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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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

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 episode

• Why leaders struggle with admitting uncertainty and how transparency builds more trust than false confidence
• The critical difference between providing answers versus providing stability and structure
• How to maintain visibility and communication during change, even when you have no updates
• Practical language techniques to communicate clearly without overpromising
• Ways to maintain team engagement by focusing on what's within your control

00:00 Introduction and Topic Overview

01:00 Real-World Example: Leading Through a Site Closure

02:45 The Challenge of Balancing Honesty and Clarity

05:00 Effective Communication Strategies During Uncertainty

08:00 The Importance of Visibility and Regular Updates

10:14 Handling Information You Can't Share

12:00 Creating Space for Team Members to Process Change

13:20 Language Tips: Replacing Vague Phrases with Clear Statements

15:08 Maintaining Team Engagement Through Collaborative Focus

17:00 Key Takeaways for Leading Through Uncertainty

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

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 episode

• How to manage the emotional impact of missing out on a promotion
• Effective ways to process and learn from feedback
• Strategies to rebuild confidence and create a powerful action plan
• How to decide whether to stay with your company or move on
• Why 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 resources

Useful Links

Join The Catalyst Career Club for 50k+ Leaders

Connect 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

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 episode

• Why pressure hijacks our logical thinking and makes decisions harder
• The critical difference between reacting versus responding to urgent situations
• How to use the 70% rule to avoid decision paralysis and overthinking
• The reversible vs. irreversible decision framework for managing risk
• Ways to build credibility through your decision-making approach

00:00 Introduction to decision-making under pressure

01:00 Why decision-making can feel so hard in leadership roles

02:29 The brain freeze that happens when everyone's looking to you for answers

04:04 Recognising when you need to pause before deciding

06:00 Preparing your decision-making approach in advance

07:48 Using guiding principles to make better decisions

09:47 Avoiding overthinking when faced with complex decisions

11:00 The 70% rule for gathering information

12:42 Reversible versus irreversible decisions framework

15:50 Taking smaller steps when facing big decisions

17:58 Handling pressure from above and external stakeholders

20:21 Clarifying the problem you're trying to solve

24:16 Building confidence in your decision-making abilities

27:00 Three practical strategies to implement immediately

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/

Interested in working with us?

Get in touch about career or leadership development, outplacement workshops or recruitment support via the Catalyst Careers website

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 episode

• Why leadership confidence naturally ebbs and flows during growth and new challenges
• How to recognize when insecurity is driving your leadership behaviors
• The importance of leading from intention rather than allowing insecurity to take control
• Practical ways to leverage your existing strengths during confidence dips
• The balance between honest vulnerability and undermining your leadership position

00:00 Introduction and Topic Overview

01:00 Lead from Intention Not Insecurity: Recognizing and Addressing Leadership Insecurity

05:05 Focus on Accessible Strengths: Identifying and Leveraging Your Leadership Talents

09:00 Prepare Without Perfectionism: The Importance of Mental Rehearsal

13:00 Being Honest Without Undermining Yourself: Finding the Right Balance

17:58 Borrowing Belief When Needed: Seeing Yourself Through Supportive Eyes

21:00 Quick Win Strategies: Practical Takeaways and Action Steps

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/

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

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 team

Key points from this episode

• Why feedback often falls flat and comes across as criticism rather than support
• The importance of setting clear expectations before giving feedback
• How vague feedback like "be more strategic" creates confusion instead of clarity
• Why making feedback part of your everyday leadership approach changes your team culture
• Practical techniques for giving feedback to confident team members and those more senior than you

00:00 Introduction and Topic Overview

01:00 Why Feedback Often Falls Flat

05:00 The Problem with Vague and Non-Specific Feedback

09:00 Setting Clear Expectations Before Giving Feedback

13:00 Making Feedback Part of Your Leadership Culture

16:00 Planning Your Feedback Intentionally

19:00 Techniques for Giving Feedback When It Feels Tough

24:00 Quick Wins and Final Thoughts

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/

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

In this episode, we tackle the delicate art of managing team conflict effectively. We explore how leaders often get conflict wrong—either by avoiding it completely or jumping in too aggressively—and share practical strategies for navigating disagreements in a way that builds trust rather than erodes it. Join us as we discuss when to step in, when to step back, and how to create an environment where constructive conflict can actually strengthen your team.

Key points from this episode

• Why conflict avoidance is often more damaging than the conflict itself
• How to recognise different types of conflict and respond appropriately
• The importance of listening as your first response to emerging team tensions
• When to intervene versus when to let team members work through issues themselves
• Creating team agreements about handling conflict before problems arise

00:00 Introduction and Topic Overview

01:00 How Leaders Get Conflict Wrong: Avoidance and Aggression

03:00 The Value of Positive Conflict in Teams

06:00 Recognising the Different Types of Conflict

08:00 The Power of Listening Before Acting

12:00 When to Step In vs When to Step Back

15:00 Having the Right Conversations at the Right Time

19:00 Handling the Team Member Who Consistently Creates Issues

22:00 Quick Wins for Better Conflict Management

Useful Links

Four Types of Conflict Episode

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/

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

Ever taken a role that looked perfect on paper but turned into a nightmare? We explore the red flags that can signal trouble ahead and share practical strategies to protect yourself during the job search process. Join us as we break down how to read between the lines of job descriptions, navigate the interview process, and trust your instincts when evaluating potential employers.

Key points from this episode

• How to interpret repeatedly reposted job ads and what they reveal about an organisation
• The warning signs in job descriptions, from overly vague to impossibly detailed
• Why an organisation's treatment of candidates often mirrors how they'll treat employees
• Critical questions to ask in interviews that uncover the true workplace culture
• How to evaluate interview tasks and presentations that might cross the line

00:00 Introduction and Topic Overview

01:00 Red Flags in Job Advertisements

04:00 Using Employer Review Sites Like Glassdoor

09:00 Red Flags During the Interview Process

14:00 Evaluating Interview Tasks and Presentations

19:00 The Offer Stage: Making the Final Decision

26:00 Trust Your Instincts and Take Your Time

Useful Links

Get the Interview Presentation Slide Pack & Training

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/

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