Work Happy: What Great Bosses Know

On the road to becoming a great boss, you'll probably meet your "Evil Twin."  That's the person others see but you don't -- not unless someone calls it to your attention. It can happen when you, with perfectly good intentions, do or say something that people take in an entirely different way than you intended.  It happens to managers all the time. I write about this phenomenon in "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" because I think it is critical for managers to understand how easily their actions can be misinterpreted.  Once they understand this, there are things they can easily do to banish those Evil Twins.  In conjunction with the release of WORK HAPPY, I published a special column and podcast on Poynter. org that offers tips and shares some new research on the power of good intentions.  If you'd like to learn more, here's a link to that column.  And if you want to learn LOTS more, well, I'd suggest you consider investing in a certain book.

Here's what Amazon.com's business book section looked like this morning -- June 8, 2012! Both the hard copy and Kindle versions of "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" are displayed as "Hot New Releases."  It's always encouraging to see that kind of showcasing, isn't it? It's been interesting hearing from people who have very particular preferences about how they consume books.  Some just love the convenience of an instant download, readable on a small, portable device.  Others don't feel they have a complete reading experience unless they can feel a book in their hands.  What's your preferred mode of book reading?

What better way to spend the weekend before the official publication date of the book, than conducting a leadership workshop for some very bright young managers in the Raycom Media group.  Raycom believes in growing leaders from within the organization, and each year selects up-and-coming mid-level managers for specialized training. I've played a role in that program for several years running.  Being a manager is serious business, of course, but if you read my book, you'll see that I believe levity is a key value of leadership. As a surprise to the class, Raycom's news VP, Susana Schuler purchased early copies of the book from Amazon.com, and presented each one with a copy, which I then signed.  This photo was taken after they learned about the importance of feedback -- and my concept of "feedback glasses" (also in the book.) We took a few class pictures together, and needless to say, this one is my hands-down favorite.

Although the official release date is June 5,  Amazon is already selling and shipping copies of the book.  Several people who had pre-ordered told me this week they received emails from Amazon, letting them know the book would be shipped early to them.  Amazon also now has the "Look Inside the Book" feature activated, so you are able to get a good sense of the content.  I have always appreciated that feature -- and often purchased a book based on the strength of the Table of Contents! I'm especially delighted that the first Amazon.com review was posted by my colleague Roy Peter Clark.  He's the author of multiple books on writing and has had a profound impact on writers in all genres. He also encouraged me to turn my teaching and columns into a book, and has been very helpful along the way. Here's what he wrote: My colleague Jill Geisler has written her first book, and it's a humdinger: "Work Happy: What Great Bosses Know." At first, I was puzzled by the title. So few people express happiness in their work that it seemed to espouse a quixotic,almost impossible dream. But that's the point, isn't it? Whatever endeavor we choose -- or chooses us -- there is a direct connection between our productivity and our emotional satisfaction on the job. The subtitle suggests that it will be a great boss who creates the conditions for a productive and satisfying work life, with this caveat: Some of the unhappiest workers we know bear the title of boss, and their problems, we have all learned the hard way, flow downhill and become our problems. Leadership, Geisler teaches us, is not the work of bosses alone. Each of us carries some burden of leadership, which, when embraced and practiced, can turn into something powerful, even joyful. Jill Geisler brings long experience as a media leader to the writing of this book. Her strategies have been field tested and shared widely through her teaching at the Poynter Institute and through her iTunesU podcasts, which have been downloaded in the millions. Anyone who aspires to a leadership position of any kind at any organization should read this book and put its advice to work -- today.

Isn't this a great picture?  It's dynamic, iconic -- it represents a real team with real trust.  The best part of all, is that it isn't some stock photo.  It's a real event.  It wasn't posed.  In fact, it happened in an instant.  I know because I was there.  My hand is in that circle.  But let me be clear: I didn't instigate it.  I just chose to take part, just as every other person did.  This photo is the jumping off point for a column I've written in my "What Great Bosses Know" series for the Poynter Institute. The column offers eight tips for leaders who want to build strong, high performing teams.  It takes trust to build and sustain a true team.  So, here's a link to the column, (just click on the highlighted words to get there) with all eight tips, and the interesting back story of how that picture came to life. (Photo credit to Scott Simmie of The Toronto Star.)

In these multi-media times, it's important to share information in every possible format.  That's why this site exists, along with a Facebook page for the book. But we can't overlook the world of video, can we? Since I worked for many years in broadcast journalism before becoming an educator -- (and since the man I married owns a production company) -- it was logical that we'd produce a video for the book. The picture you see was taken at Midland Video Productions, against a green screen.  That screen allows the post-production team to apply text and images, to insert a creative background, all to help illustrate the information about the book.  The video is now on YouTube and Vimeo, but of course, you can see it right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4pCURnHFc8  

"WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" now has a Facebook Page. Sarah Reck, web publicist at Hachette did a terrific job setting up the page.  This a great way to augment the site you are currently reading -- because it provides an easy opportunity for me to connect with you. I'd really like the site to be a gathering place for good ideas on leadership, robust and civil conversations about issues managers and employees face, and a chance to chat with readers. I'll use the site to post information about book events and adventures and to invite your suggestions for leadership and management topics for my Poynter.org columns and podcasts.  If you like that idea, then click on this link, which will take you to the page for "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" -- where I hope you "like" what you see.

Publishers Weekly, the international magazine devoted to books, has just released its review of "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW."  Authors wait with their fingers crossed for positive reviews -- and oh my! What a joy to read the reviewer's kind words and insights about the book! The reviewer describes "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" as  a "practical step-by-step guide to improving leadership skills" and goes on to say: "Rather than a prescriptive, academic book on leadership, Geisler humanizes the text with anecdotes from her own leadership development as a broadcast news director in Milwaukee, sharing her revelations, corrections, and progress." I don't know who the reviewer is: PW reviews are anonymous. But that writer certainly made my day and has my eternal gratitude -- especially for predicting that 'WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" will become a "go-to-manual for those new to management."   To see the full review on the Publishers Weekly website, just click on this link.

THE CHALLENGE: People have been asking me about how to get autographed copies of "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" after its June 5th publication.  I love signed books myself,  and I really want to sign books for folks, wherever they are and wherever they may have purchased the book.  But -- shipping books back and forth seemed to be a pretty cumbersome endeavor.  I was determined to come up with a practical way to do this.  And then I thought of it... THE SOLUTION:  I came up with an idea I hope will work well for anyone who has purchased a book, no matter where they might be: Customized bookplates. "Bookplate" is really just a fancy name for a sticker -- something that's applied to the inside cover to identify the book's owner. I've had custom bookplates made for "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW." If readers would like to have their book signed, all they have to do is send me an email request.  I will sign and send a bookplate via good old snail mail.

The bookplate instructions are simple:

• Address your request to jgeisler@poynter.org
• Put "Bookplate Request" in the subject line
• Tell me the name of the person(s) for whom I'll be signing a bookplate
• Include any other info you might want me to include in the signature (i.e., "Congratulations on your promotion" or "To an already great boss!")
• Include your mailing address
• Be patient, please, since I'm often on the road teaching -- but I'll respond as quickly as I can!

Thanks! Jill

Had a great meeting in NYC today at the offices of the Hachette Book Group, planning for the release of  "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" on June 5th.  At my side in this photo, as she has been throughout the writing of the book, is Hachette editor Kate Hartson. Being an editor takes many of the leadership skills I write about in my book.  A good editor understands motivation, coaching, feedback, time management, and collaboration.  A good editor helps a writer discover ideas and take risks.  A good editor identifies gaps in content or logic, so the writer can fill in the holes.  A good editor encourages and challenges. Interestingly, many editors are accomplished wordsmiths, but they take great care not to pressure writers into emulating their personal writing style.  Their goal is simple: to guide the author toward success while keeping the author's unique voice intact.  That's leadership. I've been blessed to have that great leadership from Julie Moos.  She's the head of Poynter.org, the website for which I produce "What Great Bosses Know" columns and podcasts.  Her encouragement and skillful editing helped lead to the development of Work Happy: What Great Bosses Know.  In fact, she's been at the head of a line of incredible cheerleaders for the book.  But Julie's done more than cheer.  She's edited columns and podcasts, brainstormed ideas for the book and helped with the book proposal.  She even helped me set up this web site, which I could not have done without her. Great bosses -- including great editors -- often stay in the background while good things are happening for those they lead.  That's why it's important to turn the spotlight on them -- and offer them my heartfelt thanks.