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 by Suzi McAlpine, Ken Downer, Steve Keating, Scott Eblin, and Frank Sonnenberg.

From Suzi McAlpine: Words matter. But behaviour matters more.

“So, once you’ve figured out what behaviours you need to change – and this is the hard, but fundamental part – do them. Practice better, observable, and specific behaviours that will show others that you are changing for the better. Consistently, regularly, over time – all the while getting feedback. That may sound difficult (and I won’t pretend that it’s not!), so here are three ideas for how you can more effectively show them, not just tell them:”

From Ken Downer: Lines for Leaders: Corporate Treadmill

“The leader helps them feel that they are not peons on treadmills, but athletes in training, capable of great things. Feelings matter. Often, the most effective way to help them feel important is not about talking at all, but listening.”

From Steve Keating: Why Would Your People Leave?

“But the big reason I do not like exit interviews is because they fall into the ‘too little too late’ category. Finding out why someone left after they have made the decision to leave is far less effective in building a strong work force than finding out how you can keep them from leaving in the first place.”

From Scott Eblin: How to Have a Great Personal Planning Retreat

“People often ask us what we do on our retreat and how we do it. Here are the components that we’ve learned are important to have in our mix:”

From Frank Sonnenberg: If You Believe You Can’t, You Won’t

“What describes your way of thinking? Are you more likely to say, ‘Why them and not me?’ or ‘If they can do it, so can I?’ Your answer to that question will either motivate you to reach new heights or discourage you from even trying. If you believe you can’t, you won’t.”

How I Select Posts for this Midweek Review

The five posts I select to share in my Midweek Review of the Independent Business Blogs are picked from a regular review of about sixty blogs I check daily and an additional twenty-five or so that I check occasionally. Here’s how I select the posts you see in this review.

They must be published within the previous week.

They must support the purpose of the blog: to help leaders at all levels do a better job and lead a better life.

They must be from an independent business blog.

As a general rule, I only select posts that stand on their own, no selections from a series.

Also as a general rule, I do not select posts that are either a book review or a book report.

I reserve the right to make exceptions to the above.

Here, on Three Star Leadership, I post things that will help a boss at any level do a better job and live a better life. And, at my blog for part-time business book authors, I share tools and insights to help you write and publish a book you’ll be proud of.

The 347 tips in my ebook can help you Become a Better Boss One Tip at a Time.

Just promoted from individual contributor? Check out my ebook, Now You’re the Boss: Making the Most of the Most Important Transition in Business.