Not another buzzword term in the coaching, leadership, and consulting space? The business world is saturated with catchy titles that fall way below the hype. Before we deep dive into another rationale for its use, let’s consider one definition of Thought Leadership:
Thought leaders are the informed opinion leaders and the go-to people in their field of expertise. They become the trusted sources who move and inspire people with innovative ideas; turn ideas into reality, and know and show how to replicate their success. Over time, they create a dedicated group of friends, fans and followers to help them replicate and scale their ideas into sustainable change not just in one company but in an industry, niche or across an entire ecosystem.
~~ Denise Brosseau, author of READY TO BE A THOUGHT LEADER? the how-to guide to becoming a go-to expert
Forbes stated it was the most annoying, and overused term in 2014. However, it has made a bit of a renaissance over the past 5 years. The rush to get online and utilize platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and now social audio app Clubhouse has acted as a springboard for its return. However, do not fall into the trap of labeling yourself as one. Let others do that for you, based on your delivery, insights, and knowledge.
So, you want to be recognized as a Thought Leader? Here are 8 tips to get you started.
1. Love your topic.
How can you even begin to make strides towards Thought Leadership without doing what you love? The learning journey never stops. Remember people are taking your lead based on your experience, expertise, skills, and foresight. You can’t learn that in a weekend retreat. The only way you will stand out in the space is through case studies, social proof, previous wins, client reviews, and testimonials.
Organizations can spot a Walter Mitty at 500 paces. You need to walk the walk. How can you do that with no real knowledge of a topic except that which you have downloaded from a google search? You are already sitting on a mountain of value if working within an industry for some time. I call these lived experiences.
There won’t be much information in that space you are not aware of. How do you communicate that for others’ benefit, while monetizing it for yours? I’m not a Thought Leader but have considerable experience in certain sectors. What I do know is this: show up, be consistent, add value, and always be someone others seek out for advice and guidance.
2. Let’s get real.
I cannot stress this enough. People buy from people. Do you consider yourself authentic? Someone who cuts through the bullshit even your own? Don’t get mixed up with personas. You can be different online/offline depending on your client. Should you? That’s your decision. Guard with caution if switching identities. That’s exactly what you will be doing. You need to be self-aware of why people would want to work with you at the outset.
What message are you promoting? Are you credible, a reliable source, and well versed in that market space? These are all core questions you need to answer. Not questions for a post-it note with the words; come back to later scrawled across it.
You need to be insightful, creative and have a point of view that can be challenged. That’s how you learn. You need to put your opinions out there. Learn to recognize and embrace you are not always correct. Humility and understanding are core skills of Thought Leadership.
3. Are you experienced?
Do you have authority in the space? This can be based on academic, professional, and personal experiences specific to the sector you wish to be known within. I’m going to use my own experiences in the criminal justice sector to reinforce this tip. When I speak with those who have been formerly incarcerated (ex-offenders) they find it easier to share their stories. It works in the same manner in alcoholic/gambler addiction services. You need to have total ownership/accountability of your actions.
To build authority you need to influence, persuade and communicate why others should listen to you. Do you believe writing down your thoughts on paper and not pushing them into the world will yield benefits? Manifesting and universal vibrations won’t work. How do others become aware of your value? Take Action. It’s that simple.
4. Publish and write.
I started my writing journey in May 2020. There was a global pandemic gnawing at everyone’s mental state. Why did I believe that my thoughts, experiences, and opinions about the world would matter? How would I get heard? I can tell you one concrete fact right now. Publish for others to read, and find out. Embracing critique is all part of learning. How many others can connect, relate and find motivation in your experiences?
Start sharing your work, and discover the answer. Sure, you might have a bit of self-doubt and fear. That’s natural. However, think about how you would feel if you had a burning desire to share your experiences but didn’t take the lead and do so? Writing helps to build authority. Why? People will either align with your views and opinions or challenge them. Either way, there is a real opportunity in each.
People are unhappy in large part because they are confused about what is valuable.
~~ William Irvine
5. Identify others who can help.
Learn from those who have gone before you, or those working in the existing space. In today’s society, we can get so paranoid about people stealing our ideas. How will anyone know what your ideas contain if you don’t share them? There are hundreds of ideas we can think about weekly. But that’s it. They will stay as ideas unless we act or talk with people about them.
One of my biggest gripes is when I hear people saying, “I had that idea first, they just made a success from.” There is a simple reason for that. They got off the rear end and acted. We hear terms such as mastermind groups, collective conscious, purpose-driven collectives. They all possess the same ethos. A group of people who can bounce ideas, share knowledge and assist each other. Are you part of one?
6. Time to get social.
Our world is dominated by social media. Sad but true. There are millions of people sharing, posting, tagging, and influencing daily. How do you stand out in this space? At the outset, you need to get super focused and succinct. Pick a couple of platforms and start to push out content. You need to resonate with people.
Each platform is built with its unique algorithm. Become religious in selecting those that can assist you. You will find it impossible to be on all platforms. And if you are pursuing this avenue, you will waste months of your time.
The large companies have teams that sit daily and churn out content. You will not have this luxury as a thought leader. Chances are you will be a solopreneur with a real skill set that people want to buy. You need to refine this for your advantage. Everything starts with why. What is your story? Does it engage and amplify with others? Time to get real with your message.
7. Start appearing on screen.
There is a myriad of ways (not expensive) you can start to build a reputation in your space. How about I start with the most simplistic. The smartphone. Put it on video mode, and press record. Give the viewer a message of intrigue, excitement, or useful information. I post every morning on Instagram stories (15 seconds) of just me.
Once you start building credibility you will be asked to appear on podcasts, YouTube, Instagram live, or any other platform that an audience can connect with you. Building trust is crucial. If people can see and hear your empathy and understanding, respect will develop. I realize public speaking can be daunting for some people.
However, what’s the alternative? How will you get your message out? Practice in front of the camera phone every day, until you become more confident. Remember people like seeing the flaws also. It’s what makes you real and unique.
8. Network at every opportunity.
How many times have you been introduced to a service, product, or person through someone else? Why would people refer them to you? Simple. They deliver results. If you want to get recognized you need to add value to people. The only way you can do that is to talk to as many as possible. Always. Every time. Show up, and be the person people can build an affinity with. Make your voice matter. Granted, this takes a lot of effort. Do you want to become a thought leader, or not?
The title is not bestowed upon you. Take a kneel sir. No. You’ve got to earn the stripes. Get connected with every conference, event, and webinar specific to your area of expertise. Be visible, engaging, and informative with your views. Do this persistently with passion and perseverance and doors will start to open.
Time to travel back to the beginning. Is Thought Leadership just another buzzword for a consultant, coach, or experienced leader? Why don’t you put these 8 tips to use and find out?
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