How to Build Your Publishing Team | Writing and Speaking Tips

As authors, we seldom write in isolation. We partner with various professionals like; editors, graphic artists, layout and cover designers, distributors, book shepherds and other consultants who help us dance to publishing success. Understand the power of these professional relationships and you unlock one of the doors to selling your book. How we work with our publishing team greatly influences our book and financial success.

The question is, ?Are we doing all we can to make these important relationships work??

In essence, we as authors are both the leader and the follower in this intricate publishing dance. We lead and direct our vision and our goals. We follow the advice of our team and learn from their expertise. Just how you develop a high performance team depends on you-the author.

Being aware of the larger picture is pivotal in setting up a team focused on achievement-not mediocrity. For authors, enlightenment comes when they realize marketing starts the very minute they engage with their team.

In an instant, the marketing moment is initiated when we click the send button and our manuscript reaches our editor?s, agent or layout person?s inbox. The word of mouth reputation begins as it streaks through the networks, virtual and real. People will either begin to line up to work with you or run the other way. First impressions are often the only impression.

My guess is all of you have been in a relationship some time in your life. Some were rewarding, others not. What most of us can acknowledge is the fact relationships develop in phases. So does team development.

Consider this three phased approach to developing your team.

Phase One: Connect.
Remember, each relationship professional or personal begins one conversation at a time. Make sure your first one is a good one. If not, make sure second one is enticing.

Phase Two: Communicating the details.
Once the connection has occurred, the relationship grows based on common interests-your book.

Phase Three: Leading the Way.
The author is focused on individual members of the team inspiring and sustaining a common vision, following up on progress and celebrating successful outcomes.

Here we take a more detail look at these different phases. Let?s start at the beginning.

Phase One: Connecting?
Finding and developing a great team starts with recruiting. You want people who compliment your strengths, shore up your weaknesses and are honest with you. Author awareness starts here.
Ask yourself the following questions: Be kind?and truthful.

• Do you know the type of people you work best with?
• Are you really clueless on who is right vendor for your particular type of book?
• Do you pay attention to what people are saying about the people they work with?
• Are you looking at award winning books and checking out the acknowledgment page? Have you called them about your project?
• Ask for references. Getting started with the right people makes managing your team so much easier.
• Ask yourself, ?What am I doing to attract the right people into my publishing universe?

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I think team building and customer service go hand-in-hand. Customer service principles help define our approach to team building. Starting with the first principle listed below.

Principle 1: In order to get great customer service, you must provide great customer service.
For the author, that means being respectful of vendor?s time and expertise, following up quickly, being clear about your expectations, and being pleasant to work with.

Consider taking a more systematic and conscientious process to manage your team?s experience with your book.

• Ask yourself, what can I do to make their job easier?
• Do I clearly express my vision for my book?
• Think about what they will see, hear and feel the moment you contact them? What will they hear? A pleasant welcome? Will they hear respectful communication or an author who is scattered or is doubtful about their publishing success?
• Are your files organized?
• How do you follow-up, check the details?
• How do you show your appreciation for a job well done?

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To illustrate my point, think of Disney World. The magicians at Disney are masterful creators of experience. They intend to manage every minute of your time in the Magic Kingdom-even while you wait in line. With music, the smell of foods from exotic places, water ballets, and beautiful gardens everywhere-and that doesn?t even include the rides! I think you get the picture.

They do it to create customer loyalty and that is exactly what you want to do-create vendor loyalty, they are first fans and most likely your first word of mouth advertising. What little you spend here will pay off big in terms of building a foundation for your book launch.

Phase Two: Communicate Your Passion and Vision?
Customer Service Principle 2: Define superior service and strategy.

After selecting high performing vendors and assistants, make sure to check-in frequently. Setting goals and developing work plans work to ensure your team is grasping roles and responsibilities. Specific outcomes and target dates are useful steps in clarifying the particular aspects and nuances of your book. Review often, make adjustments and reduce mistakes and missteps.

• Do you use action plans?
• Do they foster agreement with all team members?
• Are they reviewed often?

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Customer Service Principle 3
Consistency matters, especially when it is excellent.

Develop a comfortable work routine; it helps to define your role and commitment. Technology plays a huge part in an author?s work life. Explore its role with various members of your team. Some folks would prefer all communication happen via email, others feel face to face or phone contact is more effective. Anything that is not comfortable needs to be negotiated. These conversations upfront will prevent problems later down the road.

Phase Three: Leading the Way?
Customer Service Principle 4
Recognize and Reward Accomplishment

The final stages of getting your book published often are filled with anticipation, pressure and a budget that can grow tighter by the day. Deadlines loom and tension builds. As the leader of the team, it is your responsibility to find your center, stay balanced and focused. Your vision for your book is your compass. Refer to it often otherwise, the details will distract and overwhelm both you and your team. Leadership sees beyond the immediate challenge to the bigger picture and guides, not forces people to move forward to project completion.

Yes, you can brow beat a person into submission, you can get angry-and consider the long term implications when doing so. Remember, marketing and branding happen here first. Most problems arise when we have neglected to stay focused or failed to communicate. Take responsibility. It gives you the power and ability to respond quickly.

To help motivate your team to feel the passion of your project, recognize team members who work beyond their agreements with you when you can. Encourage others to stay with it. This is a test for you. Pressure comes with being an author?mix-ups do happen. Will you have the foresight to manage well? Problem solving is a principle of great customer service. It doesn?t matter that you had a problem, it is how well you resolve it that sets the tone for your success. Focus on their strengths and your own.

Applying these simple principles and implementing a phased approach to working with your publishing team takes you to the pinnacle of publishing-resulting in a highly motivating, innovative team working for your publishing success.

Connect, Communicate and Lead.

Source: http://www.writingspeakingtips.com/how-to-build-your-publishing-team/

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