First, can you tell us a bit about who you are?
Over the last 25 years, Deborah Britt Roebuck has focused on helping individuals develop their leadership and communication skills. Her innovative approaches and interactive style complement her role as coach, mentor, speaker, professor, and facilitator. She has worked in service, manufacturing and public sector environments across a broad range of industries to collaborate with clients to enhance work productivity and relationships.
Currently she is a Professor of Management, where she teaches courses such as Organizational Communication, Ethics for Managerial Decision Making, Reinventing Business Leadership, and Women’s Leadership Lab. She has taught for colleges and universities in Romania, Finland, and Singapore.
She just completed her latest book entitled, Communication Strategies for Today’s Managerial Leader. Her presentations on ethical leadership, business and organizational communication topics have carried her to regional, national and international conferences.
What is the book and why you should read it?
Communication continues to be the life-blood of all organizations. No organization and its leaders can achieve goals, build the company’s reputation and brand, or win friends and customers without effective communication.
However, too often individuals are promoted into managerial leadership roles without realizing their communication skills could make or break them. These individuals are often subject matter experts, but lacking in the communication skills so vital for leading others. Unless they are willing to invest time in sharping their communication skills, they fail.
Numerous research studies have stated, and I have found true in my own managerial leadership roles, a leader spends the majority of his or her day interacting with others. As a managerial leader, one faces many challenging situations such as determining how to inspire a shared vision, building trust within a team, listening with an open mind, giving feedback, and encouraging collaboration, to name a few. The focus for the managerial leader switches from “doing things” to “leading others to accomplish tasks. Leaders need to build teams and to maintain relationships with all stakeholders. The best way to make that happen is through skills such as listening, asking questions, mastering nonverbal communication, employing emotional intelligence, understanding conflict, using mentoring, coaching, and counseling as well as giving feedback.
Therefore this book will provide fundamental guidance for those who lead others or who desire to move into managerial leadership role. It will raise awareness and provide strategies for the oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills so needed by managerial leaders to achieve goals and build relationships.
What are the top trends in your area(s)?
Technology is the great enabler of communication, so I think technology will continue to make a huge impact on how we work and play. Some of the latest technological innovations to change our way of work include Cloud computing, book readers, SMART phones, social media networking, and interactive websites.
Savvy organizations will embrace social media as a communication tool. Sales professionals will use it to attract and interact with prospects. Marketing professionals will use Social Media to engage customers, monitor, and strengthen their brand. Social Media will allow customer service reps to be more proactive and available for customers. Human resource professionals will be able to recruit the talent and grow cultures as well as deliver just-in-time delivery of instructional training.
PowerPoint presentations will become more streamlined and more presentations will be viewed on SMART phones and other handheld devices. More on-line meetings and webinars will occur, and the technology will improve so that it will almost seem like face-to-face interaction.
The new requirement for ‘plain language’ will impact the written communication practices of organizations. The emphasis upon the written word will continue because of the wealth of written communication that takes place on the world-wide web.
Speed of access to information will be challenging. Another challenge will be determining how much information to make available and gauging what is already available.
More organizations will adopt a coaching culture to help grow their leadership pipeline as well as employ more temporary and contract workers.
Organizations will continue to go global, so more working around the sun will occur through virtual interaction. Individuals will need to understand and appreciate the opportunity to work with individuals with different cultural backgrounds.
Managerial leaders will be called upon to communicate and build the organization’s image and brand with both internal and external stakeholders. The successful managerial leader will need to keep up with the trends and be a continuous learner to know what’s out there.
What do you like best about using e-books? Do you own an e-book reader (if so, which one and why)?I would have to say that the biggest advantage is the convenience factor. If you are traveling, you don’t have to carry a book!
I don’t have an e-book reader yet! I’ve been talking about getting one, but just haven’t done it.
What made you decide to publish with Business Expert Press?
I liked what David shared about the mission of Business Expert Press in the catalog. The first time I interacted with him, I immediately appreciated his knowledge, his passion for this products and his dedication to his authors. After I signed the contract, I had a few setbacks, which ultimately put me in a situation where my book was delayed for a year. David was understanding of the situation and demonstrated compassion. My desire is that the book was worth his wait.
Debbie DuFrene was also just wonderful to work. She guided me throughout the process while providing ongoing feedback.
Have you read any other Business Expert Press books, and if so, which one was your favorite?
Gary May is a terrific colleague of mine so his Business Expert Press book on Strategic Planning: Fundamentals for Small Business is the one to read. I also look forward to reading Debbie DuFrene and Carol Lehman’s book on Virtual Teaming.
What prompted you to write this book?Actually, I would have to say David Parker. At this point in my career, I have learned a few lessons. So I thought others might be interested in my story. I have always focused on the people-side of the organization, so writing this book was a natural extension of my desire to help and serve others.
What were your favorite business courses when you were in school?
Not surprisingly, the courses that focused on the people-side of the organization such business communication, leadership, ethics, and organizational behavior.
What do you like to do when you're not working?
I enjoy traveling, watching my daughter ride her horses, and antiquing! I’m looking forward to my first grandbaby, Estella Grace, in July!
What was the best non-business book you read recently?
Millionaire Moms-The Art of Raising a Business and a Family at the Same Time by Joyce Bone... Although I’m not sure this classifies as a non-business book, but it was terrific!
How long did the process of writing the book take you?
The process took me about nine months from the time I wrote the first chapter until I reviewed the final page proofs.
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