Ep 130 - Leading Through Change (Even When You Don’t Have All the Answers)
In this episode, we tackle one of leadership's most challenging aspects: providing direction during uncertainty. Drawing from our own experiences, we explore how to maintain team confidence when you don't have all the answers yourself. Whether you're navigating a restructure or implementing a new project, discover practical strategies to lead effectively through ambiguity without sacrificing credibility.Key points from this episodeWhy leaders struggle with admitting uncertainty and how transparency builds more trust than false confidenceThe critical difference between providing answers versus providing stability and structureHow to maintain visibility and communication during change, even when you have no updatesPractical language techniques to communicate clearly without overpromisingWays to maintain team engagement by focusing on what's within your control00:00 Introduction and Topic Overview01:00 Real-World Example: Leading Through a Site Closure02:45 The Challenge of Balancing Honesty and Clarity05:00 Effective Communication Strategies During Uncertainty08:00 The Importance of Visibility and Regular Updates10:14 Handling Information You Can't Share12:00 Creating Space for Team Members to Process Change13:20 Language Tips: Replacing Vague Phrases with Clear Statements15:08 Maintaining Team Engagement Through Collaborative Focus17:00 Key Takeaways for Leading Through UncertaintyUseful LinksJoin The Catalyst Career Club for 50k+ LeadersConnect with Pam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangan/ Connect with Jacqui on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-jagger/ Follow the Catalyst Careers LinkedIn page for career tips and adviceInterested in working with us? Get in touch about career or leadership development, outplacement workshops or recruitment support via the Catalyst Careers website
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Ep 129 - When You Don't Get That Promotion: Turning Disappointment into Opportunity with Jude Sclater
In this episode, we speak with career coach Jude about strategies for handling promotion rejection and how to transform this challenging experience into a catalyst for professional growth.Key points from this episodeHow to manage the emotional impact of missing out on a promotionEffective ways to process and learn from feedbackStrategies to rebuild confidence and create a powerful action planHow to decide whether to stay with your company or move onWhy promotion setbacks often lead to greater long-term career success[00:00:00] - Introduction and guest Jude's background[00:06:00] - Typical emotional reactions to promotion disappointment[00:14:00] - Moving past initial emotions and accessing support[00:17:00] - Getting valuable insights from feedback[00:25:00] - How successful people turn setbacks into opportunities[00:34:00] - Deciding whether to stay or leave after promotion disappointment[00:37:00] - Quick wins and practical advice for immediate action[00:38:00] - Information about Jude's book and resourcesUseful LinksJoin The Catalyst Career Club for 50k+ LeadersConnect with Jude on LinkedIn https://www.thinkwithjude.com/ Interested in working with us? Get in touch about career or leadership development, outplacement workshops or recruitment support via the Catalyst Careers website Mentioned in this episode:Catalyst Career Club for £50k+ Leaders & Managers Moving up the career ladder needs an inside edge - strategies that allow you to unlock your full potential and position yourself as a true leadership talent.
And that's exactly what the Catalyst Career Club for 50k+ Leaders provides. No fluff, no corporate jargon.
Just a down to earth, purposeful injection of oomph for your career from Pamela & Jacqui
Use the code PODCAST to get your first month for £1
https://www.pamelalangan.com/catalystcareerclub
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Ep 128 - How to Make Better Decisions Under Pressure
In this episode, we tackle the challenge of decision-making under pressure – a common scenario for leaders at all levels. We explore why making decisions can feel so difficult when you're facing time constraints, stakeholder expectations, and limited information. Join us as we share practical frameworks and strategies to help you make better decisions even when the pressure is on.Key points from this episodeWhy pressure hijacks our logical thinking and makes decisions harderThe critical difference between reacting versus responding to urgent situationsHow to use the 70% rule to avoid decision paralysis and overthinkingThe reversible vs. irreversible decision framework for managing riskWays to build credibility through your decision-making approach00:00 Introduction to decision-making under pressure01:00 Why decision-making can feel so hard in leadership roles02:29 The brain freeze that happens when everyone's looking to you for answers04:04 Recognising when you need to pause before deciding06:00 Preparing your decision-making approach in advance07:48 Using guiding principles to make better decisions09:47 Avoiding overthinking when faced with complex decisions11:00 The 70% rule for gathering information12:42 Reversible versus irreversible decisions framework15:50 Taking smaller steps when facing big decisions17:58 Handling pressure from above and external stakeholders20:21 Clarifying the problem you're trying to solve24:16 Building confidence in your decision-making abilities27:00 Three practical strategies to implement immediatelyUseful LinksJoin The Catalyst Career Club for 50k+ LeadersConnect with Pam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangan/ Connect with Jacqui on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-jagger/ Interested in working with us? Get in touch about career or leadership development, outplacement workshops or recruitment support via the Catalyst Careers website
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Ep 127 - 5 Practical Strategies When Lacking Confidence in Your Leadership
In this episode, we tackle the common yet rarely discussed challenge of leadership confidence dips. We explore how lacking confidence in your leadership abilities can affect decision-making, influence, and overall effectiveness, while providing practical approaches to maintain your leadership presence even during periods of self-doubt. Join us as we share strategies to help you lead authentically even when you're not feeling 100% confident.Key points from this episodeWhy leadership confidence naturally ebbs and flows during growth and new challengesHow to recognize when insecurity is driving your leadership behaviorsThe importance of leading from intention rather than allowing insecurity to take controlPractical ways to leverage your existing strengths during confidence dipsThe balance between honest vulnerability and undermining your leadership position00:00 Introduction and Topic Overview01:00 Lead from Intention Not Insecurity: Recognizing and Addressing Leadership Insecurity05:05 Focus on Accessible Strengths: Identifying and Leveraging Your Leadership Talents09:00 Prepare Without Perfectionism: The Importance of Mental Rehearsal13:00 Being Honest Without Undermining Yourself: Finding the Right Balance17:58 Borrowing Belief When Needed: Seeing Yourself Through Supportive Eyes21:00 Quick Win Strategies: Practical Takeaways and Action StepsUseful LinksJoin The Catalyst Career Club for 50k+ LeadersConnect with Pam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangan/ Connect with Jacqui on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-jagger/ Interested in working with us? Get in touch about career or leadership development, outplacement workshops or recruitment support via the Catalyst Careers website Mentioned in this episode:Catalyst Career Club for £50k+ Leaders & Managers Moving up the career ladder needs an inside edge - strategies that allow you to unlock your full potential and position yourself as a true leadership talent.
And that's exactly what the Catalyst Career Club for 50k+ Leaders provides. No fluff, no corporate jargon.
Just a down to earth, purposeful injection of oomph for your career from Pamela & Jacqui
Use the code PODCAST to get your first month for £1
https://www.pamelalangan.com/catalystcareerclub
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25:00
Ep 126 - How to Give Feedback that Actually Changes Behaviour
In this episode, we dive into the art of giving feedback that actually changes behaviour. Many leaders struggle with delivering effective feedback - it often feels awkward, gets avoided, or fails to create the desired impact. We explore why feedback sometimes falls flat and share practical strategies to make your feedback more impactful and drive meaningful behavioural change in your teamKey points from this episodeWhy feedback often falls flat and comes across as criticism rather than supportThe importance of setting clear expectations before giving feedbackHow vague feedback like "be more strategic" creates confusion instead of clarityWhy making feedback part of your everyday leadership approach changes your team culturePractical techniques for giving feedback to confident team members and those more senior than you00:00 Introduction and Topic Overview01:00 Why Feedback Often Falls Flat05:00 The Problem with Vague and Non-Specific Feedback09:00 Setting Clear Expectations Before Giving Feedback13:00 Making Feedback Part of Your Leadership Culture16:00 Planning Your Feedback Intentionally19:00 Techniques for Giving Feedback When It Feels Tough24:00 Quick Wins and Final ThoughtsUseful LinksJoin The Catalyst Career Club for 50k+ LeadersConnect with Pam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangan/ Connect with Jacqui on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-jagger/ Interested in working with us? Get in touch about career or leadership development, outplacement workshops or recruitment support via the Catalyst Careers website Mentioned in this episode:Catalyst Career Club for £50k+ Leaders & Managers Moving up the career ladder needs an inside edge - strategies that allow you to unlock your full potential and position yourself as a true leadership talent.
And that's exactly what the Catalyst Career Club for 50k+ Leaders provides. No fluff, no corporate jargon.
Just a down to earth, purposeful injection of oomph for your career from Pamela & Jacqui
Use the code PODCAST to get your first month for £1
https://www.pamelalangan.com/catalystcareerclub
Welcome to Career & Leadership Real Talk; a weekly podcast full of guidance and advice for ambitious managers who are ready to take ownership of their career.
It’s hosted by Pamela Langan, a job search coach and c.v. writing expert, and Jacqui Jagger, a mindset and leadership coach. We’re here for you if you want to have more impact, land a new job or get the promotion you know you deserve. There’s no high level, intellectual theory here – it’s a fluff-free zone
We’ll be talking about how to stand out in your job search, how to hit the ground running in a new role and how to cope when things aren’t going *quite* the way you want at work
In our career clinic section we’ll answer real questions from listeners and our clients, and we’ll also share our take on books on the topics of careers, leadership, & management so you can decide which are worth your time
You can connect with us on LinkedIn – feel free to DM us with any questions you’d like us to answer on the show!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangancoaching/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-jagger/
Ireland