Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an executive coach, trainer and management consultant. I’ve been working with companies and developing leaders and managers for over 20 years. I’m always fascinated with what makes people tick, how that shows up in the workplace and impacts business performance.
I wrote my first book in 2012 and have taken a very long break since then, for a variety of reasons. I’ve gotten my writing mojo back and I’m in the middle of writing my second book, called SMART Objective Setting for Managers.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called SMART Objective Setting for Managers and what inspired it is how often I work with managers that struggle with objective setting and usually they’re using SMART. They struggle with framing the objective and what the real objective outcome is.
They don’t really understand the power of a well-designed SMART objective, the quality of the conversation that can happen, the alignment and engagement with the objective. Doing all of this well increases the likelihood of the objective being achieved and the individual’s, the team’s and the manager’s performance increasing, as a result.
This book sets all of this out, told through stories and excerpts of sample conversations I regularly end up having with managers participating in my training workshops.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I do, but I don’t really know. With both books, I’ve found it pretty easy to get the ideas down on the page, which makes me wonder if I’m doing something wrong!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Business books that have influenced me are The Leadership Pipeline, Leadership and Self-Deception.
I love reading Michael Connelly books and anything by Marian Keyes. I love her wit.
What are you working on now?
Finishing the second draft of my SMART Objective Setting for Managers book and creating a launch and marketing plan for it.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I self-published my first book, so Amazon has been very good. My original book launch was also very good. A more unusual method has been through a medical doctor and herbalist who works with patients. She often recommends that they buy my book, as a way for them to understand the impact of mismatched personal values and the conflict they generate and the stress that puts on the body.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, learn as much as you can about marketing and promoting your book. It won’t just happen.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed for life.
What are you reading now?
Just finished a book called Making Sense of the Troubles by David McKittrick and David McVey.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Now that I’ve gotten my mojo back, I have identified several books that I would like to write. So, once I’ve gotten the current book up and running, I’ll start to focus on writing one of them.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Harry Potter series and the Lord of the Rings series (I’ll slip the Hobbit in with that one). Am I allowed any more?
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