Dan Doerksen

You can get away with a lot in the early stages of organizational growth. No structure, job descriptions, or manuals of any kind? No problem. Until, of course, it is a problem.... Every organization hits a wall at some point, and you have two options: 1. Put on the brakes, stay where you are, and enjoy what you’ve built. 2. Embrace the future, get organized, and push for what’s next. If you’re in camp one, I wish you well. If you want option #2, I can help with that.

Was 2020 the best year to make a career transition? Time will tell, but I'm having fun. If you're interested, here's a snapshot of the journey so far.... Thanks for the support you've shown along the way!

It's clear that carrots and sticks aren't great motivators in the long-term. If we as leaders can help people tap into a deeper sense of purpose, we will discover a source of engagement with nearly endless reserves. Welcome to part two in the Next-Gen series! We're evaluating the current research on Millennials and Gen Z and unpacking the five cultural shifts that are taking place in these generations.... In this article, we're diving into the shift in motivation from money to meaning. Read about the "3 Circles of Meaning" that every leader needs to address when trying to infuse purpose into an organization. If you manage or work alongside the younger generation, I think you'll find this series helpful. Let me know what you think.

The single greatest advantage any company can achieve is organizational health. #PatrickLencioni A strong workplace culture has been proven to: Attract talent... Increase productivity Raise profitability Improve safety Lower turnover Promote innovation It just so happens to make work a lot more enjoyable too Bottom line: When we fail to pay attention to culture, we’re missing out on an opportunity to gain a competitive advantage and improve life for our team members. I can help with that. Schedule a free chat here: https://calendly.com/dandoerksen/freecall30

One of the things I love doing for organizations is helping them shine a light on reality. I often hear two very different stories when I speak to those in leadership versus those on the front lines. We want to believe that we know what’s going on in our own organization, but the more we grow, the more insulated we become.... I can help with that. When you bring in a third party to assess the employee experience in your organization, it gives your people a chance to be heard, and gives you the right information to know how to move forward. If you want to engage your team and tap into the ideas and creativity of those on the front line, let’s chat. Schedule a free call here: https://calendly.com/dandoerksen/freecall30

This is the number one habit I recommend you pick up if you want to grow in 2021: Read books. There are lots of ways to learn, but there is no substitute for sitting with one topic over hundreds of pages for weeks on end (yes, spreading it out is good - you don't need to crush every book in a weekend).... If you're looking for a place to start, here are the ten books that have influenced me the most in 2020. If you have a recommendation to add to my 2021 reading list, let me know in the comments. Thanks! https://dandoerksen.me/bestbooksof2020/ ACHIEVE Centre for Leadership Gallup Dorie Clark Patrick Rothfuss Scaling Up With Growth Institute Verne Harnish Les McKeown EMyth

Feeling stuck? Unmotivated? In a creative slump? There are two cures for this that work for me 90% of the time (ok three, but I'm not including coffee). 1. Physical movement.... 2. Stimulating conversation. I can't help you with the first one, but we can take a real good shot at the second. Right now, I've cleared a bunch of 30-min slots next week, and I'd love to talk to you about something going on at work. Click on the link and let's set up a conversation if you: -Are stuck on a problem -Need to run an idea by someone -Feel like you don't know where to focus your energy as a leader -Aren't sure about your next career step -Could use some feedback on a difficult "people issue" at work -Fill-in-the-blank work-related issue Research shows that when we talk to people, our prefrontal cortex starts lighting up like a Christmas tree (the opposite of what happens when we're stressed). This neural activity can spark some pretty great ideas, help you make decisions, feel more confident, or just improve the quality of your day. There you have it. Science is telling you to infuse more conversations in your day. Feel free to start with me :) Click here to set up a call (voice or video): https://calendly.com/dandoerksen/talkingwithdan

Millennials are turning 40 next year. Gen Z is turning 25. After 15 years of leading, leading alongside, and pouring over research about these groups, I have discovered these two truths:... 1. Millennials and Gen Z really are different than previous generations. 2. Millennials and Gen Z really aren't very different than previous generations. Ya, there's a tension here. Learning to lead the younger generation well is really about learning to lead humans well. And yet... And yet, there really are some fundamental differences that managers and leaders (and parents) need to come to grips with in order to engage these generations. Here are the five key shifts to pay attention to. Check it out and let me know if you would add anything else to the list! https://dandoerksen.me/nextgenatwork/

Challenge accepted. #supportwinkler