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Management Material
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.
Management Material
Know Your Finance People: Make Friends and Allies, Not Opponents
I want to talk about something that might spook you: the Finance Department.
I know, I know, the Finance Department has a reputation at nearly every company for being full of weird number nerds who like to be direct and tell people what they can and can’t do. They’re a cause of frustration and anxiety, but let me tell you - they’re actually awesome and I’m going to tell you why.
Finance people are just people who like numbers. They (usually) want to help YOU help the COMPANY.
They can be powerful allies or powerful opponents. Which one would you like to have?
Be friendly. Be nice. Make friends with your finance people. Ask them for advice or help. Give them chocolates. They’re under-appreciated and so, so busy most of the time. They don’t like telling you that your idea is not going to help the company any more than you like confronting people who are doing something wrong.
They're doing their job.
Let's go into what this means, why it's important, and how you can start making friends with the Finance Department.
Book a complimentary management coaching conversation at https://calendly.com/catherine-vanderlaan/free-60-minute-leadership-consultation
Email me at catherine@managementmaterialcoaching.com to ask a question or get in touch.
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/managementmaterialcoaching
Find out more about Management and Leadership Coaching at https://managementmaterialcoaching.com/