Here's how you can navigate obstacles and setbacks in your Thought Leadership career through adaptability.

The Yankees are in the World Series. Their captain Aaron Judge says, I never get too high or too low. That’s good advice for all of us! What is a setback in a thought leadership career, after all? You just keep chugging along. You do three keynotes in a row and feel victorious and then somebody says we’d like to fly you out to speak to our executive team; we won’t pay you, but we’ll pay for the flight and if the meeting goes past 6 PM we’ll pay for one night in a hotel. Ha! You’re mad/sad for a minute until you realize there’s good and bad in everything. If these cheapskates won’t pay for your wisdom, somebody else will. Hold onto your vision. No one gets to judge your thought leadership progress - least of all you.

Navigating through obstacles and setbacks is all about showcasing unstoppable adaptability and resilience—think big and bold, like constructing a towering skyscraper in the bustling heart of a city. Embracing change is not just a strategy but a fundamental element of your growth. See every challenge as an opportunity to innovate and lead, pushing boundaries like the titans of industry who reshape markets. By mastering adaptability, you position yourself not just to survive changes but to own them, ensuring your voice remains influential and your insights vital, no matter how the tides turn.

- Actively engage with your audience and peers to gather feedback, understanding the impact and reception of your ideas in the thought leadership community. - View constructive criticism not as a setback, but as a valuable tool for growth that can help you refine and improve your thought leadership. - Incorporate the feedback you receive into your work, using it to refine your approach and enhance the clarity and appeal of your message. - Strengthen your influence and credibility by demonstrating responsiveness to feedback, showing that you value continuous improvement and are committed to providing value to your audience.

The bravest thing to do is acknowledge that you didn't do something as well as you could have. Be humble enough to accept this, and truly embrace feedback. And then, take action on that feedback until it becomes muscle memory. I've found that ignoring negative feedback only comes back to haunt me, sometimes years later, as our blindspots don't ever really go away.

I advocate for the diversification of knowledge beyond one’s initial expertise. True thought leadership requires adaptability, which is enhanced by a broad understanding of multiple disciplines. Diversifying your knowledge allows you to connect different ideas and provide new insights, keeping your perspectives fresh and relevant. Continuous learning is essential, as it equips you with the tools to address complex issues authoritatively and remain influential, even as dynamics within your field change.

- Recognize that while your initial expertise is valuable, solely depending on it can limit your flexibility and adaptability as a thought leader. - Diversify your knowledge base to enhance your ability to connect different ideas and introduce fresh, innovative perspectives to your audience. - Engage in continuous learning across various disciplines to gain a more comprehensive understanding of complex and interrelated issues within your field. - Maintain your status as an authoritative voice by staying informed and adaptable, ensuring you can effectively respond to shifts in context and remain relevant in your field.

Get comfortable asking the right questions rather than pretending to be an expert. Penetrating questions create clarity and solve problems, not just for you but for everyone around you. You also learn that way.

While it's essential to have a core area of expertise, expand your knowledge to include adjacent disciplines. Connect the dots across fields, explore innovative trends, and draw fresh perspectives. This broadens your understanding of complex issues, helping you provide relevant and comprehensive insights that reinforce your credibility and adaptability.

- Emphasize the importance of building strong networks as they act as safety nets, providing support and security during challenging times in your thought leadership journey. - Leverage relationships with other professionals to gain support, inspiration, and opportunities for collaboration, which can open doors to new ideas and solutions. - Utilize your network to access a variety of insights and perspectives, aiding in overcoming obstacles by introducing you to different approaches and methodologies. - Enhance your adaptability and resilience by engaging with a diverse network, enabling you to incorporate multiple viewpoints into your thought leadership and adjust more effectively to changes within your field.

When I wrote 'The Prosperity Equation' in 2000, one concept in the book is 'Pillars of Prosperity'. One of those 'Pillars' was 'Gather People'. I theorize 'The Most Powerful People on Earth are those people that influence the most other people.' Influence is Power, Money is only Measurement. The more relevant people in the inner circle of those you influence is real wealth. I have more than 150,000 relevant people on Social Media platforms. Many people have greater numbers but most of my connections and friends online are 'relevant', either in the speaking profession or the auto industry, my two areas of expertise and influence. This level of networking-influence has translated into a lot of income and repeat business relationships.

- Set aside dedicated time each week to research emerging trends and technologies in your field. This constant learning can fuel innovation and help you anticipate shifts in the industry. ?? - ICollaborate with other thought leaders and industry experts can spark new ideas and provide fresh perspectives that enhance your own adaptability and innovative capabilities. ?? - Regularly share your innovative ideas through blogs, podcasts, or social media. This not only strengthens your reputation as a forward-thinker but also invites feedback that can lead to further refinement and adaptation. ??

- Recognize that innovation is crucial for adaptability in thought leadership, allowing you to proactively respond to changes rather than merely reacting. - Maintain a commitment to exploring new ideas and approaches, which keeps you ahead of industry trends and developments. - Adopt a proactive stance in your thought leadership practices to effectively navigate setbacks and continuously adapt to new challenges. - Position yourself as a forward-thinking leader who shapes industry conversations and influences trends, rather than only participating in existing dialogues.

Constant innovation is essential for overcoming obstacles in your thought leadership journey. Embracing a mindset of continuous improvement and creativity allows you to adapt to challenges and stand out in your field. By actively seeking new ideas, technologies, and approaches, you can stay ahead of trends and offer fresh perspectives to your audience. Innovation involves experimenting with different strategies, exploring unconventional solutions, and taking calculated risks to drive meaningful change

Reflection is a critical life skill. It supercharges growth and accelerates development! Taken too far this can become over-thinking, worry, regret, consternation. But not taken far enough, you risk not growing into the leader that you could be. Feedback from others is great but nothing like some good self introspection. I’ve found it important to reflect daily. My routine for this is reading every morning. Other options include driving in silence or sitting outside for a few moments after work to recap the day. Did you say too much? Or not enough? Did you act too swiftly? Or do you need to exhibit more patience? Reflection helps with being the balanced and centered leader your team and colleagues are craving!

Ever feel like life throws you curveballs that leave you flat on your face? Yeah, those roadblocks can be brutal. But here's the crazy part: sometimes those detours lead to unexpected gold mines. Think about it: that "failed" project might just force you to innovate and land on something even better. So next time you hit a wall, don't let it stop you. Shift your perspective, see the challenge from a different angle, and you might just discover a hidden opportunity waiting to be seized. #careeradvice #growthmindset #success #mindset #life #leadership

é fundamental que os líderes dediquem tempo para se autoavaliar n?o apenas em termos de competências técnicas, mas também em rela??o ao seu estado emocional. Ao fazer isso, eles est?o investindo em seu próprio desenvolvimento pessoal e profissional, além de fortalecer sua capacidade de lideran?a e influência.

Self-reflection is a must-have skill for thought leadership. It is best developed before we face obstacles on this path. We should build a habit of self-reflection by setting aside a fixed time, place, and method for doing reflecting daily. Then, we can add a habit of openness to understanding the nuances in the feelings, bodily changes, thoughts, reactions, and behaviours that we manifest in specific circumstances. Openness to understanding ourselves better, acceptance of what we understand, and the maturity to develop what is needed to face other similar circumstances will give us the confidence to face obstacles in our thought leadership career better.

Embrace change: Develop a mindset that embraces change and sees obstacles as opportunities for growth and innovation in your thought leadership journey. Stay agile: Continuously assess the evolving landscape of your industry and adapt your strategies, approaches, and content to stay relevant and effective in delivering value to your audience. Learn from setbacks: Instead of dwelling on setbacks, analyze them objectively to identify lessons learned, areas for improvement, and new insights that can inform your future decisions and actions as a thought leader.

Remember, setbacks are part of any journey, but it’s how we respond to them that defines our success. By developing resilience, a growth mindset, and learning from mistakes, you can overcome challenges and emerge stronger and more effective than ever before. Keep pushing forward!

This will be a mix of a subjective and an objective approach. Some people find navigating through obstacles and setbacks as challenging and their personality traits and value system aid them in a smoother process. Many see the setbacks as opportunities while others take a pause to reflect and understand the reasons for the same. Objectively a conscious effort has to be made in developing a curious mindset so that such events do not overwhelm you. Reaching out for feedback or a talk to understand the situation always helps. Also reflecting on one's strengths and experiences often help build a sense of confidence and in embracing the changing environment.

Avoid neglecting the vital role of confronting and addressing challenges and setbacks head-on in your Thought Leadership career, as doing so could hinder your growth and progress.