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 episode

• The 4 types of impact every professional has (and how to identify yours)
• Why focusing on tasks instead of outcomes sabotages your career progression
• Specific questions to uncover hidden examples of your impact
• The "So What" test that transforms basic statements into compelling achievements
• How to quantify people impact and relationship-building contributions

Download the Impact Audit Template

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

Enjoyed this Episode?

If you enjoyed this episode, please take the time to rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

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

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 episode

• Why perfectionism feels useful early in your career but becomes a barrier in leadership roles
• How perfectionist habits create overwork, slow decision-making, and micromanagement tendencies
• The hidden costs of perfectionism - missing strategic work, limiting career progression, and demotivating your team
• Practical strategies including time limits, delegating outcomes not processes, and creating early feedback loops
• Why the "one-touch rule" matters when reviewing delegated work

00:00 Introduction - How perfectionism holds back leadership

01:00 Why perfectionism feels useful and gets rewarded early in careers

03:00 The frustration when "perfect" work doesn't hit the mark for others

06:00 How perfectionism shows up in leadership - overwork and exhaustion

08:00 The impact on pace, agility, and team delegation

10:00 Why perfectionist leaders struggle with delegation and become bottlenecks

13:00 How perfectionism limits capacity for strategic work and career progression

16:00 Strategies for loosening the perfectionist grip

18:00 The mindset shift: risk of imperfection vs risk of perfectionism

20:00 Practical tip 1: Set time limits and stick to them religiously

22:00 Practical tip 2: Delegate the outcome, not the process

24:00 Practical tip 3: Create early feedback loops instead of waiting for the "ta-da" moment

26:00 The one-touch rule for reviewing delegated work

28:00 Closing thoughts and coaching support options

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/

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 Spotify

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...

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 episode

• Why resilience is like a dimmer switch, not an on/off button
• The danger of wearing resilience as a badge of honour for surviving tough times
• How to conduct an energy audit to identify what drains and energises you
• Why resilience doesn't have to be lonely—it's actually a team sport
• Practical choice anchors and energy management strategies for busy professionals

00:00 Introduction and welcome to Professor Laura Chamberlain

01:00 Laura's background and introduction to positive resilience

02:00 The traditional negative narrative around resilience

04:00 Laura's personal journey and the "cockroach" moment

06:00 Jacqui's reflection on past resilience experiences

07:00 Resilience as a dimmer switch metaphor

09:00 The shame and pride elements of traditional resilience thinking

10:00 Applying positive resilience in professional contexts

13:00 The power of conscious choices and control codes

15:00 Energy management over time management

17:00 Laura's 4am writing routine and energy-based scheduling

20:00 Building team resilience and radiator culture

23:00 Friends as radiators, not drains

25:00 The importance of asking for help and team support

27:00 User manuals for teams and connection building

30:00 Key takeaways: starting with an energy audit

32:00 Next steps: choice anchors and opportunity pockets

34:00 Where to find the book and connect with Laura

32:00 Next steps: choice anchors and opportunity pockets

34:00 Where to find the book and connect with Laura

Useful Links

Previous Episode - Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time

Brilliantly Bouncy Website - https://brilliantlybouncy.com/

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...

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 episode

• Understanding ruinous empathy and why well-meaning leaders fall into this trap
• The unintended consequences of avoiding challenging conversations in your team
• Four practical skills to move from ruinous empathy to radical candor
• How to demonstrate that your feedback comes from genuine care, not criticism
• Why setting high standards actually shows you care more about your people's development

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

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 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 episode

• Why AI-generated CVs are making candidates blend in rather than stand out
• The critical importance of keeping your personality and authentic voice in applications
• How to use AI as a brainstorming tool rather than a replacement for your own thinking
• The 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 strategy

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: The AI revolution in job searching

01:00 The homogenisation problem: When everyone's CV looks the same

03:00 The personality drain: Why AI can suck the soul out of applications

05:00 Red flag AI keywords that scream "computer-generated"

07:00 The trust factor: Why human-sounding CVs stand out more than ever

08:00 Crafting a compelling professional summary that sounds like you

10:00 Moving beyond responsibilities to showcase real impact

13:00 Smart ways to use AI for brainstorming and refinement

15:00 The interview prep trap: Why predicting questions backfires

17:00 The story-building approach to interview preparation

19:00 Why companies are giving questions upfront (and what this means)

21:00 Practical dos and don'ts for AI in job searching

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

This week, we tackle one of the most frustrating leadership challenges: wanting to be strategic but constantly being pulled back into the operational weeds by requests from above. If you've ever felt caught between senior leaders asking for detailed information whilst simultaneously telling you to "be more strategic," this episode is essential listening. We explore why this happens and share practical strategies to break the cycle.

Key points from this episode

• Why senior leaders ask for detailed information even when they want you to be strategic
• How to communicate strategically without getting trapped in over-explaining
• Managing up techniques that build trust and reduce micro-detail requests
• The three core skills needed to handle this challenge effectively
• How to provide reassurance without showing all your workings

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: The strategic leadership paradox

01:00 Why requests for detail derail strategic work

03:00 Understanding the psychology behind detailed questioning

06:00 Building relationships through strategic communication

09:00 A real example of mismatched communication expectations

12:00 The trust-building conversation approach

14:00 Managing your response to detailed questions in the moment

16:00 When detail requests trigger imposter syndrome

18:00 How this cycle can create micromanagement tendencies

19:00 Using these challenges for personal development

20:00 The three essential skills for strategic leadership communication

22:00 Wrap-up and coaching support optionsRetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses. Sonnet 4

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

Enjoyed this Episode?

If you enjoyed this episode, please take the time to rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

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

Trust is the foundation of effective leadership, yet many leaders struggle to build it consistently. In this episode, we break down the trust equation - a powerful framework that shows exactly how trust works in professional relationships. Whether you're starting a new role, taking over a team, or working with a new boss, this episode gives you practical strategies to build credibility and strengthen your leadership impact quickly.

Key points from this episode

• The four components of the trust equation and how each one impacts your relationships
• Why technical expertise isn't the only way to establish credibility as a leader
• How small inconsistencies can completely undermine your reliability (and why moving one-to-ones is such a trust killer)
• The importance of appropriate vulnerability and psychological safety in building deeper professional connections
• How self-serving behaviour can destroy all your trust-building efforts

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

Enjoyed this Episode?

If you enjoyed this episode, please take the time to rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

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