How can you effectively increase your visibility as a leader in the aviation industry?

In my experience, as a daughter of a 40+ year retired airline pilot and wife of a 23+ year naval aviation Chief, the aviation industry has a strong history of excellence, education innovation and collaboration. From the Wright Brothers to UAS it has taken conversations and actions among leaders. At Birds Eye Aerial Drones we have been innovating, educating, cutting red tape, lifting others in the industry and growing for the past 10 years. Please feel free to reach out should you have any questions or want to start a discussion. I'm always happy to connect. And so I believe that connection, serving, educating, leading the way are key elements to increasing your visibility as a leader in the aviation industry.

Define your brand and design messages and share where they are most heard and appreciated. - speak to the right audience - share trends - don’t be afraid to read what your competitors (direct and indirect) are doing - create something innovative

As a former Flight Attendant and current Publicist, I gained valuable communication skills and experience serving as an Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) MEC Communications Chair and a trainer for my airline's Local Union reps. My acumen led to being noticed by other airlines and our AFA International staff. I'm often called upon to comment on aviation topics and considered a resource in many circles because of my unique perspective. To increase visibility as a leader in the aviation industry, take on leadership roles within aviation associations, unions, committees, or community projects. Additionally, research and volunteer for public speaking events and presentations to showcase your knowledge and passion for the industry.

Insight in increasing viewership: Provided and share your applied knowledge. You are the expert in your field. Comment and participate in like industry topics and posts Content should be relevant and highlight why you are the best in your field, why you stand out from others Regular sheduled posting is important. Now more than ever, it's harder to capture attention as short video platforms have resulted in decreased patience. Unfortunately alot of the time it has become a "pay to play" as social media will even decrease your own viewers and you are required to pay to even reach your own followers. Best guaranteed reach to all viewers is your own email database, the challenge is avoiding becoming spam or ignored. Best of luck!

Shifting from a marketer to a contributor. Create intention to contribute greater content and actually take the time to do it.And do it consistently.

Crafting compelling content allows you to position yourself as an authority in the aviation industry, building trust and engagement with your audience. It's a powerful tool for showcasing your expertise and fostering connections within the community.

One thing I've found helpful is to understand that not only are there all types of content consumers; such as clients, users within the field, and onlookers with interest in new technology, but there are also individuals, or users, at all levels of entry, or understanding in any given industry. As a leader in the drone industry, still a fairly new technology, its important to make sure you have a good understanding of who your audience is for each type, post or campaign you're creating/posting.

At work, I realized that there is always room to innovate. Following the SOPs are good ways to get started but things don't end there. Identifying gaps and filling them in small ways helps to improve services.

People who know, know. People who share and have a take on news/development become a part of that narrative and also become a resource - validation and trust grows from here.

Networking is essential to develop your personal brand and elevate you to being recognised as a thought-leader, but one that is approachable. Consider networking however beyond conventional events, seek speaking opportunities, consider writing thought-leader articles for publication on and off line. Seek out like minded people. LinkedIn is great for this aspect. Be considered in your opinion, those most valued remain silent until they have something of value to say - to been seen as an leader, you don't need to have an opinion on everything!

Getting noticed online follows very similar principles regardless of industry, although you need to review your market and your topic and figure out how to best connect with the people you are looking for. Increasing traffic on LinkedIn specific to the aviation industry requires networking, sharing industry articles, spending time online engaging with others working and creating content for the aviation industry, and connecting with as many people as possible. Sharing your own experiences and actual relevant information is a key to success when it comes to the online world. People look for authentic first person experiences and information from experts online.

Start with defining your persona. Then strategize what steps will enhance your visibility, be relatable, give knowledge and build trust. Now use your marketing platforms, your conferences, your webinars, your membership programs. etc to execute, while identifying and collaborating with key influencers in the aviation industry.

Boosting your visibility as a leader in aviation may come in many shapes and forms. You can share your thoughts and experiences, write blog posts, speak at events, or host webinars. You should also be active (and proactive) online. Join discussions here on LinkedIn, comment on industry news, and don’t shy away from sharing your own posts. Please, make sure to attend industry events and to make the best out of this opportunity: engagement is key! You can also team up with other professionals for projects or research, where you will surely be exposed to new knowledge, ways of working, new people and ways of thinking.

To effectively increase your visibility as a leader in the aviation industry, focus on building a strong personal brand by sharing industry-specific knowledge and achievements on LinkedIn. Network strategically by engaging with industry professionals, joining relevant groups, and attending events. Publish compelling content, such as articles or videos, to showcase your expertise and attract attention. Seek speaking engagements to share your knowledge and connect with other industry leaders. Engage in professional organizations to expand your network and increase visibility. Stay consistent and authentic in implementing these strategies.

Sharing the output of your talent is important. Not simply to promote your talent but as a personal benchmark of your ability. However, aim to reflect client, industry and 3rd party testimony - not simply self promotion. Have your clients reflect on your ability and what can be achieved with your support. Never forget, I can only be interested in you, if what you do is if benefit to me. It's not about us, it's about what we do for others. A true reflection of a Leader!

I haven’t been that concerned about my visibility as a leader, because I know that if I am adequately prepared, always open to learning & genuinely like helping & improving what ever I have been set out to do, visibility has always followed. Don’t do things just to become visible, if you’re genuinely interested & love the job that you do then you certainly will be reaching out to many people. What I have found that benefited me is genuine strong relationships, speaking up when required, being honest no matter what, & participation. If you’re passionate enough & love what you do, then professional advancement is going to come, stay updated, be relevant & never stop learning & learn from your mistakes, they are lessons in its self.

Never stop learning, invest in your knowledge. Challenge convention, surround yourself with those you can be challenged by and learn from. Read and study your specialism. Remember Leaders are Readers!

Dealing with fear is critical if you are to be visible and get maximum returns from your investment in personal development and contributions to the development of your industry. Many leaders still worry about the possibility of being misjudged. Overcome this and flourish. Even if your sincere opinions are wrong and some of your actions produce negative unintended consequences, learn from your mistakes and move on. One of the books that has helped my leadership journey is titled "Whoever Makes the Most Mistakes Wins". You don't have to go out there and do stupid things but trust that any error you commit while genuinely helping others will be forgiven and probably bring you promotion. Our world is full of paradoxes.

It’s important to consider highlighting in your contributions the thought leadership aspects that are shaping the key priorities for the future of the aviation industry. Sustainability, social awareness, diversity, integrity, emotional intelligence, humbleness and compassionate leadership are examples of key areas of focus to achieve a meaningful impact.