How Do You Write a Book?

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

Text LEARNERS to 44222

For full show notes, go to www.LearningLeader.com

Episode #354: WELCOME TO MANAGEMENT Book Launch Party With Doug Meyer

This is the recording from the conversation I had with Co-Founder/President of Brixey & Meyer, Doug Meyer, in front of many of our friends, clients, and colleagues at the Dayton office of Brixey & Meyer.

In WELCOME TO MANAGEMENT, I provide practical, actionable advice to help new managers build and lead committed teams in the face of daunting, unanticipated challenges. He presents a three-part framework outlining best practices distilled from interviews with more than 350 of the most forward-thinking leaders in the world, as well as his own professional experience transitioning from individual producer to new leader.

Through compelling stories and data-backed case studies, the book helps high performers make the leap from individual contributor to manager with greater ease, grace, courage, and effectiveness.

Notes:

• The book writing process: How long did it take to write? What was the proposal writing process like? What led you to sell the book rights to McGraw-Hill?
• Curiosity? Always natural or a learned skill? -- For me, this was something I learned to do... As I learned more, I realized there was so much more to learn.
• The Cycle of Learning -- Operating Framework
  • Consume/Learn - The intake engine (read, listen to podcasts, speak with mentors)
  • Test - Experiment with what's been learned (You can't just be a learner, you have to be a doer) - "We learn who we are in practice, not in theory."
  • Reflect - Analyze results, make adjustments
  • Teach - Reinforce learning through sharing with others
• Mentors vs. coaches. Interesting comparison and need throughout life. We discussed the difference and importance of each...
• “Build the skills to do the job, not to get the job.” -- The act of putting your high potential employees in position to actually do the job, not just prepare for an interview.
• Developing self-awareness -- It's important to regularly hold a mirror up to ourselves and surround self with people who will be brutally honest and caring of you and your development.
• WELCOME TO MANAGEMENT  will teach you
  • Where the real work of leadership begins
  • The greatest medicine for fear and how to put it into practice
  • Why you need an “Operating Framework” and how to create one
  • The 3 key elements to creating a performance culture
  • The opportunity that many managers miss after they achieve success
  • The seven keys to earning respect
• The quickest way to build trust is through vulnerability
• Managing a team you inherit -- The instant you sign for the job, those are YOUR players.  Don't use terms like 'they' or 'them.'  It is US and WE.
• The difference between leadership, management, coaching
  • Leadership:
    • The act of leading is about providing purpose, direction, aligning expectations, and inspiring the team.
  • Management:
    • Figuring out how to work within the current constraints of the system you are in... It is the administration and stewardship of resources.
  • Coaching:
    • The two types of coaching:
      • Coaching for performance - The 'right now' actions... Behaviors.
      • Coaching for development - Longer term
• Dustyn Kim is a fantastic model for humility, vulnerability, and intelligence -- That's what she's the type of leader that I committed to doing everything I could to help her be successful.
• Nobody is 'self-made.'  We are are built from communities of people who care about us, help us, and show love and support.