Today I’m sharing some really exciting news.  Today, my new book You First: Inspire Your Team to Grow Up, Get Along, and Get Stuff Done is out. It’s a pretty big deal for me: one part hugely exciting; one part mildly frightening. Hugely exciting because we’re starting a movement to end the misery of bad teams.  Mildly frightening because it only works if you come along. I’ve done my part, now it’s up to you whether we change the world or just keep suffering with underwhelming teams.

The Background

In my role at 3COze, I work most days with teams that need to take their performance to another level.  Often these are teams where issues have been left unresolved and the consequences are starting to show in their decision making, their communication, and their overall performance. Like the heart patient who unknowingly has badly blocked arteries, it takes intense, risky, and expensive interventions to return to health…and it doesn’t always work.

Those teams I work with are an endless source of inspiration for me.

The Book

I also love to write. So there was no question that I had a book in me.  The question was which book needed to be written. What idea was screaming to come out? I could have written about our unique approach to helping teams (and I likely will in the future), or about how healthy teams are the key leverage point to productivity and cultural transformation. But instead, I felt I needed to write a book to every single individual out there who is trapped on a team that isn’t working; a book to every person just getting started on a team who doesn’t want to end up miserable but trapped.

You First is for everyone who struggles every day with the tensions, frictions, and frustrations of working on teams.  (As far as I can tell, that’s everyone because teamwork is hard work.)  In the book, I reject the idea that your team leader will, or even can, change your team.  I implore you not to wait for a facilitator to attempt a breakthrough at the top of a ropes course.  Instead, I show you how you can do the simple (but hard) things every day to change your team for the better.

If you are even contemplating inspiring a change on your team: You First provides motivation for why you should try, practical tips for how to do it, and a series of diagnostics to see how you’re doing.

Be a Part of the Movement

If you think that our organizations can’t afford the lost productivity and disengagement of bad teams…  If you believe that our families can’t take the stress of partners or parents coming home wiped out from politics and ugly conflict…  If you know that you can’t waste the best years of your life on a dysfunctional team, now is your chance to do something.

If you like my posts, tweets, videos, and worksheets (as many of you tell me you do), I know you’ll get a lot out of the book. It’s the same tough love plus practical tools formula I use here on www.3coze.com. If you’re willing, here are some of the ways you can be part of the movement.

  • Buy the book.  You can find it on Amazon.com or on Barnes & Noble or Indigo here.
  • Heck, buy multiple copies for your team or your organization. (Use the contact page and we can help with bulk pricing and perks.)
  • Click here to Tweet,  or Pin, Stumble, LinkIn, Facebook (I know, not a verb) this link http://amzn.to/1fmhxdg to help spread the word about You First
  • Post a review on amazon.com or goodreads.com (2-3 lines is all it takes)
  • For you bloggers, write a blog about how the ideas intersect with your work
  • Think of me for your next conference or keynote opportunity

Most importantly, just connect with me so I know you’re out there. I’ve spent a year writing and now I want to hear your stories. Email me, comment below, phone, smoke signal…just connect. It’s a big day and this big day is the start of something even bigger. We’re gonna change teams for the better. I’m so glad you’re a part of it.

Further Reading

Grievance with a Teammate

What to do if you’re Struggling with your Team

Are you Working with a Toxic Team?

Video: Toxic Teams are Poisoning Your Organization

Video: There’s No Big Secret to Improving Team Effectiveness