow your career down — they leave you exposed.

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To stay in control, you need to:

• Track how you’re being perceived — and update it when necessary
• Spot early signs of political shifts, and reposition without panic
• Align yourself with power without appearing opportunistic
• Respond to moves — instead of reacting to noise

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Strategic Power Mapping gives you the tools to do this.

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It’s not about being seen all the time.
It’s about being seen the right way, by the right people, at the right time — and knowing exactly what to do with that attention.

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Control isn’t taken. It’s built.

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This is how you build it — and keep it.

I didn’t build Strategic Power Mapping out of curiosity.
I built it out of necessity.

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I kept being told no.
Not because I lacked ability — but because the decisions had already been made, often by people who knew how to move behind the scenes.

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• I was praised publicly, but blocked privately.
• I was managed — not led.
• I was manoeuvred around by people who understood how to position themselves — and how to position others.

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And eventually, I realised:.

This isn’t about performance. It’s about power.
Not loud, aggressive power. But strategic control — of perception, narrative, and influence

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I wasn’t naturally power-hungry.
But I could see that without leverage, I was being backed into compliance.
And I wasn’t willing to keep playing the game on other people’s terms.

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Hi, I’m Elaine Blidgeon and because of my Inner Strategist Nature

I started studying human psychology.
I used my analytical mind to spot patterns — who the players were, what roles they played, and how they moved to gain control over their work, their teams, and their futures.

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And over time, I created a system.
One that made sense of what no one would say out loud — and helped me move through workplaces with clarity, instead of confusion.

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That system is now Strategic Power Mapping.
And it’s for people like you — who don’t want to play games, but refuse to be played..

Strategic Power Mapping is built for professionals navigating real-world politics, power dynamics, and leadership pressure.

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The kind of people who don’t want their names on testimonial pages — because the work is too personal, and the stakes are too high.

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I work with people across industries and seniority levels —  and the outcomes are remarkably consistent:

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• Greater clarity in fast-moving environments
• More control over how they’re seen and what they say yes to
• Fewer costly mistakes when the pressure is high and the politics are subtle

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If you’re facing difficult dynamics, feeling like you’re being manoeuvred, or unsure how to respond without making things worse — this work helps you see the game before the next move is made.

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If you’d like to hear stories or examples more relevant to your own situation, we can talk through them in a private consultation..

1. Executive Under Threat — Saved Her Pension, Reputation, and Sanity

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A senior leader in a public service organisation came to me while under disciplinary investigation — a process triggered by a manager who’d systematically isolated her, turned her team against her, and threatened both her role and her pension.

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When we started working together, she was close to going on long term sick leave — emotionally exhausted and under immense pressure.

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I showed her how to hold her position, respond strategically, and stay composed under scrutiny.

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She wasn’t dismissed. She chose to leave on her terms.
Years later, I ran into her by chance. She told me:

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“I still keep all the notes you gave me — it’s my bible.”

2. Written Off for Promotion — Became the Bridge Between Nations

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Anna (sadly now passed) spent years being told she wasn’t “management material” at a major global firm — despite being smart, experienced, and trilingual.

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Together, we developed a strategy: not just to prove her value, but to frame it in a way her managers couldn’t ignore.

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She didn’t just get onto the management track.

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She launched an international liaison initiative between branches in Europe — and won an internal award.

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The same manager who once blocked her? Publicly praised her leadership and results.

3. Overworked and Undermined — Took Back Control

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A client working in a family-owned business was doing the work of two people while managing a team — without the pay, recognition, support, or progression she’d been promised.

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We worked on boundaries, leverage, and how to spot when she was being stalled or manipulated.

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She learned how to call strategic bluffs, shift conversations from emotion to facts, and start holding others accountable.

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The result? She didn’t just survive the culture — she redefined her role within it..

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I’m not big on hype — but if you’ve read this far, it’s likely something resonated.

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Maybe you’ve been feeling stuck in a role that doesn’t reflect your actual ability.

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Maybe you’ve started to notice how others move ahead — not through talent alone, but through positioning, politics, and perception.

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You’ve imagined what work would feel like if you could:

• Anticipate power shifts before they affect you
• Navigate difficult dynamics with more control
• Be seen the way you want to be seen — without selling out
• Stop overworking just to stay in the same place

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And you’ve seen how Strategic Power Mapping isn’t about career coaching — it’s about equipping yourself with a system that helps you understand how the game is played, so you can move on your terms.

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Now the only question is: what are you going to do with that insight?

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You could wait until the next reshuffle, restructure, or manager change — and hope it goes your way.

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Or you could choose to step into this moment and say, “Enough. I’m ready to move strategically.”

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This work isn’t for everyone.

It’s for professionals who are ready to think differently, operate more deliberately, and stop playing blind.

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That’s why I work with clients by application.

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If you’re ready to see what’s possible when you stop reacting and start making intentional moves, the next step is simple:

Apply now to book a Strategic Mapping Call.

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We’ll talk about where you are, what’s keeping you stuck, and whether Strategic Power Mapping is the right fit.

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If it is, I’ll show you how to get started — and what it will take.

If it’s not, I’ll say that too.

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But if you’re still reading, chances are — it is.

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I’ll see you inside.