Leadership Guru’s to Follow (on Twitter) in 2010

I don’t smoke, drink or do drugs. But I am an addict: Twitter and Leadership Guru’s (and the wisdom they dispense). It occurred to me I could combine my addictions and scratch my leadership wisdom itch while I keep track of friends. Not so easy, it turns out.

Only a few Leadership Guru’s are leading the way on twitter. Many that are on the twitter bandwagon dispense endless waffle about their incredibly exciting, important lives – “going somewhere important tweet tweet… at the airport tweet tweet… met another important person tweet tweet… ate sushi tweet tweet…” Yawn – I want wisdom, not drivel! I want to be inspired, not see blurry photo’s of another dimly-lit audience! I want to learn!

Here is my list of the leadership guru’s that make their 140 characters count: practical, useful and inspirational, with a reasonably good balance of wisdom and self promotion. I’ll keep searching and updating this blog post.

Follow @newrulesofwork on Twitter (click here) and I’ll let you know when more are added.

• Original 7 leadership guru’s to follow: @StephenRCovey @RickM @SirKenRobinson @kenblanchard @tom_peters @_robin_sharma @mikemyatt
• [UPDATE] 5.1.10 added @johncmaxwell @johnbaldoni and @orrin_woodward
• [UPDATE] 23.1.10 added @briantracy @tonyrobbins and @mark_sanborn
• [UPDATE] 20.2.10 added @RosabethKanter @alevit and @gretchenrubin
• [UPDATE] 22.4.10 added @lollydaskal @billgates and @mwbuckingham

If you can suggest others, please comment…

Leadership Guru’s that make 140 char count:

1. @StephenRCovey

You probably don’t need me to tell you this… Stephen Covey (the elder) is the author of the incredibly successful ’7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. He’s also written a pile of other books and is the leadership half of FranklinCovey. Tend to get only a few tweets from Stephen each week. Almost completely focused on leadership and the Covey approach.

What to expect:

• There are three constants in life… change, choice and principles.
• Pay the price on a daily basis to learn. Leep learning. Keep reading. Get educated. Be accountable.
• 5 reasons to teach: to learn better, to motivate you to live it, to increase your ability to listen, to legitimatize change and to bond.

2. @RickM

Rick Myers is the CEO of TalentZoo, the #1 site for Ad, Marketing & Media Professionals. You get a mixed bag from Rick, but when he tweets about leadership and managers, he’s right on the money. Usually a couple of tweets a day.

What to expect:

• Always struck by how many managers are complaining about an unmotivated staff. Too many managers ducking responsibility.
• Losing talent is like a swift kick in the groin. Fight to keep your best people.
• Too many people underestimate the power of time off. Time away from the office is good for the soul.

3. @SirKenRobinson

If you haven’t seen Sir Ken Robinson’s inspirational TED speech, you really should. In it, Sir Ken makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity. All leaders and managers have a lot to learn from the mistakes and opportunities of our education systems. Ken mostly shares other links and ideas in his tweets, which are infrequent.

What to expect:

• Take a look at Conscious Capitalism.I moderated last year, couldn’t this year. Very interesting initiative.http://vimeo.com/7334395
• Ruminating on 3 wonderful days at Vancouver Peace Summit with the Dalai Lama http://bit.ly/1r5awX
• Being born a human being is a rare event in itself and it is wise to use this opportunity as beneficially as possible Dalai Lama

4. @kenblanchard

Ken Blanchard invented the leadership fable genre when he co-authored the classic: “The One Minute Manager”. His educational and entertaining seminars, book series and dedication to leading at a higher level are legionary. A few tweets each day. Mostly leadership and life wisdom, links and blog posts.

What to expect:

• Don’t hang around people that are miserable all the time… Life is a very special occasion, worrying will make you miss it.
• Leadership Development: New Study Shows Future Skill Gaps:http://wp.me/pq1jR-96
• Have a clear vision and direction, invert the leadership pyramid, and start becoming a Servant Leader… lead at a higher level!

5. @tom_peters

Tom Peters is an author and speaker with a lot to say about leadership, design and EXECUTION. Author of “In Search of Excellence” and many other interesting and engaging books. Tweets with passion… 6 in one day, then nothing for a week…

What to expect:

• I hate the term “behavioural economics.” Call it what it is: “Psychology”!
• Oh my god. Seth and I disagree. BIG TIME. On a marketing hierarchy list, he puts strategy 1st, execution last. My take: 100.00% backwards!
• ‘Tis a time of “matchless opportunity”–not to “nab customers from ailing competitors,” but to behave with decency and grace toward all.

6. @_robin_sharma

Robin Sharma is the author of “The Greatness Guide” and “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”. Usually 3 or 4 tweets per day. Mostly focused on educating about leadership.

What to expect:

• Leadership distilled down to 3 words: Make a difference.
• In these time of deep change, EVERY employee needs to see themselves as part of the leadership team!
• The difficult conversations you are resisting are the ones you need to be having.

7. @mikemyatt

Mike Myatt is a top CEO Coach and author of “Leadership Matters… The CEO Survival Manual.” Mike is a frequent tweeter, with many tweets each day. Very focused on leadership.

What to expect:

• Multitasking is tantamount to executive suicide as it leads to a lack of focus and initiative overload.
• Listen well, learn well, serve well and you will lead well.
• Reclusive leadership is non-existent leadership. You can not lead, challenge, motivate, or inspire while in stealth mode.

8. @johncmaxwell

John C. Maxwell is a bestselling author and speaker on leadership (Dr. Maxwell has sold more than 18 million books). Three of his books that have sold more than a million copies: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. Tweets are focused on leadership (mostly quotes from others) and life in general, some personal and links to new blog posts.

What to expect:

• Wisdom is knowing what to do next; Skill is knowing how to do it, and Virtue is doing it. -David Starr Jordan
• How far will I go to illustrate a favorite concept? New blog post: http://is.gd/5fuPE
• Discover your uniqueness, then discipline yourself to develop it. – Jim Sundberg, pro baseball player

9. @johnbaldoni

John Baldoni is an internationally acclaimed leadership author and speaker, Harvard Business Publishing columnist, and executive coach. Tweets are focused on leadership (mostly links to his column and blog posts).

What to expect:

• What can “Humpty Dumpty” teach us about recovering from mistakes? Read my Harvard Biz column athttp://bit.ly/6gKmWP
• Should leaders take direction from others? Check out “On Leadership” in the Washington Post.http://tinyurl.com/y9v4vrd
• You are invited to watch my new video, Lead Your Boss, the subject of my new book. http://tinyurl.com/yfz2oj5

10. @orrin_woodward

Orrin Woodward co-authored the NYTimes/WSJ Best Seller Launching a Leadership Revolution. Mr. Woodward speaks on leadership and personal growth across the globe. Orrin tweets frequently throughout the day and is mostly focused on leadership qualities.

What to expect:

• Too often we view learning as a period of life, instead of a way of life.
• Character is magnitudes more important than reputation. Reputation is based upon others opinions, character is based upon your facts.
• Have we ever thought that low self esteem is earned by low performance & that only through changed actions will esteem improve?

11. @briantracy

Brian Tracy has consulted for more than 1,000 companies and addressed more than 4,000,000 people in 4,000 talks and seminars throughout the world. He is the top selling author of over 45 books. Brian tweets frequently (mostly via his Facebook status) with a mix of quotes, links to posts and some marketing.

What to expect:

• The truth is that the future belongs to the competent.
• Here is my latest blog post “A Balanced Life-Part 1″ http://bit.ly/7rtM07
• Please take a look at the details for my upcoming teleseminar “Flight Plan.” This is going to be the best http://bit.ly/7ZzmjN

12. @tonyrobbins

Tony Robbins has directly impacted the lives of more than 50 million people from 80 nations with his work in the field of leadership psychology and peak performance. Tony also founded the International Basket Brigade, providing baskets of food and household items for an estimated 2 million people annually in countries all over the world. Tony tweets inspirational quotes and blog/video posts, usually a few tweets each day.

What to expect:

• Check out my free new video on how to make your new year/goals/dreams a reality http://bit.ly/8gkVgZ
• “I find your lack of faith disturbing.”—Darth Vader, Star Wars
• It’s a new year & a new decade. Remember Hesitation kills so many dreams. Take action today & create a new momentum for your life. best2U!

12. @mark_sanborn

Mark Sanborn is an international bestselling author and noted authority on leadership, team building, customer service and change. Mark’s book The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Make the Ordinary Extraordinary is an international bestseller. Mark tweets regularily on leadership and life topics, including quotes, blog post and RT’s.

What to expect:

• Thinking, considering, contemplating, discussing or deciding–none require the courage of doing.
• There is a small difference of effort between “good” and “excellent” but it makes a big difference to others.
• Free audio 10 Things You Can Do to Have an Extraordinary Year & Life http://www.marksanborn.com/series/10-things.php

13. @RosabethKanter

Rosabeth Kanter is a Harvard Businss School Professor and author of SuperCorp, a look at how a new generation of values-driven businesses do well by doing good. Rosabeth usually tweets 3 -5 a day on business and leadership related topics, including quotes, blog posts (her own at hbr.org and others).

What to expect:

• How & Why to Simplify! Build #simplification into biz strategy; people want it. http://bit.ly/d3Jvuh
• Values, Purpose, Meanings, and Expectations: Why Culture and Context Matter http://bit.ly/aqgG44
• “If you’re going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance.” – quote for change masters. (Origin uncertain)

14. @alevit

Alexandra Levit is a business/workplace author and speaker with four published books (including New Job, New You) and a WSJ column. Alexandra’s goal is to “help people find meaningful jobs – quickly and simply – and to succeed beyond measure once they get there”. Usually tweets 3 -5 a day on career and work related topics (also communicates with other followers frequently).

What to expect:

• Are we educating for the right jobs? http://tinyurl.com/yh6hzy9
• Lots of fun on @animal‘s show this morning chatting about career change, Millennials, and a “higher power”
• Discover truth about what motivates us (it’s not what you think) on call w/ the AMAZING @DanielPink: http://bit.ly/50WvAb

15. @gretchenrubin

Gretchen Rubin is the author of the book The Happiness Project – a memoir of the year she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, the current scientific studies, and the lessons from popular culture about how to be happy. Gretchen usually tweets 3 -5 a day on career and work related topics (also communicates with other followers frequently).

What to expect:

• Take Time for Projects and Keep a New Family Tradition.: I’m working on my Happiness Project, and you could have o…http://bit.ly/cg1GRs
• Interesting: “What makes cities happy?” http://bit.ly/cMGxVx
• For Americans, unhappiness most likely to hit women around age 40; men around age 50  http://bit.ly/apIZmh

16. @lollydaskal

Lolly Daskal has spent over a decade providing business and coaching services to people from all walks of life. Lolly is also a speaker and  offers workshops focusing on personal and professional empowerment.  She is the author of hundreds of articles and columns and her first book is slated for a 2010 release. Tweets frequently and daily.

What to expect:

• in times of difficulty, slow yourself down, focus on the blessings hidden within your circumstances.http://bit.ly/2K1u87
• Lead from within: Your life is made up of small moments which have a large impact. http://bit.ly/2K1u87
• do you want to be safe and good or do you want to take a chance and be great?

17. @billgates

Bill Gates the philanthropist  and global thinker. Tweets are not specifically about leadership but touch on topics that go to the heart of leadership (or relate to a wider context of global leadership). Bill uses Twitter thoughtfully – shares links to talks, thought provoking articles and his The Gates Notes blog on a regular basis.

What to expect:

• Great talk w/MIT students, very thoughtful. Live webcast from @Harvard next. ustream - http://bit.ly/dhBwrH and on Harvard homepage.
• TED just posted Michael Specter’s (The New Yorker) talk -http://bit.ly/btCaTA – was very interesting, got people talking. Your thoughts?
• A great WSJ article on the benefits of increasing the school week – http://bit.ly/d06oAW – we should resist reduction as much as possible

18. @mwbuckingham

Marcus Buckingham was a senior researcher at Gallup Organization, where he studied the world’s best managers and organizations. Best-selling books include: First, Break All the Rules, Now, Discover Your Strengths and Go Put Your Strengths to Work. Marcus tweets daily on leadership, strength and personal updates.

What to expect:

• Just thinking: which would you rather put to the test–your nerves, your relationships, or your beliefs? Me? My beliefs.
• Time to plan Q2. I loathe projecting, but love visioning. Am still trying to sort the difference. Which one most invigorates u?
• http://nyti.ms/as2jA6 @ their best leaders show us a better future. @ their worst they pick on each other, & cry foul. I expected better

@newrulesofwork

Jason Moore consults on culture and leadership effectiveness and regularly facilitators leadership workshops. He is also an entrepreneur, author and coach. Jason partners with organisations to help them produce exceptional growth through extraordinary performance and blogs his thoughts on making work a better place to work.

What to expect:

• Instead of using misunderstood financial rewards that can be gamed try talking to people about the company, its strategy, & its priorities.
• Coaching is 1. playful activity 2. Positive reinforcement 3. expecting people will make progress 4. Setting and meeting high standards.
• Most of us share a common secret: We are afraid that we do not measure up and it is only a matter of time until we are exposed.

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