Welcome to the annual update on the 50 Best/Top leaderships blogs on the web as of July 2014. This is our third year of putting this list together. As readers will see once again, this list has changed quite markedly in just a 12 months period. These significant changes result from a number of factors including:
Alexa rankings of individual blogs have changed considerably. As in previous years, this mainly arises not only because of the time invested by individual blog authors in the last year but because many more web sites and blogs have been launched (and Alexa estimates that there are now around 80 million active (as opposed to dormant) web sites in the world).
Readers a year ago (and since) alerted us to qualifying leadership blog sites we were unaware of last year and those are now included. Some of these (indicated in orange) have appeared quite high up in the list (the highest of the 6 in total at number 8).
Some leadership bloggers have done little to enhance or add to their blogging efforts and have slid backwards on the list or are out altogether in terms of site traffic. It’s a real reminder in the online world that if you stand still you can go very quickly in the wrong direction!
This year we have produced the list in a similar way, with the Alexa ranking as the main determinant of order. As we said last year, the Alexa rank (to be found at www.alexa.com) is an imperfect ranking raw score for web site popularity (as measured by traffic to each site) but it is a useful relative comparison metric. In essence it measures how popular a site is (from 1 being Google, 2, Facebook and 3, YouTube, all the way down to the 80 millionth or so active site on the web as at 1st July 2014). Whether or not a blog has gone up in the list and how far (shaded in green) or gone down in the list and how far (in red).
So what are the main highlights of the Top 50 Leadership Blogs?
A total of 6 blog authors in the 2013 list slipped below the top 50.
21 blog authors have held their place or gone up in the list.
23 blog authors have gone down in the list.
6 blog authors are new to the 2014 list (although 4 of these are re-entries from the 2012 list.
There are 43 male bloggers in the top 50 list and 7 females (males up 1 from last year). New entrant Karin Hurt at number 8 is the highest on this year’s list. However, women are clearly underrepresented, given the population, and males dominate the top 20.
Top 50 Blog authors come from 6 countries around the world (including Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and the UK but the list is dominated by US based authors (of which there are 43 in the top 50). The top 5 are all US based and so are 18 of the top 20.
US leadership bloggers come from 24 States with authors writing most from the sunshine states of California and Florida leading with 7 blogs each.
Apart from the new entrants the biggest movers up the list in the last 12 months are Chris Locurto (up by 11 places or 300,000 places in the Alexa rankings or from 17th to 6th in the list) followed by Jon Gordon (up 11 places from 20th to 9th), and Ben Lichtenwalner (up 11 places to 28th in the list).
So, let’s now look at the list. It includes the names of the individual blogger or blog owner on the left, and their primary role(s) in his or her working life. It also includes a brief summary about the focus of the blog, so that individuals can visit the ones that appear most interesting (by clicking on their name below). Happy exploring!
2014 Rank
(2013)
Blog Owner
Alexa Rank (7/1/14)
Blog Summary / Focus
1
(1)
Michael Hyatt
@MichaelHyatt
Author, consultant and speaker
TENNESSEE, US
9,776
Frequent and interesting blogger (3-4 times a week) on leadership development (intentional leadership) and related issues from this popular author and trade publishing expert.
2
(3)
Dan Rockwell
Leadership freak
@Leadershipfreak
Coach, trainer, mentor
PENNSYLVANIA, US
105,309
This blog seeks to offer broad leadership, coaching and mentoring to individuals in regular 300 words or less articles. Dan also well understands the realm of social media.
3
(4)
Wayne Dyer
@DrWayneWDyer
Author and speaker
HAWAII, US
177.387
Main focus of this blog, from the popular multi-book author is personal leadership or self-development and finding ways to better motivate yourself and others.
4
(5)
Michael McKinney
Leadership now
@LeadershipNow
Author, consultant, coach
CALIFORNIA, US
194,418
Long standing leadership development blog (leadership now) with a focus on leadership across all communities and not just business (although organizational life figures heavily).
5
(7)
Michael Rogers
@secondgleader
Consultant, coach and Author
UTAH, US
282,310
Main focus is on leadership, but also covers many other topics including meetings, time management, teamwork and coaching.
6
(17)
Chris Locurto
@ChrisLoCurto
Consultant, Coach and Speaker
CALIFORNIA, US
322,706
This blog offers a range of personal insights on leadership, managing people, and financial stewardship, posting articles 5 times a week.
7
(6)
John Hunter
Curious cat
@curiouscat_com
Consultant
MALAYSIA
364,498
This blog is about managing through process thinking and improvement. Posts focus on systems thinking (lean, total quality, six-sigma etc.).
8
New
Karin Hurt
Let’s Grow leaders
@LetsGrowLeaders
Author and Consultant
MARYLAND, US
373,769
This blog is focused on leadership growth development and skill building from an experienced author and speaker and consultant.
9
(20)
Jon Gordon
@JonGordon11
Author, speaker and consultant
FLORIDA, US
378,615
Main focus is on providing leaders with ideas for inspiring people and organizations to work with more vision, passion, positivity and purpose.
10
(9)
Dan McCarthy
Great leadership
@greatleadership
Author and Consultant
MASSACHUSETTS
408,465
This blog is focused on executive leadership development and skill building from an experienced author and academic. Better OD and HR practice thinking is also covered.
11
(8)
Bob Burg
@BobBurg
Author and speaker
FLORIDA, US
431,243
Blog’s focus is on many of the ideas contained in Bob’s books which essentially relate to building relationships, networking and giving more in order to achieve more.
12
(2)
Mike Myatt
N2Growth
@N2Growth
Consultant and coach
PENNSYLVANIA, US
475,701
This blog is aimed at senior leaders and focuses mainly on strategy, innovation, career dynamics as well as organizational development.
13
(13)
Kevin Eikenberry
@KevinEikenberry
Consultant and speaker
INDIANA, US
465,513
Main focus is ideas, thoughts and suggested action steps to help leaders-the path towards Remarkable Leadership (and a Remarkable Life) by travelling from learning to action.
14
(New)
Kevin Kruse
@Kruse
Author, Consultant, coach and speaker
PHILADELPHIA, US
523,550
Popular speaker and author focusing mainly on employee engagement, leadership, keynote speaking, entrepreneurship
15
(14)
Tanveer Nasseer
@TanveerNaseer
Coach, Author and speaker
QUEBEC, CANADA
545,450
Main focus is on helping managers to help to develop leadership and team-building competencies to guide organizational growth and development, and create a fulfilling sense of purpose in what they do.
16
(16)
Jon Warner
ReadyToManage
@joncwarner
Author, consultant and coach
CALIFORNIA, US
607,454
This blog covers many leadership/ management subjects as well as over 600 articles on soft skill development with a range of checklists and models.
17
(21)
Tom Schulte
Linked2Leadership
@tomschulte
Author and consultant
GEORGIA, US
625,250
This blog is run by one editing author and many other contributors globally with a main focus on leadership development, organizational health, and personal & professional career growth.
18
(11)
Mike Figliuolo
@thoughtLEADERS
Consultant, coach, trainer
OHIO, US
648,679
Main focus is providing practical skill-building articles mainly in the areas of leadership, strategy, career development, communications and customer service.
19
(23)
Jesse Lyn Stoner
SeaPoint Center
@JesseLynStoner
Consultant, Author and Coach
CONNECTICUT, US
685,288
Main focus is on leadership development and creating engaged workplaces. Aims to assist those who want to make a contribution, as a leader at work.
20
(19)
Steve Roesler
All things workplace
@steveroesler
Consultant / coach
NEW JERSEY, US
774,339
Main focus is on providing articles which help leaders develop by offering coaching advice to try out and additional skills and methods.
21
(10)
Art Petty
@artpetty
Coach, Trainer, Author
ILLINOIS, US
795,214
Main focus is on developing leadership skills, through building professional presence. Also focuses on critical thinking and decision-making.
22
(15)
Mark Sandborn
@Mark_Sanborn
Author, consultant, speaker
COLORADO, US
813,055
This blog focuses mainly on leadership development, personal development, better customer service, and teambuilding.
23
(25)
David Zinger
@davidzinger
Consultant
OTTAWA, CANADA
846,261
This blog has a mix of research-based and practical approaches aimed at building more authentic relationships and achieve better results.
24
(New)
Todd Nielsen
Slice of Leadership
@toddbnielsen
Author, consultant, speaker
CALIFORNIA, US
863,555
Main focus is on how leaders can attain greater productivity and to reject the status-quo though concentrating on better processes/methodologies.
25
(24)
Terry St. Marie
@Starbucker
Consultant and Coach
OREGON, US
865,261
Optimistic blog focused mainly on the power of being positive as a person and a leader, and how to have more purpose, empathy and compassion, humility and love for others.
26
(18)
Gerard O Donavan
@gerardodonovan
Consultant, Trainer and Coach
DORSET, UK
872,711
This blog offers a range of insights mainly on coaching but also on leadership and the development of management skills and competencies
27
(33)
George Ambler
@GeorgeAmbler
Consultant
SOUTH AFRICA
878,142
This site focuses on those interested in learning to lead more successfully in times of change, which requires a new set of leadership practices.
28
(39)
Ben Lichtenwalner
Modern servant leader
@BLichtenwalner
Consultant and Coach
MICHIGAN, US
968,845
This blog aims to promote the concept of servant leadership, helping leaders to increase awareness, adopt the practice and take action.
29
(35)
John Spence
@AwesomelySimple
Consultant, Author and speaker
FLORIDA, US
1,114,068
This blog has an international experience focus and concentrates on strategic thinking, teamwork, and leadership development topic areas.
30
(22)
Wally Bock
Three Star Leadership
@wallybock
Author and consultant
N. CAROLINA, US
1,146,884
Aimed at leaders at all level, this blog offers particular insights, information, tips, lists and pointers to help managers to perform at a better or higher level.
31
(38)
Steve Farber
@stevefarber
Author, speaker and Consultant
CALIFORNIA, US
1,199,037
This blog promotes the “Extreme Leadership” approach offering ideas and coaching/ communication to leaders at all levels.
32
(37)
Gordon Tredgold
Leadership Principles
@GordonTredgold
Line Mgr and Coach
UK/Germany
1,270,263
Areas of focus are Transformational Leadership, Operational Performance Improvement, Organizational Development, Program and Change Management and Creating Business Value via IT.
33
(41)
Ed Batista
@edbatista
Executive Coach and change consultant
CALIFORNIA, US
1,293,968
This site focuses mainly on leadership, coaching and change issues but covers other issues related to leadership from time to time.
34
(27)
Scott Herrick
Cube Rules
@CubeRules
Consultant
WISCONSIN, US
1,307,860
This blog offers a range of leadership and soft skill development articles but from a different perspective-it’s aimed at individuals who work in cubicles who have to manage staff as well as manage their boss.
35
(34)
Susan Mazza
Random acts of leadership
@SusanMazza
Consultant and Coach
FLORIDA, US
1,383,655
Main focus of the blog is translating leadership and OD theory into pragmatic strategies and practical applications to improve performance.
36
(26)
Michael Ray Hopkin
Lead on purpose
@michaelrhopkin
Consultant and Speaker
UTAH, US
1,387,973
This blog mainly focuses on product/service management as a key leader task but also includes ideas on persuasion and working better.
37
(New)
Andrew Bryant
Self Leadership
@SelfLeadership
Author, coach and speaker
SINGAPORE
1,447,757
Main focus is on leadership development, business communication, executive coaching and a range of ideas on self development.
38
(32)
Scott Eblin
@ScottEblin
Coach, author and speaker
CALIFORNIA, US
1,580,178
Main focus is on leadership development and coaching managers to have “the right” behaviors and mindsets to tackle future change.
39
(36)
Gary Cohen
CO2 Exhale
@garybcohen
Consultant, Coach and Speaker
MINNESOTA, US
1,538,386
Main focus is on leadership development, business communication, executive coaching and a range of ideas on improvement as a leader of any kind.
40
(28)
Dan Oestreich
@DanOestreich
Consultant, Coach and Speaker
WASHINGTON, USA
1,685,661
This blog focus on support and insight for leaders of all kinds, formal and informal and offers a wide array of articles and other resources to help increase self-knowledge.
41
(New)
Sonia McDonald
Leadership HQ
@LeadershipHQ1
Speaker and HR and OD Consultant
AUSTRALIA
1,720,429
This blog showcases a range of leadership and related articles as well as having a focus on employee empowerment and engagement
42
(44)
John Agno
@johnagno
Coach and Author
MICHIGAN, US
1,340,912
Main focus is on coaching but also seeks to help leaders to gain greater clarity and focus while expanding self-awareness as they design the personal and professional life wanted.
43
(49)
Tom Foster
Management blog
@FosterLearning
Consultant
FLORIDA, US
1,850,755
This blog focuses on the leadership of teams and whole organizations by looking at establishing better relationships at all levels.
44
(New)
Michael Lee Stallard
@michaelstallard
Consultant, coach and speaker
NEW YORK, US
1,998,756
Main focus is on leadership and management productivity and innovation plus team building, communications and executive coaching.
45
(46)
Suzanne Updegraff
Employee Devt Systems
@edsiusa
Consultant
COLORADO, US
2,027,256
This blog offers articles on better leadership, enhancing interpersonal skills, and on creating a workforce that adapts to change, and is creative and innovative
46
(30)
Mary Jo Asmus
@mjasmus
Coach and Consultant
MICHIGAN, US
2,116,460
This blog focuses on leadership development with a main emphasis on improving, and sustaining relationships with the people.
47
(12)
John Maxwell
@JohnCMaxwell
Author, Consultant, coach and speaker
FLORIDA, US
2,254,671
Very popular and best-selling author in the leadership realm whose blog focuses on the qualities and competencies needed to be a leader in many organizational settings.
48
(29)
Ellen Weber
Brain leaders & learners
@ellenfweber
Author and consultant
NEW YORK, US
2,642,782
Main focus is showcasing an academic model for a left/right side of the brain approach called MITA™ which aims to foster more innovative leading and learning.
49
(29)
Ed Brenegar
Leading Questions
@edbrenegar
Consultant and Coach
N. CAROLINA, US
2,829,689
This blog aims to assist leaders in developing transitional and visioning skills to meet organizational demands and meet new opportunities and challenges they face.
50
(48)
Frank Kanu
Genius One
@FrankKanu
Consultant, Speaker
FLORIDA, US
2,958,673
To the point blog on management and leadership strategy and matters but with lots of broader areas of focus to stretch the creative thinking process.
Many lists like the one above encompass bloggers who may talk about a lot of other subject areas well beyond leadership and related matters, and indeed may have greater experience or expertise elsewhere. This is not to say that such broadly based bloggers are not popular or interesting to know about and subscribe to – just not in a list that should be about organizational leadership and leadership development primarily. In the 50 sites above therefore you will find no mention of people such as Anthony Robbins (personal development), Guy Kawasaki (entrepreneurship) or Malcolm Gladwell (thinking/creativity) but only writers whose main focus is improved leadership or management skills in some way, shape or form. Another excluded group is the many excellent bloggers that write about leadership issues from a faith-based standpoint (such as Ron Edmonson’s blog which would have come in at number 3 on the list if included). We take the view that these belong in a separate list and it would therefore be useful to publish this at some point.
The 50 blogs listed above are all “very good” and in that sense there is no sense in which one is relatively “better” than another (as this is so often about the focus of the writer and the relative interests of the reader). Michael Hyatt is top of the list (for the second year running) because he has the 9,776st most visited site on the web right now according to Alexa rankings (in the top 0.02%). In fact even our 50th blog site (Frank Kanu) has the 2,958,673th most visited site. (Last year’s number 50 by the way had an Alexa rank of 3,473,098 which would not have made the top 50 of course this year). This put our 50th top leadership blog in the top 7% of sites in the entire world. And by the way, this does not mean that blogger popularity or status or even overall money earned follows this order at all. This is a function of who the person is (in career status terms), what they do, how long they have been blogging and even how social media “savvy” they may be, to name but a few factors.
For those people wondering who was close to making the top 50 but not quite, the next 5 blogs are Bea Fields (from the US-3,024,809), Erika Anderson (also from the US-3,092,767), Gwyn Teatro (from Canada- 3,367,778), John Baldoni (from the US- 3,372,487) and Lisa Hanneberg (also from the US- 3,766,235).
Please note that the above list was compiled by Dr. Jon Warner, himself a long-term blogger in the leadership realm, (and holding his number 16 on the above list). Any mistakes, errors or omissions are entirely his and should anyone have any suggested changes or input for inclusion in future blog postings such as this please contact him at Jon@OD-center.org
Related Resources
Managing in Context Workshop Kit
Managing in Context Workshop Kit Advanced
Leadership styles booklet
Leadership PowerPoint