The Together Leader

The Together Leader

by Maia Heyck-Merlin
Released May 2016
Publisher(s): Jossey-Bass
ISBN: 9781118987520

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Book description

Streamline your workflow and bring your vision to life

The Together Leader is a practical handbook for the busy mission-driven leader. With an emphasis on time management, the book provides all of the tools, templates, and checklists necessary for leaders to stay organized and keep on top their responsibilities. Maia Heyck-Merlin describes step-by-step a set of habits and systems that help leaders to keep everything running smoothly and, most importantly, achieve their mission-driven goals. By learning how to plan for the predictable, leaders can face the unexpected head-on, going off-plan while keeping their eye on the objective. Education leaders will learn how to prioritize quickly and efficiently, and gain access to hands-on tools that take the turbulence out of their days, allowing them to truly become a Together Leader.

Mission-driven leaders are often required to multi-task; it's part of the job. This book gives leaders the tools and information they need to streamline their workflow, to take the day one task at a time without sacrificing productivity. The book includes lessons on how to:

  • Prioritize effectively and work efficiently
  • Get organized and stay prepared no matter what
  • Manage time, staff, and resources
  • Develop the habits of an effective leader

A leader's time is valuable, as is that of their staff. There's no room for waste. The Together Leader prepares leaders to truly lead their teams, with the tools and strategies that make real, effective mission-driven leadership possible.

Table of contents

  1. Praise for The Together Leader
  2. Title Page
  3. Praise for The Together Leader
  4. Dedication
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. Contents | Website Resources
  7. Section 1: Set the Stage
    1. Chapter 1: Leading in a Mission-Driven Context
      1. What Do You Mean by Mission-Driven Work?
      2. What Do You Mean by Togetherness, Anyway?
      3. Why Togetherness Matters Even More in Your Context
      4. My Own Togetherness Journey
      5. Why This Book Is Different
      6. How This Book Is Organized
      7. How Each Chapter Is Organized
      8. How to Use This Book
      9. Notes on Terminology and Methodology
      10. Togetherness Is a Means to an End
    2. Chapter 2: Take Stock: Assess Your Togetherness Level
      1. Overview and Objectives
      2. Togetherness Levels
      3. The Tools You Need
      4. Reader Quiz: Togetherness Tools
      5. Routines Rule
      6. Mind-Sets Matter (More Than Anything)
      7. Build the Habit
      8. Don't Go on an Organizational Binge
      9. Let's Jump In
  8. Section 2: Get Clear on Your Purpose
    1. Chapter 3: Set Goals: Define the Direction
      1. Seen and Heard
      2. Overview and Objectives
      3. How Do I Set Yearly Goals?
      4. How Do I Set Quantitative Goals?
      5. Create a Time Line for Goal Setting—and Put Someone in Charge
      6. Reviewing Goal Progress
      7. Start Strong
    2. Chapter 4: Break Down the Goals: Create a Priority Plan
      1. Seen and Heard
      2. Overview and Objectives
      3. Jen's Priority Plan
      4. Kari's Priority Plan
      5. How Big or How Small—Are These Giant Leaps or Baby Steps?
      6. The Routine
      7. Getting a Team Onboard
      8. My Priority Plan Isn't Working for Me
      9. Start Strong
    3. Chapter 5: Align Your Meetings: Make a Meeting Matrix
      1. Seen and Heard
      2. Overview and Objectives
      3. The Model
      4. Build Your Own
      5. The Mechanics of a Regular One-on-One Meeting
      6. Nailing the Content
      7. The Routine
      8. Meeting Follow-Up
      9. A Long-Term View
      10. Start Strong
  9. Section 3: Get Yourself Together
    1. Chapter 6: Get Macro: Design a Comprehensive Calendar
      1. Seen and Heard
      2. Overview and Objectives
      3. Create Your Comprehensive Calendar
      4. Articulate Your Priorities
      5. Sketch an Ideal Week
      6. Impose the Ideal Week onto Your Digital Calendar
      7. Let's Get Consolidated
      8. Zoom Out to View a Year
      9. Start Strong
    2. Chapter 7: Strategic Procrastination: Design a Later List
      1. Seen and Heard
      2. Overview and Objectives
      3. The Model
      4. Build Your Own
      5. The Routine
      6. Start Strong
    3. Chapter 8: Reconcile Your Time and To-Dos: Create Your Weekly Plan
      1. Seen and Heard
      2. Overview and Objectives
      3. The Model
      4. Task-Driven, Time-Driven, or Blended?
      5. Build Your Own
      6. Little Things Make a Difference
      7. Some Other Sneaky Calendar Tricks
      8. But, Maia, What about Things That Just Come Up?
      9. Keep It Alive: The Routine
      10. Start Strong
    4. Chapter 9: Keep It Together: Routines and Checklists
      1. Seen and Heard
      2. Overview and Objectives
      3. Weekly Routines: Clean Up and Look Ahead
      4. Ensuring Weird Weeks Don't Take You by Surprise
      5. Monthly or Quarterly Practices
      6. Other Useful Checklists
      7. Need a Few Trackers?
      8. Start Strong
    5. Chapter 10: Hold That Thought: Save It for Later!
      1. Seen and Heard
      2. Overview and Objectives
      3. The Model
      4. Build Your Own
      5. The Routine
      6. Start Strong
  10. Section 4: Get Your Team and Organization Together
    1. Chapter 11: Keep E-mail in Its Place
      1. Seen and Heard
      2. Overview and Objectives
      3. Conduct an E-mail Audit
      4. Get Your In-box Set Up for Success
      5. Write Clearly and Efficiently
      6. Process Efficiently
      7. Creating Routines: When Do You Check Your E-mail?
      8. Managing Communications as an Organization
      9. Start Strong
    2. Chapter 12: Project Design, Planning, and Communication: More Than Just Spreadsheets!
      1. Seen and Heard
      2. Overview and Objectives
      3. Set the Stage
      4. Detour: Don't Forget to Merge with your Personal Organization System!
      5. Start Strong
    3. Chapter 13: Become a Dynamic Duo: Maximize Your Assistant
      1. Seen and Heard
      2. Overview and Objectives
      3. Evaluate Your Current Relationship
      4. Hire the Right Person
      5. Train Your Assistant Well
      6. Use Your Assistant to Manage More Than Your Scheduling
      7. Leader and Assistant Communication Structures
      8. Start Strong
  11. Section 5: Put It All Together
    1. Chapter 14: Keep Track of Stuff, Space, and Knowledge
      1. Seen and Heard
      2. Overview and Objectives
      3. Deal with Your Own Stuff
      4. Make the Most of Shared Office Space
      5. Track the Inventory
      6. Manage the Knowledge
      7. Start Strong
    2. Chapter 15: Create a Culture of Togetherness
      1. Seen and Heard
      2. Overview and Objectives
      3. Define Togetherness in Your Organization
      4. Select the Right People
      5. Showcase and Model Togetherness at the Onset
      6. Create an Onboarding Overview
      7. Up and Running: Observe and Coach
      8. How to Observe Togetherness
      9. Maintaining Togetherness in Your Organization
      10. Agreeing on Standard Together Team Tools
      11. Start Strong
    3. Chapter 16: Conclusion: Keep It All Together
      1. Seen and Heard
      2. Overview and Objectives
      3. Remember the Why
      4. What to Tackle First
      5. Explaining Yourself to Others
      6. What Happens When You Fall Off
      7. Transferring Togetherness to the Home Front
      8. Why the World Needs Together Leaders
  12. Bibliography
  13. Index
  14. How to Access the Website Resources
  15. About the Author
  16. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: The Together Leader
  • Author(s): Maia Heyck-Merlin
  • Release date: May 2016
  • Publisher(s): Jossey-Bass
  • ISBN: 9781118987520