Career & Leadership Real Talk

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 belief Why self belief matters more than confidence 4 reflection questions to help build self belief Useful Links Connect with Pam on LinkedIn: https://www....

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 L...

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 thi...

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...

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 is Why you might not need to m...

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...

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 Lin...

In the first of a series about developing teams, we discuss the qualities of a high performing team. What are the common themes and how can you use that understanding to assess where your team is at right now and where to start with improving performance? Key points from this episode The foundation of psychological safety and people trusting each other How healthy debate and conflict is needed in...

You know you need to be a coach as well as a leader, but where do you start? How do you find the time to be able to coach people when the day job is so busy? In this episode we explore what coaching is and how you can become more of a coach as well as a leader without feeling like it's an extra job you need to fit in. We consider the barriers to workplace coaching and share three simple things tha...

Getting an interview for a dream role is great news, but it's easy for nerves to take over. If you aren't sure how best to prepare for interviews, or have been going to interviews and not getting job offers then this episode is for you We share our tips based on years of both recruiting candidates and helping people prepare for interviews Key points from this episode Why preparation should start b...

Most of us aren't keen on being criticised. It stings, it can play on existing insecurities and it can add to self doubt at the time and in the future But if you're an ambitious manager or leader, criticism isn't something you can avoid entirely. Learning how to handle it without being derailed is a skill that will help you progress your career and today we're sharing our experiences and advice on...

If you want to get a promotion, it helps to have a plan. In this week's episode, we discuss the framework Jacqui uses with clients who are preparing for a promotion We share our tips for what to do first and discuss why you shouldn't wait until you feel ready Key points from this episode Assessing promotion readiness Identifying gaps and starting to create a plan Getting the right feedback Focusin...

As an ambitious manager, at some point in your career it's likely you'll be involved in managing people at risk of redundancy. You might be at risk yourself. It's not an easy situation to face, so in this episode we're sharing our experiences of having been there and giving our tips for what to do and what to avoid doing Key points from this episode Why empathy matters during redundancy situations...

If you struggle to get to the strategic stuff you want to work on because the operational workload you're facing is getting in the way, the traditional urgent / important matrix is probably not cutting it In this week's episode we explore a simple alternative that can make a big difference when it comes to getting strategic work ticked off Key points from this episode The drawbacks of the Importan...

How do you define your leadership style? Do you use labels from one of the numerous frameworks out there or is it something different? We've seen people wrangle with this question both in interviews and for themselves so in this week's episode we're sharing our take Key points from this episode Why labels and frameworks don't hit the mark Leadership style vs leadership approach The question to ask...

Being busy is the norm for ambitious managers and leaders, and it's often stressful trying to cope with it. Which tests your resilience and potentially puts you at risk of moving along the path towards burnout You probably know all the tips and tricks about how to manage your time better. But what are you supposed to do when you're doing all of that but the stress keeps building? In this week's ep...

Writing a CV can feel tough - the temptation is to take the one you used when you started your current role, add that role on and hope it's good enough to get you the next role. But taking the time to understand what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for can make a massive difference to helping your CV stand out when you're in job search mode In this episode we share the most common mista...

If you're taking over a new team, building trust is a crucial part of making sure you can ensure it is able to deliver. If team members don't trust you, or don't trust each other, performance is going to suffer In this episode we discuss the different levels of trust and some of the key strategies you can use to build trust quickly and intentionally rather than leaving it to chance Key points from...

Burnout is becoming more and more common for ambitious leaders. All too often, by the time you realise what's going on, it's progressed to the point where it's having a significant impact on mental health In this episode we explore the stages of burnout, how it progresses and the warning signs to watch out for in yourself or others Key points from this episode Defining what burnout is The 12 stage...

Delegation can be easier said than done when you're in a leadership role. In this episode we discuss some of the barriers to effective delegation and share our tips for doing it well Key Points From This Episode The difference between delegation and abdication Four key barriers to effective delegation The importance of knowing your team's strengths Choosing the right person to delegate to What to...

One of the most commonly requested sessions for leadership development is around challenging conversations. How to have them rather than duck out of them, and how to handle the balance of delivering a tough message while still being a nice person Radical Candor is our favourite framework for this and in this episode we share an outline of what it is and how you can use it as an ambitious manager o...

In this week's episode, we're discussing how to ask better questions during interviews. We know that some people struggle with what to ask to understand the job better and show genuine interest in the role. We'll provide you with simple yet effective questions to make your interviews more successful. After listening, you'll feel confident that you've addressed all aspects of your experience, leavi...

In the final of our Career Clinic summer mini series, we discuss two more career conundrums; what to do when you're getting dragged in to support when colleagues are on the receiving end of toxic behaviour at work. And how to handle it if you're told you're being put onto a performance improvement plan during your probation period Related Episode Links How to create boundaries at work The dangers...

Continuing our Career Clinic series, this week we're responding to two questions about managing a team First up, what to do when you take over a team that's been neglected or undervalued? Turning things around when morale is low for some or all of the individuals in your team doesn't have to be complicated and we discuss the first steps Next, we've got the nightmare scenario where (despite your be...

Welcome to the latest installment of our Career Clinic series. In this week's edition, we discuss two key areas: navigating personality conflicts with your boss and effectively managing colleagues who compete for the spotlight. To kick things off, we provide insights into successfully overcoming personality clashes with your manager. We explore constructive approaches to mend the relationship and...