I've started writing my next book 📕
Can you help me out?
It is time to bite the bullet.
I’ve meant to start writing my next book for a while now. I even wrote about it last year after taking a sabbatical. But so far, I haven’t put the pen to paper.
The problem is. After finishing Formula X, I know how excruciatingly hard it is to write a book. The time investment is massive. You always feel like you are 80% done, but then the next 80% starts.
I also know the benefits it has brought me. Inbound requests from many leaders who want me to help them transform their organizations. And worldwide speaking engagements, from Indianapolis to South Africa, Spain to Switzerland.
Now is the right time. Especially since Formula X is four years old and we’ve just started Unblock.
So, what is it about?
One of the hardest parts about writing a book is deciding what it will be about and who it is for. However, I have been getting a strong signal that informs me what the book should be about.
Six months ago, I published the 20 habits of high-performing leadership teams. This short piece is not more than a list of practices we had a lot of success with when helping our clients.
A new article usually gets the most attention in the first week but then quiets quickly. So I had low expectations. However, six months later, this post is still getting about 3,000 views per month, and it’s still growing.
I’m basing my new book on the ideas from that successful post. So here it is - my current title, subtitle, and table of contents:
Twelve Habits of Highly Adaptive Leadership Teams
Better decisions, effective meetings, and faster results.
Decision-making habits that help you go faster
Lead with questions for better decisions
Distinguish reversible and irreversible decisions to get out of analysis paralysis
Make safe-to-try decisions to act and learn faster
Clarify decision rights to empower autonomous decisions
Strategy habits that create focus and impact
Define your Strategic Intent to create focus
Make trade-offs explicit to clarify what NOT to do
Use cycles of 90-day outcomes to focus immediate action
Review steering metrics to know if you're making progress
Meeting habits that drive outcomes and collaboration
Adopt a meeting routine that drives the work forward
Reduce meeting overload to free up time and energy
Create alignment by talking about intentions, concerns, boundaries, and dreams
Strengthen the team by scheduling recurring time for reflection and feedback
Can you help me out?
To write and refine the book, I’m using a process from Write Useful Books - “a modern approach to designing and refining recommendable nonfiction.” It is a highly data-driven approach involving customer discovery and beta readers.
Are you a member of a leadership team? Then I’d love to interview you. It won’t take more than 30 minutes of your time.
Are you interested in being one of my beta readers? That would make my day. I’ll likely do a first round of beta reading early next year.
In both cases, let’s get in touch.
That’s all for now. I’m quite excited and will keep you posted!