Today, Norm Goldman Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guests Steven Vannoy and Craig Ross authors of Stomp the Elephant in the Office.

In addition to being an author, Steven is a speaker and trainer as well as being the founder of Pathways to Leadership, Inc that focuses on building resilient work cultures, more productive teams, and a higher quality of life for all.

With over 30 years experience in business leadership, Steven is a recognized expert in building the leadership bench strength of corporations internationally, and also creating sustainable, healthy work cultures. He is also author of the best-selling parenting book, The 10 Greatest Gifts I Give My Children (Simon & Schuster, 1994).

Craig Ross is President of Pathways to Leadership, Inc and leads the development of Pathways programs and facilitates internationally. His background in education and coaching lends itself to his responsibilities in program development and facilitator training.

Good day Steven and Craig and thanks for participating in our interview.

Norm: Where did you get your information and ideas for Stomp the Elephant in the Office and whom do you think will benefit most from its reading?

Steven and Craig: First, thank you for giving us the opportunity to participate in this dialogue, Norm.

The information and ideas for Stomp the Elephant in the Office are the “best practices” of leaders all around the world in numerous industries. They have been insisting that we put in print what we’ve been collecting, refining and delivering that has helped so many organizations transform how they get work done – and improve lives in the process.

There are fundamental approaches the most effective leaders use when leading themselves and others. Identifying these strategies, breaking them down so they can be easily replicated, and then putting a name on them so every team and organization can have a common language have proven to be very powerful and productive tools for thousands of people.

The people that will benefit most from reading are people – at any level – who want to create a more powerful and productive work environment.

Norm: How did you come up with the title Stomp the Elephant in the Office and could you tell our readers a little about your book?

Steven and Craig: The inspiration for the title came from our client-partners. There’s a myth, Norm, that work has to be a drag; that we have to continuously search for methods to motivate uninspired employees; that results can only improve incrementally. It doesn’t have to be that way! Yet, people, leaders at every level, have accepted it as the norm. That’s the elephant: toxic attitudes, poor behaviors – in other words, culture – that everyone is aware of but no one is doing anything about.

Proof that few people are doing anything about it: 66% of corporate strategies are never executed (Ernst and Young); 74% of the work force is disengaged (Gallup). We could go on. There’s a growing band of leaders who are not buying into the myth anymore. They’re using the tools we talk about in the book to stomp the elephant and change how work is getting done. And in the process, they’re changing the lives of those around them.

The book is a road map for more effective personal leadership. It covers only a handful of tools from our full program, but gives readers solid concepts that that can implement immediately to improve relationships, productivity, and their work experience.  In addition to learning about the tools, you will find success stories from leaders around the world who live these principles daily -- and you’ll be amazed at their successes!

Norm: Why do you feel that this was an important book for you to write at this time?

Steven and Craig: It is absolutely unacceptable that the highlight of the week for the majority of the workforce is 5 p.m. on Friday. These are lives that we’re talking about! And, it’s incomprehensible that organizations can turn that around right now – without any major new investment or expenditures. And the moment they do, they immediately begin building the bottom line.

But here’s the bigger key: too many people for too long have been waiting for “management” to do something about the culture they work in. Ironically, everyone is responsible for – and indeed creates – the culture in which they work. And so this book is about providing the individual with a proven strategy for creating a more productive and enjoyable workplace.

Norm: There have been many books written about the same subject as yours, why do you believe yours is different from the others? Why should we purchase your book?

Steven and Craig: Here are the top five reasons:

1)    This is not theory – it’s proven and full of practical tools that can be applied immediately and that deliver results right now;

2)    This is not a rah-rah book, like so many other books on culture and feel-good leadership. This is about doing what we know we can do to deliver greater results. Nothing feels better than success;

3)    The list of clients and individuals who use these tools to create greater results is long. As one reader shared, “The examples from those who have gone before us bring essential credibility to the work;

4)    Reputable leaders within our own industry are calling the book, “A groundbreaking illustration...and why it changes the game” and;

5)    The book provides not only the “what,” but also differentiates itself by focusing on the “how.” But it doesn’t end there! It taps into perhaps the most important “why” known to man.

Norm: Has your environment and/or upbringing influenced your writing? If so, how?

Steven and Craig: We are fortunate for some valuable lessons we’ve learned over the past decade. Steve’s first two books were picked up by Simon and Schuster. The 10 Greatest Gifts I Give My Children is still in print and has more than 100,000 copies.

While we are quite grateful to Simon & Schuster, we have learned that in order to reach the people we want to reach, in the way we want to reach them, it is important for us to maintain some control. So, we launched Wister and Willows Publishers, and the journey has exceeded our expectations. Soon the publishing house will have other titles and continue to serve on a grand scale.

Norm: What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your book? How did you overcome these challenges?

Steven and Craig: The biggest challenge was that early drafts were too long! Originally, we had over 500 pages of material. We didn’t want to cheat leaders who were hungry to create change. Yet, we knew we had to have the discipline to provide the public with an easy and quick read.

The editing process brought us another challenge: how do you choose which success stories to cut from the text? Leaders all over the world are making such an impact on their organization’s bottom line – and in the lives of the people delivering that bottom line – that we wanted to deliver their stories. But it came down to a numbers game. Until the next book comes out – and it’s in production – the world will have to wait to learn the rest of what’s possible.

Norm: In your publicity promoting the book, you refer to a “wellness culture.” What is this all about?

Steven and Craig: People are quite aware that the healthier they are, the better and more productive their lives will be. There is in our society, a ‘wellness’ factor. The same holds true for organizations. When you have more than one person in a company, you’ve got a relationship. Is that a healthy or unhealthy relationship? The answer impacts the bottom line.

So cultures have a ‘wellness’ aspect, too. And the organizations that build and exercise their Wellness Culture the most effectively, win.

Norm: What will you be doing for promotion and how much of it is your doing?

Steven and Craig:  Since we self-published this title, we’re doing 100% of the promotion, with advice and counsel from trusted experts, of course.  Along with the release of the book, we launched with a book review, Internet, and article campaign.  We’re currently scheduling a radio and book signing tour as well. We belong to local and national publishing associations and take advantage of all opportunities offered through them. We’re also exploring non-traditional book sales – so look for us at local retailers coming soon.  And of course, we can be found on amazon.com.

Norm: What is Pathways to Leadership, Inc all about?

Norm: Are you working on any other books/projects that you would like to share with us? (We would love to hear all about them!)

Steven and Craig: We can’t share all the details here, but we’ll give you a taste... The work we do with Fortune 100 companies and other companies around the world is, quite simply, transformational. As a result of the tools and Wellness Culture approach, results and lives are transformed. Stomp the Elephant in the Office reveals to the world the basics – and sets the stage for what thousands of people say is the most powerful tool of them all. It is an amazingly simple paradigm shift that few people are aware of and that is not being discussed in the mainstream. Those people who make this paradigm shift change their lives.

Right now, we’re incorporating this tool and approach into another book.  It is targeted for a 2009 release under the working title of The Pencil (Wister and Willows).

In addition, our blog, www.thetallguys.typepad.com has exceeded our expectations. We were reluctant to write a blog at first – but our advisors insisted on it. So we agreed that we would...only if it you could read it under a minute, it would entertain you, and you could get value from it that would improve results moving forward. And it does!

Also, we’ll soon be launching our pod casts from our website, www.stomptheelephant.com. We ran some pilot audio tests with thousands of people through 2006 and 2007 -- and the results were so favorable that we’ve got to meet this demand soon.

Norm: Where can our readers find out more about you and Stomp the Elephant in the Office?

Steven and Craig: www.stomptheelephant.com has the most current information, as well as resources, free downloads, and a “How Big Is the Elephant in Your Office?” quiz.

Norm: Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?

Steven and Craig: Only this – there is something within each person: the desire to make a difference. Sadly, our society is set up – and businesses are run – in a way that diminishes and even kills that desire. This is the greatest loss humanity will ever know. Stomp the Elephant in the Office is about rekindling that desire and equipping people with the ability to do just that: make a difference – for themselves, their colleagues, their organizations, their families, and their community. Imagine what we lose if people don’t act on this desire to make a difference?

Now imagine if they do.

Thanks again, Norm. And happy elephant stomping!

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavours.