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The 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.

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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 an example of a good boss, repetition, looking for help, sharing experience, and a first aid kit for managers.

From Work Matters: Chile's President to Luis Urzua: "You acted like a good boss"
"I had written a post in early September called "Luis Urzua and the Trapped Miners: A Good Boss, Performance, and Humanity," which considered the reasons that he appeared to be such a competent and compassionate leader.  That post emphasized how he was a good boss because he understood how to be "perfectly assertive, had grit, used the power of small wins, understood how to stay "in tune" with the emotional needs of his people, and he "had their backs."   As the stories have been emerging about what Urzua did in those scary early days, another theme emerges, a set of lessons, that are also worth mentioning.  As I write in Good Boss, Bad Boss and also in my HBR article on being a good boss in a bad economy, when people are facing stress, fear, and uncertainty of any kind, the "recipe" that good leaders follow reflects four main ingredients."

Wally's Comment: There are dozens of posts about the Chilean miners' ordeal and what we can learn from it. I chose this post because it's about practical things you can do as a boss when there's a crisis. It's typical helpful, insightful Bob Sutton.

From Terry Starbucker: Play It Again, Sam: The Science of Repeating Things Repeatedly
"'You sound like a broken record' Music to my ears. Why am I so happy to hear this? That means they heard me say it once before.  Or even twice before.  Or maybe, 14 times before."

Wally's Comment: Terry Starbucker has been a boss. He knows that you have repeat important things over and over and over and over, way beyond the point where you're sick of them. When you read his post, you'll know why. You may even want to read it more than once.

From Mary Jo Asmus: Who Can Help?
"One of my clients, a mid-level leader in a large organization, is working hard to get better at leadership by setting some stretch goals. It’s hard work. He has also asked a senior executive to be a mentor to him. He’s establishing a regular rhythm for getting feedback from his direct reports. He’s created a small mutual support group of peers within his organization who will meet on a regular basis. And of course, he has an executive coach to support him."

Wally's Comment: To quote the character Povel Wallender: "You can't do it alone. Nobody can." Here's that powerful insight, fleshed out and well-phrased.

From Management Excellence: Senior Leaders, It’s Time to Share Your Lessons Learned
"Have You Shared Your Expertise Today? I’ve had the great privilege this past year to work with a Fortune 50 company that is methodically conquering the retail world.  Specifically, I’m working with a group of high-potential mid-level professionals all focused on increasing their contributions and growing their careers."

Wally's Comment: In some ways, Art Petty's post is the flip side of Mary Jo's. Knowledge comes embedded in people. And senior people develop knowledge about their industry and business and life that they rarely share. Often that's because they think it's not special or that no one wants to know. If you're a senior leader share what you know. If you work for/with a senior leader, ask them to share.

From Great Leadership: A First Aid Kit for Managers
"What would you stuff into a small backpack that would equip a manager to handle just about any management issue? Below is my list, in no order of priority. "

Wally's Comment: OK, now for an excellent, practical example of knowledge sharing. It's right here in this post.

That's it for this week's selections from independent business blogs. If you liked this piece you may enjoy my regular post on "Leadership Reading to Start Your Week" which features five choice articles from the business schools, the business press and major consulting firms. The last issue had pointers to articles about anger management online, astronauts as role models for a CEO, changing the way we lead, better forecasting, and Alvin Toffler's look ahead.  

Here, on Three Star Leadership, I post things that will help a boss at any level do better and live a better life. At Results vs Activities, I join other bloggers with posts on talent development. My blog at the Toolbox for HR is People and the Changing Workplace.

Find out more about my latest book, Ruthless Focus: How to use key core strategies to grow your business or just jump right over to Amazon and buy a few copies.

If you're a boss, you should check out my Working Supervisor's Support Kit.

And be sure to stop by at Weekly Leader where I'll try to get you thinking about The Question of the Week.

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.