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...