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

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