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Independent business blogs are blogs that aren't supported by an organization like a magazine, newspaper, company, or business school. Those people provide lots of great content, but they don't need any additional exposure. In this post, every week, I bring you posts of quality from excellent bloggers that don't get as much publicity.

This week, I'm pointing you to posts on leadership battles you fight within yourself, execution, infectious workplace diseases, helping confidence grow, and casual conversation in the workplace.

From Terry Starbucker: 10 Leadership Battles – And How to Win Every One of Them
"In our quest to become great leaders we take on a constant stream of internal battles.   Each and every day we choose our sides and try to do the right things, with the objective of achieving something great. There are 10 confrontations in particular that can make or break us, and we need to consistently be on the winning side of every one of them to reach the pinnacle of success."

Wally's Comment: This is one of those rare blog posts where an experienced manager condenses a career's-worth of learning into a confined space. Good reading for new managers and experienced hands, too.

From Be Excellent: The Secrets to Successful Strategy Execution
"'A brilliant strategy, blockbuster product, or breakthrough technology can put you on the competitive map, but only solid execution can keep you there.' So begins the Harvard Business review article "The Secrets to Successful Strategy Execution," written by executives from management consulting firm, Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc"

Wally's Comment: I normally don't choose posts that summarize other material, but Skip Reardon has given you the condensed version of a Harvard Business Review article on execution that covers the key points superbly. This may be all you need right now, or you can follow links to more.

From the Effective CIO: Infectious Diseases
"People tend to mirror those around them.  If the workplace is a sad, depressing, miserable place, everyone in it will be sad, miserable, and depressed.  Happy, upbeat, pleasant places create happy, upbeat, pleasant people.  The prevalent mood spreads quickly, one way or the other."

Wally's Comment: Chuck Musciano reminds us that attitudes of all kinds are catching.

From Management Excellence: Bringing Confidence Back
"Confidence is a powerful force in the workplace for individuals and for teams. It’s that extra-added something that allows us to look at the world through eyes that see opportunities to pursue, challenges that exist to be met and new heights within easy reach."

Wally's Comment: Art Petty lays out seven things you can do to help confidence grow on your team.

From You're not the Boss of Me: Casual Conversation in the Workplace…Something to Talk About
"What’s your take on casual conversation in the workplace?  Do you encourage it?  Do you participate in it? Or, do you choose not to involve yourself in idle talk?

Wally's Comment: There are managers who believe that casual conversations are a waste of time and should only happen on scheduled breaks. There are "productivity" studies that seem to support that view. But if you've got human beings on your team, casual conversation will be there, too. And, as Gwyn Teatro reminds us, that's a good thing.

Wally's Working Supervisor's Support Kit is a collection of information and tools to help working supervisors do a better job. It's based on what Wally's learned in over twenty years of supervisory skills training. Click here to check it out.