Welcome to Career & Leadership Real Talk; a weekly podcast full of guidance and advice for ambitious managers who are ready to take ownership of their career.
It’s hosted by Pamela Langan, a job search coach and c.v. writing expert, and Jacqui Jagger, a mindset and leadership coach. We’re here for you if you want to have more impact, land a new job or get the promotion you know you deserve. There’s no high level, intellectual theory here – it’s a fluff-free zone
We’ll be talking about how to stand out in your job search, how to hit the ground running in a new role and how to cope when things aren’t going *quite* the way you want at work
In our career clinic section we’ll answer real questions from listeners and our clients, and we’ll also share our take on books on the topics of careers, leadership, & management so you can decide which are worth your time
You can connect with us on LinkedIn – feel free to DM us with any questions you’d like us to answer on the show!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangancoaching/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-jagger/
Ep 173 - How to Create a Culture of Accountability
When leaders say they want their team to "take more accountability", it often lands as a hunt for whose head will roll. In this episode, we unpack why that version of accountability actually gets in the way of delivery, and what a genuine culture of accountability looks like instead: high standards, clear commitments and a team that surfaces problems early rather than hiding them.
Drawing on our recent work facilitating leadership teams, we share the simple exercise that exposes how aligned (or not) a team really is on its priorities, Jacqui's honest reflection on her own head-down habit earlier in her career, and a practical feedback framework you can use in your next team meeting to build peer-to-peer accountability.
Key points from this episode
Why "whose head will roll" is the fastest way to undermine accountability
The three-priorities question that leaves most leadership teams surprised
Why your best performers might be the ones not flagging risks
A simple feedback exercise that stops teams giving each other a get-out-of-jail-free card
The balance of challenge and support that gets people delivering more
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction: why we're talking about accountability
01:00 What accountability is and isn't
03:30 Why accountability starts before something goes wrong
04:00 The top three priorities exercise
07:30 Ranking priorities and understanding individual capacity
09:00 Surfacing risk early and the role of psychological safety
10:30 Jacqui's head-down habit and what it cost her
13:30 Moving from manager-led to peer-to-peer accountability
16:00 The AID feedback framework
18:45 Why you can't explain yourself, but you can ask questions
20:15 High challenge, high support
22:15 Recognition as part of accountability
23:30 Final thoughts
Useful Links
Connect with Pam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangan/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangan/)
Connect with Jacqui on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-jagger/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-jagger/)
Follow the Catalyst Careers LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/company/catalyst-careers-uk/) 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 (https://catalystcareers.co.uk/) website
21 Sept 2026
Ep 172 - Low Confidence at Work: The Four Things Killing Yours
Confidence, self-doubt and imposter syndrome are some of the topics you listen to most, and there's a reason we keep coming back to them. In this episode we step back from the individual stories and look at what's driving low confidence at work, because we'd argue it's usually a symptom rather than the problem itself.
We walk through four things that quietly erode confidence, from an environment that strips it away to the odd lag that hits when your title changes but you don't feel any different. Most of us are dealing with two or three at once, and that's completely normal. We've also pulled together a playlist of five episodes from the back catalogue, so you can go deeper on the one that fits you best.
Key points from this episode
Why low confidence is often a symptom, and what it might be pointing to
The many ways low confidence shows up, and why so many of us hide it
Why you can't build confidence in an environment that strips it from you
The identity gap: what happens when your title changes but you don't feel any different
Why imposter syndrome so often arrives as a package deal with the others
Go deeper: the confidence playlist
Listen to the full playlist here (https://player.captivate.fm/collection/1fb09b1e-1260-46eb-848f-8881615f391d)
Ep 27: Overcoming Self-Doubt: Practical Strategies for Building Confidence at Work
Ep 67: The Difference Between Confidence and Self Belief
Ep 90: 6 Confidence Myths that Hold Leaders Back
Ep 110: Imposter Syndrome with Aoife O'Brien
Ep 164: Imposter Syndrome: Why It Gets Worse as You Get More Senior
00:00 Introduction and How the Playlist Works
01:00 Why Low Confidence Is a Symptom, Not the Problem
02:00 How Low Confidence Shows Up
05:00 The Overthinking Cycle
06:00 When Caring What People Think Is Rational, and When It Drains You
08:00 Cause 1: Your Environment
14:30 Cause 2: Finding Something Difficult
18:00 Cause 3: The Identity Gap
23:00 Cause 4: Imposter Syndrome
29:00 Coaching and Imposter Syndrome
30:30 Why Most of Us Have Two or Three Stacked, and Wrap Up
Useful Links
Connect with Pam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangan/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangan/)
Connect with Jacqui on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-jagger/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-jagger/)
Follow the Catalyst Careers LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/company/catalyst-careers-uk/) 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 (https://catalystcareers.co.uk/) website
7 Sept 2026
Ep 171 - CV Positioning: How to Apply for Roles Above Your Current Title
We've both had this come up constantly in coaching conversations lately: talented people who are already operating above their job title, but who rule themselves out of applying for that next-level role because they haven't got the title (or the box-ticked experience) to "prove" it yet. In this episode, we break down exactly how to position yourself on paper and in interview when you're going for a role you haven't technically done before, and why waiting for permission is costing you opportunities right now.
We cover the CV rewrite that actually gets you noticed, the one interview question you need to have properly rehearsed, and how to handle the gaps you're dreading being asked about, without sounding like you're making excuses.
Key points from this episode
Why staying in a role you've outgrown often feels safer than going for the promotion you actually want, and why that logic doesn't hold up
The CV shift that stops you blending in with every other candidate (hint: it's not about listing more responsibilities)
A simple framing technique you can use in your CV or cover letter to be upfront about the gap between your title and your actual level
How to prepare for "tell me about yourself" so it doesn't derail your entire interview
Why the energy you bring to an interview might matter more than how many boxes you tick
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction: applying for roles above your current title or experience level
01:00 Why ambitious people stay stuck, waiting for the "right" experience before applying
04:00 Step one: positioning your CV to get picked for interview in the first place
06:00 Rewriting bullet points around scope and impact, not job description tasks
09:00 The "ready for" framing technique for your CV or cover letter
11:00 Why job titles mean less than you think, and what recruiters actually look for
14:00 Ignoring the "tough market" echo chamber and focusing on your own positioning
17:00 Interview prep: nailing the "tell me about yourself" question
21:00 Handling the gaps you're most worried about being asked
24:00 Finding leadership evidence outside your job title, including outside work entirely
25:00 Why energy and authenticity outweigh ticking every box at interview
29:00 Final advice: stop waiting for permission and start applying now
Useful Links
Connect with Pam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangan/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangan/)
Connect with Jacqui on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-jagger/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-jagger/)
Follow the Catalyst Careers LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/company/catalyst-careers-uk/) 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 (https://catalystcareers.co.uk/) website
Who has been a guest on Career & Leadership Real Talk
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Gayle Tong
Pam
Professor Laura Chamberlain
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2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
20 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100
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97
Social presence
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YouTube
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Engagement
82
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