Comments on: Why should leaders blog?

By: Should politicians blog? « Local Democracy

Should politicians blog? « Local Democracy — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:19:09 +0000

[...] There is also the argument that it will be difficult to compete in any battle of ideas in future unless you understand the dynamics of social media and how it will change things – this is the gist of Podnosh’s argument here. The author Flannery O’Connor said, “I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” Just writing a blog is a good way of forcing yourself to think – and to do it in a way that ensures your output is coherent (your comments thread will ensure that this is all well incentivised). [...]

By: Mine’s a coComment #3 | content to be different

Mine’s a coComment #3 | content to be different — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:07:17 +0000

[...] At podnosh: ‘Why should leaders Blog?’ becuase they’re not “Leaders” anymore. They’re one among equals and their voice is just like anyone elses. It is judged on its passion, reality and relevancy. If they are not involved in conversations and content-relationships, those relationships will still happen. The party will still continue. The initiatives and politico-social movements will still happen but they will be sitting in their corner of the party – Billy no-mates, talking to themselves. join the conversation: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]

By: WHY CORNER

WHY CORNER — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:48:14 +0000

Great insight! This should really inspire many.

By: Nick T

Nick T — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:06:48 +0000

Great post (and comments). I was thinking about this a lot when I had to run a brief blogging workshop for the Social Enterprise Ambassadors who are all leaders of their respective organisations. For me, it came back to Hugh at GapingVoid who boils it down to the need for: - passion - authority and continuity The best chief execs have the first two, and the key to blogging success is adding the third element (don\'t start it if you\'re not going to carry it on). It\'s also about enabling dialogue and conversation in a different way (cutting through hierarchies), and about being able to communicate more informally / with personality. Here\'s my powerpoint on how and why to blog (mostly cartoons). http://www.socialenterpriseambassadors.org http://www.slideshare.net/SSE/how-and-why-to-blog/

By: Nick Booth

Nick Booth — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:48:24 +0000

Please do.

By: Shane McCracken

Shane McCracken — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:38:01 +0000

Nick. Lol. Blogging isn’t easy. You spend hours putting together a well-researched post and someone comes along and posts an uncited comment at the click of a button.

To be serious though the questions of whether leaders should blog or not is clear cut. The more difficult one is how to motivate them to do so, how we can encourage them to dip a toe in the water. The Cllr2.0 project is all about that and I might give you call to see if you’re able to help.

By: Why leaders should blog? « Cllr 2.0

Why leaders should blog? « Cllr 2.0 — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:51:57 +0000

[...] 6, 2008 Why leaders should blog? Posted by Shane McCracken under blogging | Tags: leadership blogging | Nick Booth from overat Podnosh has tried to answer the questions of “Why leaders should blog?”. He goes into some depth and backs his arguments with evidence from other sources. Paul Caplan from Internationale is slightly more blunt summarising his arguments as if they don’t “they will be sitting in their corner of the party – Billy no-mates, talking to themselves.” [...]

By: Nick Booth

Nick Booth — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:46:39 +0000

Thanks Shane – this a perfect example of the blog post which should be read comments first.

By: Shane McCracken

Shane McCracken — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:44:14 +0000

I’m too slow. It was simpler than all had been saying until “Pugnacious Paul” turned up. :wink:

By: Shane McCracken

Shane McCracken — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:42:35 +0000

I think the issue is simpler. Leaders lead by being visible and inspiring. It is a rare leader who hides away without communicating.

Take local Councillors. They lead by being in their community holding conversations, doing radio and press interviews, writing letters, attending and speaking at public meetings. It is their bread and butter.

They, and other leaders, are being left behind though. Those conversations, those public meetings are happening online too. In blogs, in forums on email groups. Leaders need to participate in those conversations too or risk becoming half a leader. It is difficult to participate fully without being there with your own blog.

Therefore leaders must blog or ignore a significant and increasingly important part of their leadership role.