Contrary to what you might think, writing an interesting blog is hard work, and, as with any work, it’s really difficult to do if you’re not fully engaged and feeling passionate—which I was when I took over Leadership Turn three weeks ago.

But it’s hard to stay that engaged when you start getting the feeling that too much of your subject is just being recycled, in slightly different guise, all around the Net. There are scores of great blogs available that describe what/who is a leader, traits of leadership, how to build leadership skills, etc.

In the time that I’ve been writing Leadership Turn, I found that the posts that created the best dialog have been the ones that were a bit off the beaten path, such as Leaders are recognized by their results and Are ethical values set or fluid? They were also the most interesting and fun to write and the interaction with my readers was the frosting on the cake.

Based on this admittedly small sampling, I want to take Leadership Turn in a new direction. I’m still feeling my way, so I decided to lay out my thoughts and ideas and ask you, my readers, to weigh in with yours, since, in the end, I want Leadership Turn to be a place for you to mull new ideas and voice your opinions on their worth; a place that, hopefully, engenders debate and stirs your passions.

Here are some topical ideas I have

• What makes a great follower? Is there value and power in following?
• What constitutes leadership in a team environment? Is it worth doing with no specific reward?
• Does everybody need to aspire to leading? Are you worth less if in your heart of hearts you don’t want/like to lead?
• Are good managers always leaders? Do they need to be?
• Are leaders good managers?
• Is initiative the same as leadership.
• What’s the difference between leaders and leadership.
• Great managers make decisions first for the sake of the company, second for the sake of their group and third for the sake of themselves, are you willing to do that?
• How do you stay true to yourself and still succeed in today’s business world?
• Corporate culture is defined by the standard nouns of ethics, but the definitions change. How do you identify a culture that is, at the least, synergistic with your own definitions?

I want to add more guest posters from all levels of the operating world, as opposed to academia, consulting and coaching.

I believe that every topic is like a jewel with many facets and that it would be fun to explore some of the more unusual facets together.

What I really want is reader input on whether you like this new direction or you see a better one. What other topics, from mundane to outré, would you like to explore?

I’d prefer passionate debate and outright argument to the tacit agreement of silence.

It’s your choice.

Like all of you, I dearly love compliments, and I received a great one this week. After just 17 months writing MAPpingCompanySuccess I was invited to write Leadership Turn for b5media. Too cool!

All coaches/consultants/mentors bring their own philosophy/approach/spin to a subject and I’m no different. My focus has always been on what I call MAP (mindset, attitude, philosophy)™, because we are what we think.

I believe that how you think sets the stage for what you do. In other words, if the thought and the action aren’t in sync then you lose authenticity—and you can’t be a successful leader if you’re not perceived as authentic.

The best example I’ve seen of this was a district sales manager we’ll call “Jim.” Jim’s office was known for its individualistic salespeople and somewhat erratic production. It never won high office sales awards in spite of having several of the company’s top producers, while “Brad’s” office won top honors year after year without individual stars.

On one hand, Jim craved an office like Brad’s, but on the other, he belittled the “rah-rah” tactics that Brad believed in and used to motivate his team.

Jim tended to hire people like himself (a common managerial tendency)—gregarious loners who also didn’t respond to team tactics and motivation. When Jim paid for a professional, day long, team-building program it fell flat. His people thought it was corny and knew that Jim didn’t believe in it either; beyond that, Jim didn’t change his own leadership style of benign neglect.

Simply stated, Jim had no interest in changing his MAP, so there was no authenticity in his actions.

People aren’t stupid! Assuming they are and proceeding accordingly is a recipe for disaster, whatever size group you’re leading.

The greatest insight on leadership and my all time favorite description dates to somewhere around the fourth or fifth century BC and doesn’t drip ego.

As for the best leaders,
the people do not notice their existence.
The next best,
the people honor and praise.
The next, the people fear;
and the next, the people hate…
When the best leader’s work is done,
the people say, “We did it ourselves!”
To lead the people, walk behind them.
Lao Tzu

I’m looking forward to presenting ideas and information on leadership, but I especially look forward to your thoughts and comments. They’re what will make this a more valuable resource for all of us, since one person never knows it all.