Career & Leadership Real Talk

Key points from this episode

Useful Links
Join The Catalyst Career Club for 50k+ Leaders
Connect 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 advice
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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Whether you're facing redundancy, escaping a toxic environment, or ready for your next career move, asking yourself the right questions before you start can transform your entire job search experience. We share the six questions we use with our coaching clients to help them move from frustration to focus, ensuring they land roles they actually want rather than just any role. If you've been job searching for a while and feeling frustrated, these questions also offer a valuable reset to help you go again with fresh clarity.
Key points from this episode
The critical difference between running from something versus running towards something in your job search
How to identify your non-negotiables and what you're willing to compromise on before you start applying
Uncovering the value and strengths you're not currently using (and whether you actually want to use them)
Why quality beats quantity when it comes to job applications

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Topic Overview
01:00 Question 1: What Am I Running From vs Running Towards?
05:00 Question 2: What Am I Willing to Compromise On and What's Non-Negotiable?
07:00 Question 3: What Value Do I Bring That I'm Not Currently Using?
12:00 Question 4: Who Do I Need to Become to Land the Role I Want?
16:00 Question 5: What Is My Personal Situation Right Now?
17:00 Why Quality Over Quantity Matters in Job Search
19:00 Wrap Up and Resources
Useful Links
Pam's Job Search Accelerator online programme
Connect 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 advice
Interested in working with us?
Get in touch about career or leadership development, outplacement workshops or recruitment support via the Catalyst Careers website

We're tackling something fundamental this week: the mindsets that separate good leaders from great ones. This isn't about productivity hacks or the latest leadership trend - it's about the inner game that determines whether you'll thrive or struggle in leadership roles. Whether you've just stepped into a senior position or you're looking to level up your leadership capability, this episode gives you five mindsets that will genuinely shift how you operate.
Key points from this episode
Why trying to copy other leaders' styles will damage trust and put you under unnecessary pressure
The difference between rational self-doubt and actual imposter syndrome (and why that distinction matters)
How the drive to prove yourself can actually hold you back from becoming more effective
Why creating thinking time feels uncomfortable but is non-negotiable for senior leadership
The alternative to getting comfortable being uncomfortable

00:00 Introduction - Five mindsets great leaders adopt
01:00 Context: Why mindset matters more than external skills
03:00 Mindset 1: Lead as yourself - authenticity without the buzzword
05:00 Mindset 2: Name the fear - managing self-doubt effectively
07:00 The temptation to prove yourself worthy
08:00 Mindset 3: Embrace being a work in progress
10:00 Mindset 4: Think, don't just do
12:00 Why being visibly busy can hold senior leaders back
14:00 How thinking time actually feels when you allow it
15:00 Mindset 5: Get uncomfortable being comfortable
17:00 Finding the edges without pushing into panic zone
19:00 How to actually use these mindsets in practice
21:00 Final advice and next steps
Useful Links
Connect 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 advice
Interested in working with us?
Get in touch about career or leadership development, outplacement workshops or recruitment support via the Catalyst Careers website

We're kicking off 2026 with the second part of our reflect, connect, commit framework. If you haven't listened to our year-end reflection episode yet, go back and start there - you'll get much more from this one if you do the reflection first.
This episode is about connecting with what you actually want for your career (not what you think you should want) and then committing to action that will make it happen. We talk about why SMART goals leave us cold, how to figure out what energises you versus what drains you, and the difference between dreaming big and taking the first step.
Key points from this episode
Why your definition of career success changes (and why that's important to understand)
The difference between values and priorities when it comes to career planning
How to identify who and what energises you (and why that matters more than you think)
Why we hate SMART goals and what to do instead
The commitment question: what will you do in January that signals you're serious?

00:00 Introduction: Connect and Commit for 2026
01:00 The Reflect, Connect, Commit Framework Overview
03:00 Values and Priorities: What Does Career Success Mean to You?
05:00 Pam's Definition of Success: Impact Over Everything Else
06:00 Jacqui's Realization: Financial Success AND Fun
08:00 More Of, Less Of: What Do You Want to Change?
09:00 Who Energises You? The Power of Being Around the Right People
12:00 Go Big or Go Home: Why SMART Goals Don't Inspire
14:00 The Problem With Realistic Goals When You're Ambitious
15:00 Jacqui's Big Vision
17:00 Commit: What Action Will You Take in January?
19:00 Taking Small Steps Towards Big Dreams
20:00 Get in Touch and Share Your Commitments
Useful Links
Connect 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

As 2025 wraps up, we're sharing the end-of-year reflection process we use with clients: reflect, connect, commit. Most people rush straight to "what went wrong and what do I need to fix?" but they're missing the most valuable bit - understanding what's actually working so you can do more of it. We walk through the specific questions that help you figure out what energises you, what drains you, and what you've been putting up with that needs to stop.
We get personal about our own year, including what's surprised us, what's taken off (Pam's LinkedIn success story is worth a listen), and the parts of our work that genuinely light us up. Plus, we tackle the uncomfortable question about boundaries that most people avoid
Key points from this episode
Why people learn more from their successes than their failures (but rarely do it)
The specific reflection questions that reveal what's actually working in your career
How to identify what energises you vs what makes you want to fake a WiFi issue
The confronting question about boundaries: what you've tolerated that you shouldn't
Using the "reflect, connect, commit" framework to create actual change, not just New Year optimism

Useful Links
Access our Free Podcast Resources Vault which includes the reflection questions resource from this episode
Connect 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 advice
Interested in working with us?
Get in touch about career or leadership development, outplacement workshops or recruitment support via the Catalyst Careers website