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Welcome to Management Material.
My name is Catherine Van Der Laan. I started my career at the bottom as an assistant and worked my way up to become the boss’s boss in 8 years. If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that what got you to where you are now won’t get you to where you want to be.
This podcast is for top performers who want to be amazing managers. I’ve coached lots of talented people to get them from entry-level to recognized top performers to new managers to seasoned executives. I challenge deeply held beliefs and change how people see the world.
Management is all about leadership. The best managers were developed leaders long before they had any direct reports.
Here's one thing that most people won't tell you: Management is a skill. Management is a skill you can learn, just like the hard skills that got you to where you are now.
Management Material is about developing you into the best manager you can be. Let’s turn YOU into management material.
64 Episodes
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Send us a text Welcome back to Management Material with Catherine Van Der Laan! In this episode, Catherine discusses the critical importance of leading with a clear and inspiring vision, especially in today's rocky and inconsistent world. She shares insights on how a well-defined vision can motivate your team, attract the right talent, and transform your organization's performance. Learn how to articulate a vision that gives people purpose, fosters commitment, and drives success, even w...
Send us a text In this episode, host Catherine Van Der Laan discusses the critical role your social media plays in getting hired. She explains that many hiring managers now scrutinize candidates' online presence to determine if they are an asset or a liability to the company. Catherine provides a three-step process to "scrub" your social media, ensuring it presents a professional image that aligns with what hiring managers seek. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity and champion...
Send us a text This video provides an in-depth guide on creating an AI-proof resume and cover letter. The speaker, Catherine Van Der Laan, shares insights on how AI and recruiters typically screen job applications, emphasizing the importance of tailoring your resume and cover letter with relevant keywords and action verbs. She advises against directly copying job descriptions and discusses how to present your experience and education in a strategic manner. Additionally, she shares a successfu...
Send us a text We're starting a 7-part series entitled "Get a New Full-Time Job." This series mimics the more in-depth group program called "Get a New Full-Time Job." You can find out more about the group program here: https://www.saverstreet.com/service-page/find-a-new-ft-job-group-coaching-session Class 1: Find Your Full-Time Fit Class 2: Create an AI-Proof Resume and Cover Letter Class 3: Cultivate a Professional Online Presence Class 4: Network Without Desperation Class 5: Interv...
Send us a text "People don't leave jobs; they leave managers." - a common managerial proverb Getting the title of "manager" doesn't automatically qualify you as a leader. Most managers (at least 58%, according to one study) are so bad at leadership that their employees call them "toxic" and leave. If that doesn't sound an alarm for you, I don't know what would. In today's podcast episode, we'll tackle the distinct difference between being a manager and a leader. I go into my first fo...
Send us a text Ever wondered how to piece back together the fragile puzzle of trust once it's fallen apart? That's what we conquer on today's Management Material, as I share the transformative journey of a leadership development client navigating the treacherous waters of office politics and slander. You'll be privy to our intense discussions on accountability and the power of transparent communication, all vital in stitching the seams of broken professional relationships. It's ...
1Send us a text In this episode, we cover the fine-tuned art of giving feedback so it's received well. It's not easy to give feedback. Most of us have had at least one experience with giving feedback and seeing it blow up in our faces. If you like to avoid conflict, like me, it might seem like giving feedback to a colleague is a lose-lose situation. Let's turn giving feedback into a win-win situation. This podcast episode puts the "sandwich" method where it belongs ...
Send us a text Unlock the secrets to revitalizing your team's passion and productivity with me, Catherine Van Der Laan, as we navigate the storm of today's workplace challenges. In this episode, I share my personal journey and the strategies that have transformed teams facing the threat of financial instability and job insecurity. You'll learn about the three-step process that can shift your team's focus from fear to flourishing—a method that has proven vital in my own leadership exper...
Send us a text There's a right way and a wrong way to lead after a layoff. When RIFs shatter company morale and rewrite the organizational chart, people can do really weird and stupid things. Let's talk through what it means to be a leader after layoffs affect your colleagues emotionally. My journey through the aftermath of downsizing has taught me invaluable lessons about strengthening a team and leading after a RIF, which I'm happy to share with you. Leading afte...
Send us a text If you've been through a RIF or know someone who has, this episode is here to help you get back on your feet. I'm sharing a six-step lifeline for anyone treading in these choppy waters—all to help you find a new job, position yourself well, and reach out when you need help. Transforming a setback into a setup for a greater comeback, we pivot to the mechanics of a job search strategy that feels less like a chore and more like a quest for your next and better job. Let's align ...
Send us a text Today’s topic is about real leadership that inspires people but is super hard on the manager. Taking the blame and lending the credit is a tough thing. That means taking the fall when a project doesn’t go well or your team doesn’t make its numbers AND talking your team up, giving the right person credit when your team does super well. Would you follow a leader if you thought they would badmouth you to their bosses? Even if you made a mistake, would you follow a le...
Send us a text This topic came up because a career coaching client of mine got a new job recently as a manager. She has a team of people that she inherited from the company. That means that she didn’t get to hire her own people; they were a team the company gave her to lead. Now, she’s having some trouble with respect on her team. Some of her direct reports are questioning where she is, questioning her work ethic, and suggesting to her boss that she’s not available when they need her.&...
Send us a text If you're on your way to being known as the next up-and-coming manager or management material, you might have some haters. The world is full of people who want to get credit and don't want to put in the effort. You'll probably find some of those on your way to a senior management or senior leadership position. Let's talk through how to handle it when someone else takes credit for your work. In this podcast episode, I talk through what I did in this situation, wha...
Send us a text OOPS! The right file is now uploaded. Sorry, everyone! I uploaded the next episode for my other podcast, The Money Minister, but now the right episode for Management Material is up. ___________________________________________________ Let’s talk about how to get promoted. Yes, I know we’re in a down market. When there’s a down market, there are reorganizations and layoffs. There’s a lot of job instability. If you’re concerned about getting laid off, listen to the l...
Send us a text The economy is in a little bit of trouble. When interest rates go up, businesses that rely on loans have to balance their budgets, so they tend to lay people off. Let’s take this episode to learn how to protect yourself from being laid off. Some signs of a looming layoff include: Heightened or more frequent budget trackingAn announcement of a future reorganizationDelayed payment terms with vendorsSudden budget restrictionsA hiring freeze If you're seeing the...
Send us a text A few years ago, I was a defacto leader on a team and I had a boss who was super indecisive. I’m not sure I blamed him, because his boss was indecisive as well and it was a VERY political company. Our guy in charge - our guy in the chief officer position at the time was very much a bully. People would leave meetings with him in TEARS and some would throw up from anxiety before meetings with him. In any case, my boss was twice removed and his boss was afraid of this guy. ...
Send us a text Someone recently asked me about being a leader or peer leader for a team that’s half in the office and half working from home. To be clear, he’s not their boss but is a kind of peer leader at work, and he wanted to get better at helping everyone feel included and part of the team. You see, the people working from home didn't feel included. They didn't have a voice and didn't feel like part of the team. That's a problem. That's a BIG problem. This guy wants to be a lead...
Send us a text At one point in my career, I started giving presentations to senior management - GMs, SVPs, and occasionally our Chief Product Officer. When I first started giving those presentations, I would present my data, decision-making process, and the whole story before getting to the potential options for how we could move forward. These were usually strategy presentations and I thought the leaders needed to know basically everything I knew before they could help make an informe...
Send us a text Joining a new team can feel exciting, terrifying, inspiring, overwhelming, and stressful. Most people will focus on building relationships with their new team members... which can sometimes go wrong. In this podcast episode, we talk about how to get close with your new team members, how it can go wrong, and how it can go well. ___________________________________ If you'd like to join the beta test for The Promotion Handbook, let me know by emailing me at catherin...
Send us a text A friend of mine came up to me last Sunday at church and asked how I would answer an interview question since I’ve managed larger teams before. He was sitting in an interview for a senior-level position and was asked how he’d manage the team. Nothing more, nothing less. Just, “How would you manage the team?” Well, that’s a curious question. How would you answer it? Take a moment and think about how you’d answer that very vague question. Now, when I ask vague questi...
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