In this insightful episode, we are joined by the brilliant Laura Chamberlain, an award-winning marketer, career strategist, coach, and professor of marketing at the University of Warwick. Laura shares her expertise on how cultivating curiosity can be a game-changer for your career growth and development. Discover practical tips and strategies to harness the power of curiosity and unlock more of your full potential. Key points from this episode Understanding curiosity as a skill and how to...

Are you looking to take your team's performance to the next level? In this episode, we share an overview of the Catalyst Five Cs framework - a powerful, practical model for supporting team development. We walk you through each of the Five Cs, explaining what they are and how they can combine to support increased team performance Key points from this episode: Why clarity is the basis for ensuring goals and priorities can be metBuilding team competence and how it differs from individual skill...

In this episode, we dive into the essential do's and don'ts of creating an effective recruitment process. Drawing from our experience as in house and agency recruiters as well as working with clients to support recruitment, we share our insights and practical tips to help if you're a hiring manager who's just expected to know how to design a great recruitment process! Key themes: The importance of being clear on what / who you want as a candidate before you start recruitment Why timely...

In this episode, we discuss the challenges many leaders face when it comes to setting boundaries and saying no at work. We explore why it can feel so difficult to say no, even when you know you should, and share practical tips and insights on how to get more comfortable with it. If you've ever struggled with being a people-pleaser or found yourself drowning in "can you just" requests, this episode is for you. Key points from this episode Why many of us are wired to avoid saying no, even at...

In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of proposing a new team structure as a manager. Drawing from real-life scenarios, we explore the key considerations, pitfalls to avoid, and best practices to adopt. Whether it's navigating growth, mergers, or downsizing, proposing a new team structure demands careful planning and insight. Key points from this episode Why you need to think longer term before creating a structureHow to assess the current situation before starting to planThe...

If you've ever been asked to write or update a job description without any training, this week's episode is for you. We discuss how to approach it, what to include and what you need to do before you start writing Key points from this episode Why you should think of a job description as a marketing asset, not just an internal documentHow to define what you actually need from the roleStriking the balance between what's essential and what's desirableWhy simple, conversational language is so...

Are you feeling overwhelmed by an endless barrage of meetings that leave you with little time to actually get work done? In this episode, we dive into the issue of excessive meeting time, sharing practical strategies to help you regain control of your schedule. Key points from this episode Understand the typical meeting time expectations based on your role and levelRecognise the signs that you're spending too much time in meetingsThe 4 D's framework: Ditch, Decline, Design, and Drive meeting...

At some point in your career there's a good chance someone will tell you that you need to be more strategic. Whether they can actually articulate what they mean is another matter If you've been given that feedback but you're not sure where to start, this week's episode breaks down how to demonstrate to others that you have the ability to think strategically Key points from this episode Defining 'being strategic' - the difference between strategic thinking and strategic planningWorking out...

When you want to progress and create more opportunities for yourself in your career, it's often tempting to work harder and try to distinguish yourself by being a top performer. But performance is only a part of what creates career success (and it's probably a smaller part than you might think). This week we're talking about the different elements that contribute to career success and how you can use that to your advantage Key points from this episode Introducing PIE Theory and what it...

If you've ever worried about how to prepare for a presentation at interview, this episode is for you. We're covering some of the common mistakes people make as well as how to make sure you prepare without it taking you hours or risking you offering free consultancy Key points from this episode Understanding the purpose of presentations: why they're used and how understanding that makes preparation easierCommon mistakes to AvoidHow to prepare so you can deliver with confidenceBalancing...

As a leader, the demands on your time and attention can be overwhelming. When you’re managing a team, juggling multiple projects, and every action from every meeting seems to have your name against it, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. This is where the practice of regular quarterly planning and review can be a game-changer, helping you stay focused, keep your eyes on the real priorities and ultimately deliver more in your role Key points from this episode Why Quarterly planning...

If you've ever been told you're 'too nice', 'need to speak up more' or that you're 'not tough enough' then this week's episode is for you We discuss the need to be more assertive, and share practical ways you can show up in that way without trying to be something you're not. Key points from this episode Why you need to be perceived as assertive and what that meansHow to communicate more assertivelyThe value of self assurance in becoming more assertiveBehaving assertively at work Useful...

A lack of clarity can be hard work. You want to lead well, you want to give clear vision and direction to your team. But what if you don't have that for yourself? How can you handle ambiguity and still be the leader you want to be? This week we're exploring why clarity is so important and how to create it when you and your team need it Key points from this episode The importance of clarity in leadershipSpotting the signs that mean creating clarity might need to be a priorityTemporary vs...

The idea of making mistakes and screwing things up is normally pretty grim. No one wants to be that person. But equally, none of us are perfect. So making mistakes is to be expected This week we're discussing why making mistakes is not the disaster it might feel like, and also what you can do to recover quickly (and avoid your confidence being knocked) when it does Key points from this episode Why normalising making mistakes is so importantHow making mistakes can be a good thing Practical...

The hidden jobs market is a topic that's often shrouded in secrecy - people talk about it, but no one seems to dish the dirt on how to access it This week we're discussing what it is, what that means for you and sharing our tips for making it work when you want to progress in your career Key points from this episode What the hidden jobs market isWhy it existsWhy the hidden jobs market matters more the more senior you are in your careerPractical tips for accessing the hidden jobs market Useful...

Personal brand is one of those concepts that can feel strange - what is it and how the hell do you create one when you're an ambitious manager or leader? In this episode we explore what personal brand is, why it's important to your leadership career and share our tips on how to create one Key points from this episode Defining personal brandWhy your personal brand matters in your leadership careerHow to intentionally create a personal brand that feels right for you and creates career...

Who do you most look to for development in your role? If it's your boss, you're not alone. But in today's episode we discuss why relying on your manager to be the one to develop you is not the best strategy - and what you can do instead to take ownership of your own development Key points from this episode Why you shouldn't rely on your manager to develop you (even if they're a great boss) The reasons your manager might not be able to develop you in the ways that are most valuable for your...

Conflict at work can be tough to deal with, whether you're involved in it or trying to avoid the negative impact it can have when others around you are in conflict This week, we unick the different types of conflict that can come up and share our thoughts on how to manage it well Key points from this episode Why conflict can be a good thingThe causes of conflictWhere to start when you need to resolve conflict Useful Links Connect with Pam on LinkedIn:...

In this week's episode, we delve into the distinction between confidence and self belief. We talk about why it matters and share practical insights to improve both. Key points from this episode Common situations that impact confidence and self beliefWhy self belief matters more than confidence4 reflection questions to help build self belief Useful Links Connect with Pam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangancoaching/ Connect with Jacqui on LinkedIn:...

This week, we cover some of the questions that have been coming up in outplacement workshops we've been running. If you're in job search mode then they might well be some of the questions you're asking yourself Key points from this episode Is it better to apply direct or via a recruiter? How to decide on your salary expectations for new roles? Quick tips for using your network when job searching Linked Episode on how to prequalify during your job search Useful Links Connect with Pam on...

If you've ever struggled with trying to meet unrealistic expectations that your boss or another senior leader has set, you'll know how stressful it can be. Do you try and keep up? Tell them no? Start looking for another job? In this week's episode, we discuss why unrealistic expectations get set and share some of the ways we've handled it and seen clients handle it successfully Key points from this episode Different types of unrealistic expectations5 reasons why they get created3 approaches...

You know when you're a manager or leader it's important to make sure your team are able to perform well. But what are the fundamentals that make that possible? In this episode we've picked out five key things you can do to make sure that your team are able to thrive, as well as considering what you need to make sure you can perform in your role Key points from this episode Why psychological safety is so fundamental and why it isn't always easy to read where it's atThe importance of clarity...

Following on from last episode, in this one we share Pam's 'Reverse Engineer Your Career' approach and talk about how to reflect on what you want from your career in the future Key points from this episode Working backwards to go forwards - how long have you got left to get to where you want in your career? What to do if you're not sure what your ultimate career goal isWhy you might not need to make as many moves as you thinkHow to decide on the timing if you do want to move roles Useful...

If a job search or a promotion is on your plan for the coming year, or if you're at a crossroads and just aren't sure what's next then it can be tempting to focus on the future. Setting goals and taking action is all well and good, but before you get into that it pays to reflect on how things have been going up to this point. Ironically, that's often the thing our coaching clients find hardest So we're starting the year with two episodes to help with career planning and this week we're...

This week we look back on the four most popular episodes of 2023 and reflect on why they were popular and what's included in each so you can decide which might be helpful for you if you haven't already listened How to Cope When Your Boss is a Micromanager Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid at Interview What to do When You're Told to be More Strategic Overcoming Self Doubt Useful Links Connect with Pam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangancoaching/ Connect with Jacqui on LinkedIn:...