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 ...
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Ep 85 - Cultivating Curiosity: An Overlooked Skill for Career Progression with Professor Laura Chamberlain
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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 ha…
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Ep 84 - From Good to Great: A Practical Model for Developing High Performing Teams
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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 thi…
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Ep 83 - The Do's and Don'ts of Designing a Great Recruitment Process
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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 …
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Ep 82 - Setting Boundaries: A Leader's Guide to Saying No Without Burning Bridges
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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…
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Ep 81 - Key Considerations for Proposing a New Team Structure as a Manager
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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 fr…
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Ep 80 - How to Write a Brilliant Job Description
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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 document How to define …
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Ep 79 - Reduce Meeting Overload: 4 Ways to Cut Down on Unnecessary Meetings
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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 y…
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Ep 78 - How to Show You Can Think Strategically
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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 stra…
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Ep 77 - Using Personal Brand to Unlock Career Success
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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 …
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Ep 76 - Nail Your Interview Presentation & Land The Job
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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…
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Ep 75 - Quarterly Planning & Review - A Career Game Changer
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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 yo…
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Ep 74 - How to be More Assertive Without Being a D*ck
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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…
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Ep 73 - How to Lead When Clarity is Lacking
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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 f…
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Ep 72 - What to Do When You Screw Up at Work
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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 knoc…
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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 is W…
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Ep 70 - Establishing Your Personal Brand as a Leader
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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 brand Why you…
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Ep 69 - Why You Shouldn't Rely on Your Boss to Develop You
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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 …
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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 thing The cau…
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Ep 67 - The Difference Between Confidence and Self Belief
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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 Usefu…
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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? Quic…
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Ep 65 - What to do When Your Boss has Unrealistic Expectations
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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 …
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Ep 64 - 5 Ways to Create an Environment for People to Thrive
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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…
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Ep 63 - Career Planning Part 2 - Looking Forward
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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 u…
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Ep 62 - Career Planning Part 1 - Reflection Questions
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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 oft…
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Ep 61 - Reflecting on Top Episodes of 2023
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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 Overcomi…
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Ep 60 - Key Qualities of a High Performing Team
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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 o…
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Ep 59 - Practical Tips for Workplace Coaching as a Leader
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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 wo…
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Ep 58 - 3 Tips to Improve Interview Preparation
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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 point…
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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…
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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 t…
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Ep 55 - Managing Redundancies with Empathy: Tips for Line Managers
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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 episod…
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Ep 54 - The Balancing Act: Prioritising Strategic and Operational Workload
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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 poin…
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Episode 53 - What's Your Leadership Style?
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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 Leadershi…
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Episode 52 - Building Resilience in Leadership - Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time
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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 tha…
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Episode 51 - 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Your CV
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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 m…
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Episode 50 - Building Trust: The Key to Managing a New Team
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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 intentionall…
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Episode 49 - Safeguarding Against Burnout: Recognising the Warning Signs
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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 …
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Episode 48 - The Art of Effective Delegation
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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…
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Episode 47 - Mastering Challenging Conversations with Radical Candor
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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 i…
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Episode 46 - Questions to ask a potential employer at Interview
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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'…
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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 L…
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Episode 44 - Career Clinic: Management Dilemmas
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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…
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Episode 43 - Career Clinic: Managing Personality Clashes and Dealing with Annoying Colleagues.
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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 con…
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Episode 42 - Career Clinic: Answering your questions on CVs and notice periods
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Career Clinic: Summer Special - This week, we're tackling two important questions. First on the list: "Is it a good idea to use AI for writing your CV?" Pam is here to walk us through the upsides and downsides of relying on AI for crafting your CV. Plus, she'll share some valuable tips to help you stand out from the crowd, even in this new era of A…
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Episode 41 - What to do When You're Told to be More Strategic
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'You need to be more strategic' is one of the most common pieces of feedback for ambitious managers looking for promotion. The problem is that very often, it's not clear what that means or who to go about it In this episode we unpick what strategic leaders and managers do well, and explore how to demonstrate that in your existing role or at intervi…
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Episode 40 - Using Personality Profiles to Win Friends & Influence People
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Personality profiles are big business and if you work in a larger company there's a good chance you've done one at least once In this episode we talk about how you can use them to understand yourself and your team better, and how they give you the ability to build influence Key points from this episode The different types of personality profile ava…
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Episode 39 - Why you should never accept a counter offer.
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Welcome to this week's episode of our podcast! Today, we’re taking a deep dive into the intriguing world of counteroffers—a topic that has been consistently coming up for our clients. Join us as we explore the counteroffers and shed light on whether they hold value for both candidates and employers. Additionally, we examine the circumstances that w…
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Episode 38 - The Dangers of Trying to Prove Yourself
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When you're under pressure at work, the natural response is to want to prove yourself. Whether you're in a new job, you've been promoted or a new boss comes in you want to make sure you make the right impression But feeling pressured to prove yourself comes with some downsides - in this episode we explore the risks and some strategies to help avoid…
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Episode 37 - Job Search Success: Navigating Burnout and Staying Focused
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Your job search is a marathon, not a sprint. Recognizing burnout, adopting effective strategies, and staying focused on the right opportunities can make all the difference. We also discuss the topic of fake job ads and how to navigate them. Key Points from this episode: Job search burnout: Exhaustion and overwhelm can impact emotions and performanc…
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Episode 36 - How to Cope With a Chaotic Manager
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Some managers create calm and clarity. Others create chaos. If you're the kind of person who needs structure and organisation to operate at your best, that can be incredibly frustrating Key points from this episode The importance of creating or re-establishing boundaries Giving feedback on the impact of the chaos rather than the way it makes you fe…
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