Struggling to explain what you actually achieve beyond your daily tasks? You're not alone. Most professionals can list everything they do but struggle to articulate what's genuinely better because of their work. We explore our proven 4-part framework that transforms how you communicate your value, whether for performance reviews, job applications, or internal progression.Key points from this episodeThe 4 types of impact every professional has (and how to identify yours)Why focusing on tasks instead of outcomes sabotages your career progressionSpecific questions to uncover hidden examples of your impactThe "So What" test that transforms basic statements into compelling achievementsHow to quantify people impact and relationship-building contributionsDownload the Impact Audit Template Useful 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 Enjoyed this Episode? If you enjoyed this episode, please take the time to rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned 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 136 - How Perfectionism is Holding Back Your Leadership
We know loads of you will identify as perfectionists - it's one of the most common things our clients tell us about themselves, usually with a mix of pride and frustration. Most perfectionists know they probably need to ease up a bit, but knowing you should dial it back and actually feeling ready to let go are completely different things. The reality is that perfectionism has got you where you are, so the thought of lowering your standards feels risky. But what if the very thing that helped you climb the ladder is now holding you back from the impact you really want? We explore how perfectionism shows up in leadership roles, why it stops serving you at senior levels, and most importantly - practical strategies to shift from perfectionism to progress without dropping your standards.Key points from this episodeWhy perfectionism feels useful early in your career but becomes a barrier in leadership rolesHow perfectionist habits create overwork, slow decision-making, and micromanagement tendenciesThe hidden costs of perfectionism - missing strategic work, limiting career progression, and demotivating your teamPractical strategies including time limits, delegating outcomes not processes, and creating early feedback loopsWhy the "one-touch rule" matters when reviewing delegated work00:00 Introduction - How perfectionism holds back leadership01:00 Why perfectionism feels useful and gets rewarded early in careers03:00 The frustration when "perfect" work doesn't hit the mark for others06:00 How perfectionism shows up in leadership - overwork and exhaustion08:00 The impact on pace, agility, and team delegation10:00 Why perfectionist leaders struggle with delegation and become bottlenecks13:00 How perfectionism limits capacity for strategic work and career progression16:00 Strategies for loosening the perfectionist grip18:00 The mindset shift: risk of imperfection vs risk of perfectionism20:00 Practical tip 1: Set time limits and stick to them religiously22:00 Practical tip 2: Delegate the outcome, not the process24:00 Practical tip 3: Create early feedback loops instead of waiting for the "ta-da" moment26:00 The one-touch rule for reviewing delegated work28:00 Closing thoughts and coaching support optionsUseful 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/ Access the download with 20 strategies to overcome perfectionism as a leader (without lowering your standards) Interested in working with us? Get in touch about career or leadership development, outplacement workshops or recruitment support via the Catalyst Careers website Enjoyed this Episode? If you enjoyed this episode, please take the time to rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned 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...
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Ep 135 - Building Positive Resilience: Proactive Strategies for Busy Leaders with Professor Laura Chamberlain
Think resilience is about weathering storms and bouncing back from adversity? Think again. This week Jacqui speaks to Professor Laura Chamberlain, author of "Brilliantly Bouncy: Discover Positive Resilience," who completely reframes how we think about building resilience in our professional lives. Laura shares why waiting until crisis hits to think about resilience is like trying to build strength in the middle of a workout - it's far better to create your reserves beforehand.Key points from this episodeWhy resilience is like a dimmer switch, not an on/off buttonThe danger of wearing resilience as a badge of honour for surviving tough timesHow to conduct an energy audit to identify what drains and energises youWhy resilience doesn't have to be lonely—it's actually a team sportPractical choice anchors and energy management strategies for busy professionals00:00 Introduction and welcome to Professor Laura Chamberlain01:00 Laura's background and introduction to positive resilience02:00 The traditional negative narrative around resilience04:00 Laura's personal journey and the "cockroach" moment06:00 Jacqui's reflection on past resilience experiences07:00 Resilience as a dimmer switch metaphor09:00 The shame and pride elements of traditional resilience thinking10:00 Applying positive resilience in professional contexts13:00 The power of conscious choices and control codes15:00 Energy management over time management17:00 Laura's 4am writing routine and energy-based scheduling20:00 Building team resilience and radiator culture23:00 Friends as radiators, not drains25:00 The importance of asking for help and team support27:00 User manuals for teams and connection building30:00 Key takeaways: starting with an energy audit32:00 Next steps: choice anchors and opportunity pockets34:00 Where to find the book and connect with Laura32:00 Next steps: choice anchors and opportunity pockets34:00 Where to find the book and connect with LauraUseful LinksPrevious Episode - Manage Your Energy, Not Your TimeBrilliantly Bouncy Website - https://brilliantlybouncy.com/ Join 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...
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Ep 134 - Giving Feedback Without Hurting Feelings: Why Holding Back Isn’t Helping Anyone
If you've ever found yourself avoiding a difficult conversation because you didn't want to upset someone, or watched a team member struggle whilst knowing exactly what they needed to hear but not knowing how to say it, this episode is essential listening. We explore the concept of "ruinous empathy" from Kim Scott's Radical Candor framework and why sometimes caring too much can actually hold your people back from the growth they need.Key points from this episodeUnderstanding ruinous empathy and why well-meaning leaders fall into this trapThe unintended consequences of avoiding challenging conversations in your teamFour practical skills to move from ruinous empathy to radical candorHow to demonstrate that your feedback comes from genuine care, not criticismWhy setting high standards actually shows you care more about your people's developmentUseful 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 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 133 - How to Use AI in Your Job Search (Without Sounding Like Everyone Else)
In this episode, we tackle the double-edged sword of AI in job searching. Whilst AI tools like ChatGPT have become incredibly popular for CV writing and interview prep, we're seeing some serious pitfalls that could actually harm your chances. We explore how the widespread use of AI is creating a sea of identical applications and share practical strategies for using AI effectively without losing your authentic voice.Key points from this episodeWhy AI-generated CVs are making candidates blend in rather than stand outThe critical importance of keeping your personality and authentic voice in applicationsHow to use AI as a brainstorming tool rather than a replacement for your own thinkingThe major flaws in using AI to predict interview questions (and what to do instead)Practical dos and don'ts for incorporating AI into your job search strategyTimestamps:00:00 Introduction: The AI revolution in job searching01:00 The homogenisation problem: When everyone's CV looks the same03:00 The personality drain: Why AI can suck the soul out of applications05:00 Red flag AI keywords that scream "computer-generated"07:00 The trust factor: Why human-sounding CVs stand out more than ever08:00 Crafting a compelling professional summary that sounds like you10:00 Moving beyond responsibilities to showcase real impact13:00 Smart ways to use AI for brainstorming and refinement15:00 The interview prep trap: Why predicting questions backfires17:00 The story-building approach to interview preparation19:00 Why companies are giving questions upfront (and what this means)21:00 Practical dos and don'ts for AI in job searchingUseful 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/
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