Why blogging can benefit you as a manager

No single thing in the last 15 years professionally as been more important to my life than blogging - Tom Peters

This was taken from a video featuring Tom Peters and Seth Godin.  I'll embed it at the end of this blog if you want to watch, but for now I'd like to hand over to CMI Ambassador Colin Millar.  Colin has recently dipped his toe into the blogosphere and is now a fully fledged convert.  Here is what Colin has to say.

Blogging by Colin Millar

"I’ve often looked in on others blogs and posts, admiring the ability of people to write articles of such interest that they attracted the admiration of their peers. 

Despite having held a few senior positions (Head of Criminal Records Bureau and now Head of Operations for a national charity) what could I possibly have to share that would be of interest to others?

After all, the internet’s such a huge stage. An audience of millions will peer in on every word, scrutinise and criticise; I’m just not ready for that.

Then CMI created CMi Share, a competition for Ambassadors, to share their blogs with syndicated sites. Win-win - exposure for CMI and the wealth and depth of talent its membership ranks house and for the Ambassadors sharing the prose.
Now I’m seriously tempted but still….. I’m unprepared and inexperienced.

I started ‘blogging’ for personal use (I borrow the phrase ‘personal use’ from some of the clients in my previous occupation). I can write in the comfort of knowing that no-one else will see it. I can take my time and stick to what I know, play safe.
Then I came to realise that I’ve actually been sharing experiences and opinions, learning and coaching online for some time – all through the CMI’s online groups! It’s not as scary as it seems, in fact I’ve “met” quite a few cool; interesting and genuinely inspiring people just from going online and being myself.

The worst that could happen is someone disagrees with my viewpoint; suggests that I’m wrong and inadvertently chips my fragile varnish of self-confidence. I’ll live, I’ll learn and I’ll grow as a result of it.

Blog’s off and it’s taken up by one of the syndicates. Now it’s on twitter and it’s being shared amongst other leaders and managers. It’s getting positive feedback! People actually thought it was interesting.

Another blog, another syndicate takes it up.

I now blog fairly regularly (time permitting) and am a featured guest blogger on a few sites but the best part about this awesome new world is, without doubt, the people you “meet” – a former Special Agent with the FBI; an American whose trademarked the term “Leadager” (a term I inadvertently used in by Hybrid Theory blog); people from just up the road to the other side of the world.

Giving and sharing views, thoughts, ideas, feedback, encouragement; learning and helping others learn; growing and helping others grow; giving and receiving recognition from my peers and creating an online legacy that will hopefully chart the rise and rise of the “professionalization” of management and leadership for the generations to come.

You, like me, are already doing this every day when you walk through the office door and assume your management or leadership role. My advice to you – business needs people like you to share – share today and your world will get just that little bit bigger."

How you can blog

It's fair to say I think that Colin is now a fully fledged convert on the merits of blogging, and it's delivered some real wins for him.  As he mentioned, he now writes regularly for Linked2Leadership, one of the leading blogs in this area on the web.  He will also be making his speaking debut this month at a breakfast event in Glasgow.

In our era of personal branding, the opportunity to put your thoughts, knowledge and expertise on display is a potent one.  The ability to gain feedback from a global audience, to literally network for ideas with professionals from all walks of life is intellectually priceless.  If you don't believe me, here's Tom Peters saying just that, and it seldom gets bigger than Tom Peters.  If you'd like to get started with blogging, there's a link underneath the video to get you started.

Get started with blogging at CMI today.