What do you do if your professional network in Thought Leadership needs expanding?

In my experience, and what has got me to over 100k followers there are some simple steps. Update Your LinkedIn Profile: Ensure your profile tells a story of who you are not just what you do. Highlight your thought leadership skills and experiences. Showcase Your Expertise: Regularly post articles, share insights, and contribute to discussions that underscore your knowledge and perspectives in your field. Engage Actively: Participate in LinkedIn groups, comment on relevant posts, and start conversations. Consistency is Key: Regularly updating your content and engaging with others will keep your profile active and attractive to potential connections. Make each interaction count to truly reflect your expertise and vision.

Cultivating our networks is incredibly important for our growth as well as expanding our capacity to help others. The caveat is that we should be connecting with others because of a sincere interest in them as a person, their work/contributions, and not only because we want something from them. If and when possible, supporting events and asking others what events are occurring, is a great way to learn and engage directly also. Share what you can offer, how you can be of assistance, and how your own approach adds value. Reciprocity in all relationships is key.

From my experience, mentors can provide invaluable guidance, introduce you to key contacts, and help you navigate industry complexities. Here’s how to approach this: Identify Potential Mentors: Look for thought leaders whose careers or achievements inspire you. Reach out with specific questions or a request for a brief informational interview. Offer Value: Show interest in their work and share your insights to start a meaningful exchange. Reciprocate the Favor: Be open to mentoring others. Maintain Relationships: Keep in touch with mentors and mentees through regular updates and by sharing useful information. By engaging in this mentorship ecosystem, you'll gain broader exposure and deeper insights into thought leadership.

?? Curiosity is a powerful tool that accelerates innovation! ?? These are a few of my favorite ways to collaborate: 1. Ask courageous questions, explore new ideas, and challenge existing assumptions! 2. Galvanize conversations: Extend an Open Invitation! Cultivate engagement with a diverse array of individuals, each bringing their unique cultural perspectives and expertise to the table. 3. Create a safe space where ideas can be explored and constructive feedback encouraged! This fosters collaboration and while driving innovation forward. #LeadLoudly #bold #courageous #leadership

Consider starting a collective or forum, where Thought Leaders in your specialism or expertise area can meet, share, challenge and explore new and current themes. This could range from a WhatsApp or LinkedIn group, through to a regular in-person meet-up. The key is to create spaces where your peers can come together, in a way that offers clear benefit to them, as well as to you.