Today Dr. Christie welcomes return guest Dan Dan Doerksen—leader, coach, systems thinker, dad of twins, and Certified Organizational Design Professional—to discuss his new book, “You Can Manage: A Practical Guide to Becoming the Manager Everyone Wants.” They revisit research showing managers are the key factor in employee experience, noting most new managers receive no training.

Dan shares a human-centered framework: (1) Start with you (mindset, self-awareness, engagement, self-regulation), (2) Invest in people (care, trust, feedback), (3) Build the team (team development; role-fit matrix matching interest/ability), (4) Advance the work (systems, workflows, meeting rhythms, decision-making methods; delegate organization if needed), and (5) Strengthen the organization (bridge silos, culture and strategy alignment). Pre-orders are available at youcanmanage.ca; the book ships at the end of March. 

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Welcome Back Dan

01:02 Why Managers Matter

04:44 Know Your People

07:53 Lego Blocks Approach

11:43 Defining A Manager

13:46 Framework Start With You

17:27 Practices You Can Do

18:29 Invest in People

19:41 Build the Team

21:15 Role Fit Matrix

23:23 Advance the Work

26:57 Decision Making Systems

28:02 Strengthen the Organization

30:29 Getting People to Buy In

31:43 Where to Find the Book

33:14 Rapid Fire Wrap Up

35:39 Final Takeaways

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A Deeper Dive:

In the latest episode of Productive Joy, Christie welcomed back an inspiring guest, Dan Doerksen, a renowned leader, coach, and newly published author. His new book, *You Can Manage*, offers a practical guide to becoming the type of manager everyone aspires to be.

Dan emphasizes that great management begins with oneself. It's not just about what you do, but who you are. He introduces the idea of focusing on your mindset and self-awareness as key components to being an effective manager. Reflect on questions like, “How do I want to be experienced by my team?” This self-regulation is fundamental in creating an environment where both you and your team can thrive.

Next, Dan discusses the importance of building strong, trusting relationships with your team members. It's essential to truly know your people, understand their needs, and show genuine care. This goes beyond well-meaning intentions to ensuring that your team feels supported and valued. Building trust is not only foundational but crucial in a manager's role.

Dan shares that fostering team development is where managers often find both challenge and reward. Teams have the potential to solve complex problems and exceed individual capacities, but they require nurturing. Encouraging a dynamic where team members can share their strengths and take on roles that align with their skills is crucial. The Role Fit Matrix is one tool he suggests for facilitating this alignment and maximizing team efficiency.

Management is inherently linked to performance, and advancing the work is a natural extension of building a strong team. Dan emphasizes the importance of structuring work processes, making effective decisions, and fostering an organized environment. Even if organization isn't your strength, recognizing and delegating these responsibilities is part of effective management.

Finally, Dan urges managers to think beyond their immediate team and focus on the organization as a whole. Managers act as pivotal links, bridging teams and enhancing overall organizational cohesion. Building networks and fostering collaboration across teams dismantles silos and aligns efforts with broader organizational goals.

Dan's framework is a unifying vision of management as an opportunity rather than a burden.