kevin Eikenberry – Wayne Turmel

The Long-Distance Team Comes Out Feb 28

My day job doesn’t always find its way to this site, but then it’s not every day (it’s actually every 2 years) a new book is born.

In this case, Kevin Eikenberry and I have written The Long-Distance Team: Designing Your Work for Everyone’s Success. It is the third in the Long Distance Worklife series that includes The Long-Distance Leader, and The Long-Distance Teammate.

If you are wondering how to help your team deal with virtual, remote and hybrid work, or want to start creating a great team culture instead of just reacting, this is the book for you.

Here’s what you’ll find in this book:

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part 1: Getting Started: Defining the Overused Terms

Chapter 1: Defining the Team.

What does it mean to be on a team? What are the types of teams? How does all of this impact a long-distance (remote/hybrid/flexible) team?

Chapter 2: Defining Culture.

Let’s get past the buzzword and talk about what culture really is. We’ll share some specific examples of why this matters so much.

Part 2: The Building Blocks

Chapter 3: Establishing Ownership.

It’s time to recognize who the owners are—it may not be (only) who you think.

Chapter 4: Rethinking How We Work.

It’s possible for long-distance/hybrid work to create better results than we’ve experienced in the past.

Chapter 5: Applying The 3C Model of Team and Culture Design.

Let’s understand and apply the 3C (Communication, Cohesion, and Collaboration) model of long-distance team design.

Part 3: Designing for Success

Chapter 6: Designing a New Team.

Time spent consciously designing a team is necessary for ultimate success. Here’s a process to help you do that reliably and effectively.

Chapter 7: Redesigning an Existing Team

If your team has been operating at a distance and now you want to adjust, here’s how you can use the design principles to redesign your team.

Part 4: Creating Your Aspirational Culture

Chapter 8: Defining Your Aspirational Culture.

How to use our framework to define and create the cultural description that everyone can get excited about.

Chapter 9: Building The Micro Inside the Macro.

Your team culture needs to fit inside the organizational umbrella. Here’s how to create the alignment.

Chapter 10: Making the Culture Come to Life.

Once the culture is defined, here’s how you start to create it.

Part 5: Applying Core Principles

Chapter 11: Applying the Power of Expectations.

Use mutually clear expectations as a driver for your team design and culture.

Chapter 12: Creating Agreements.

Your team design and culture ultimately will succeed or fail based on what the team agrees to do and how consistently they do it. Here is a process to create team agreements.

Chapter 13: Creating Engagement.

Whether overtly stated in your aspirational culture or not, engagement is required for your team’s success. Let’s talk about what it really is and how to nurture it.

Learn how to buy bulk copies and get free downloads and resources at LongDistanceTeamBook.com.

So, 2022 Looks a Little Busy

First, 2022 is not a real year. It’s science fiction. Blade Runner took place in 2019. Soylent Green takes place in 2022. But I’ll play along and pretend that it really is the Year of Our Lord 2022. If that’s the case, what will I be up to?

When it comes to the dreaded Day Job, there are two big creative projects in the pipeline.

We have signed a contract for The Long-Distance Team. Kevin Eikenberry and I have contracted with Berrett-Koehler publishers for another book. We’ll be following up The Long-Distance Teammate, Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership and The Long-Distance Teammate, Stay Engaged and Connected While Working Anywhere.

The Long-Distance Team, which is about designing the work culture you really want, is under construction. It will be officially out on January 22, 2023, but available for pre-order before the end of the year.

Also, it’s likely I will be doing a podcast. It won’t be the late lamented Cranky Middle Manager Show, but it will be informative and snarky. Details to follow.

On the fun, creative front look for the second in my werewolf detective series. Johnny Lycan and the Vegas Berserker will be out before the end of the year from Black Rose Writing. The third book in the series is under construction so it won’t be 2 years between installments, I pinky swear.

Check out my latest novel, Johnny Lycan and the Anubis Disk. It will give you something to do until your next WebEx meeting.

You can find out everything that I’m up to creatively by signing up for my infrequent but action-packed email newsletter. Use the signup box on the side of the screen.

Cover Reveal: The Long-Distance Teammate, coming in January 2021

Among all the activities involved in trying to get my new novel into the world, it’s important to remember what pays the bills. Kevin Eikenberry and I are excited to announce the cover reveal for our new book, The Long-Distance Teammate: Stay Engaged and Connected While Working Anywhere.

The logical follow-up to the Long-Distance Leader, Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership, it will focus on those of us who work from home or remote locations. Can you be more than just another member of the team, but an engaged, satisfied, and productive teammate?

Be productive, build relationships, and work with your long-term goals in mind. Coming January, 2021.

NOTE FROM WAYNE: In a month or so I am going to be offering a FREE story, not seen anywhere else, for subscribers to my newsletter. Please use the form on the side of the page to get on board and learn more about my work, including the upcoming novel, Johnny Lycan and the Anubis Disk.

And if this is your first introduction to me and my work, check out my novels on Amazon.

The Long-Distance Leader is one of the best business books of the year!

For many in the business book world, a recommendation from Soundview is a big deal. They do summaries of the best of the best, and help their readers find the good stuff. Well, I’m a lucky guy because The Long-Distance Leader- Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership has been named one of Soundview’s Best Business Books of 2018.

Kevin Eikenberry and I are extremely proud of the book. You can find the summary on Soundview here, or visit Amazon. Of course, if you too think this is a helpful book, please leave a review for the rest of the world to see.

Long-Distance Leader is One of the Top Business Books of the Year!

The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership is out in the world, and it appears people really like it.

Last month, it was a Hudson News best-seller (so if you see it in an airport bookstore, snap a pic and send it to me on Twitter @Wturmel or @LeadingRemotely. So far 5 airports heard from…

Then Top Sales World named the book one of the Top 50 Sales Books of 2018. That’s quite an honor.

We’re rock stars in the Atlanta Airport apparently.

Kevin and I have also been on a number of podcasts and interviews about the book. Check my Twitter and Facebook feeds if you’d like to check them out.

Thanks to Berrett-Koehler Publishers for their support.

If you enjoy it, don’t tell me, tell Amazon.

“The Long-Distance Leader” is Out in the World

Today is launch day for The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership. This is the result of a lot of research, work with clients and looking at the way people really work today. Kevin Eikenberry and I are very proud of this book, and hope you’ll enjoy it.

I share this because even though I have written several other books, and most of you who read this blog know my fiction work, launch day is always a day to celebrate and heave a big sigh of relief. The book is debuting at number 75 on Amazon’s list of business/coaching books, and we’re delighted by that. Of course, we’re looking for best-seller status.

It is available in paperback, e-book and audio book wherever you buy your books including Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, airports and Amazon. You can also buy it directly from our publisher, Berrett-Koehler Publishers

I also share to ask for your help. Here’s how:

– If you lead a remote team or know someone who is, buy a copy!
– If you would be willing to share on your Facebook wall (or other social media), we would appreciate that too.

You can learn more by visiting http://LongDistanceLeaderBook.com. There you’ll find sample chapters, free downloads and bonuses. Of course, you know the drill. If you like the book and find value in it, please tell your colleagues and co-workers (and, of course, Amazon. Reviews matter even though it’s unseemly to beg for them.)

Thanks for your good wishes, positive thoughts, and assistance. I appreciate each and every one of you.

The Long-Distance Leader is Almost Here

Readers of this blog usually don’t care much about my day job, but I do. My latest book is “The Long-Distance Leader-Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership.” It is the culmination of years of work and research that I, and my co-author Kevin Eikenberry, are very proud of.

Hear Kevin talk about it in the publisher’s official video trailer.

Then you can order the darned thing. Publication date is officially June 5. If you like it, please leave a review and tell all your coworkers and peers. It’s available worldwide in paperback, Kindle and Audio book.

If you are interested in the topic, check out the website and blog of The Remote Leadership Institute.

The Long-Distance Leader is completely, utterly, finally complete and available for pre-sale.

Readers of this blog probably don’t think about my non-fiction work very much, but let’s face it–Lucca, Byron and their colleagues don’t pay the bills. My newest book, co-written with my boss, friend and colleague Kevin Eikenberry is now available for pre-orders.

The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership will be released June 5, from Berrett-Koehler.

Looks good, doesn’t it? It is. If you lead remote project teams, or have people working from home and you’re struggling to be the leader you want to be, this book is for you. This book will show you how to engage and communicate with your employees, regardless of where they are. As technology continues to advance, more and more businesses are allowing their employees to work from their homes, as long as they have a good internet connection. If they don’t, businesses are recommending that they look into metronet internet services instead. That should help them to experience a strong internet connection, allowing them to complete their work and stay connected with the rest of the employees.

It highlights things like the importance of being there for your staff, supporting them, understanding their needs and most importantly, motivating them to do their best. But it doesn’t only cover things like work, but also mental health and how to stay active when working remotely, which is just as important to consider when leading a remote team. Remote working is often seen as a tough thing, but with the right guidance and knowledge, it can make your life a lot easier.

A lot of businesses are now starting to work remotely, as they understand that there are so many good benefits to it. Of course, you’ll need some of the products from Agora (https://www.agora.io/en/voicecall/) so that you can regularly check in on them and ensure that communication levels don’t drop. And that also means making sure that you can provide your staff with the relevant equipment. You can check out this link here for more ideas about what you should provide your staff with https://www.officemonster.co.uk/filing-cabinets–1.

Don’t forget that this might differ depending on what your business is, and if you aren’t too sure then double-check with your employees and see if there is anything that you can do to make their job easier. They’ll appreciate that you are in communication with them, and will also appreciate that you want to help them.

If you’re unfamiliar with my non-fiction work, check out my Amazon Author Page for more details.

The Dreaded Day Job and a Really Good New Book

Much as I’m trying to carve a niche for myself as a novelist, my first books–and the business that pays the bills–are non-fiction and center on business communication. That’s why I’m really proud to announce that (co-written with Kevin Eikenberry, peace be upon him) the new book is at the pubishers.

The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership is now available for pre-order. It’s from Berrett-Koehler publishers, and we couldn’t be happier, both with the book and our partnership with B-K.

This book takes the communication skills i wrote about in “10 Steps to Successful Virtual Presentations” and “Meet Like You Mean It- a Leader’s Guide to Painless and Productive Virtual Meetings” and blends them with Kevin’s years of Leadership Development expertise to take a totally fresh, new look at how we are really working today.

If you manage a remote team, or work in a place where your co-workers are at home or spread around the globe, I invite you to check out the book. It offers advice such as how to set up a remote document upload flow using software from sites like FilecenterDMS.com, and how to coordinate a team on a remote basis. Since publication date isn’t until the end of April, you’ll be hearing more as the date gets nearer. In the meantime, I blog and write regularly at The Remote Leadership Institute site. Check it out or follow us on Twitter @LeadingRemotely

Check out the book, or my Amazon author page. If you know my work because of my fiction, you’ll find lots of information to help your business life. If you only know me through my day job, I invite you to check out my novels, The Count of the Sahara and Acre’s Bastard. Heck, if you’re bored, check the Stories section on this page for some of my short fiction work.

More to come, I look forward to continuing to share with you. Have a great week.