You're facing dissent from followers on social media. How do you defend your thought leadership?

By talking, you don't gain anything new. But by listening, you can learn new things. By listening carefully, you can understand, various views/thoughts/feedback given by your followers. You are here to add value. So, take time to listen & analyze those feedback. We all in a learning journey. By listening to other person's feedback, you are gaining & coming to know of new things/thoughts. You can gain valuable insights by critically analyzing those inputs. If you want to grow, you should always welcome, brutal & honest feedback. Gold, diamond..have to face heat, extreme pressure to get their shape. By listening to others, incorporating those feedback, will help you to strengthen your reputation as thought leader.

I use the "DANCES" approach. Don't be surprised or insulted or take the dissent personally. Always thank the poster for commenting. The goal is to create an exchange of ideas and you've gotten one. Never respond to namecalling or attacks with an attack of your own. Craft a respectful response asking open-ended questions about the opinions voiced and their genesis so that the dialogue can continue, and/or politely provides facts from reliable sources that dispute the assertions of the poster (dialogue may end with this though); Expect nothing positive, or nothing, to come back and you won't be disappointed; Stay respectful and fact-based throughout. Additional tips: use humor, pause before posting a response but don't wait too long.

In politics one will be slandered , maligned, and attacked regardless of the truth. One should ignore the attacks and keep on message listening, being respectful or engaging will only increase the attacks. There is a difference between the fantasy world academic responses given and the real world response I have given. It is embarrassing listening to milk toast nonsense.

What means 'dissent'? As a 'leader of thought' you are not God, but someone who advances some arguments/debates. Variation (dissent) is normal, debates are normal, especially as you don't solve once for all any problem but propose a line of argument, at best a way of thinking a problem

Even if you don’t agree, you should be respectful. Active listenings is an important tool for solving problems. - Take time to listen - Show that you care

This is what I would do: Stay Respectful: No matter the intensity of the dissent, maintain a respectful tone. Address concerns with dignity and professionalism to uphold your credibility. Listen and Acknowledge: Show that you value your followers' opinions by listening to their concerns and acknowledging their points. This demonstrates that you are open to dialogue and feedback. Clarify and Educate: Use the opportunity to clarify misunderstandings and provide additional insights. Offer evidence and examples to support your position, helping others to see your perspective. Stay Calm and Composed: Emotions can run high, especially when defending your ideas. Keep calm and composed, and focus on constructive communication.

- Respect and acknowledge the differences - Interact and communicate with others in a polite and respectful manner - Treat others the way you like to be treated - Respect platform rules

When we stay respectful in the heat off tge moment it shows that we can abd will think logically inspite of what's going on around us. If it is important if the relationship is important to we will find a way to stay respectful no matter how absurd or outlandish a situation or person. We remain in control and hopfuly they will follow our lead in doing so

As a thought leader, 2 things are true: 1. You will attract some rude people 2. It's always on you to be the bigger person Kill them with kindness is a cliché for a reason. It doesn't give the people looking for confrontation any satisfaction. A little trick you could use is to write the response you actually want to say in a Google doc just to release those emotions. Then you write your kind response after your emotional release.

If you make and defend arguments, as any thought leader would, the only thing that can disassemble your argument is a well-considered alternative argument. Dissent is lightly tinged with emotion. Deductively, therefore, dissent is not an argument. Rather, dissent is a diversion, meant to camoflauge an indefensible position. The critical thinker can not bite on these tactics of deflection. Discipline comes with experience. You WILL make mistakes. Dissent may at times present as an insult, or a smug rebuke. Its intent is to awaken defensive compulsions. Insult is a de facto surrender. The thought leader knows this. Handling dissent is not for the meek. Without command of the facts, your future as a thought leader is tenuous.

Evidence is a resource for resolving conflicts.It shows others why you are right,so you must be sure your evidence is appropriate. Make sure the evidence supports your idea.Also make sure to appropriately cite your evidence.

Focus on transparency. When one of my clients faced backlash for a controversial post, we crafted a strategy for transparent communication. They addressed the criticisms openly and backed their views with evidence, fostering constructive dialogue. This approach not only diffused the tension but also reinforced their credibility. By embracing transparency, they maintained trust and respect, ultimately strengthening their position as a thought leader.

Embrace dissent by fostering healthy debates on your platform. This approach reflects confidence in your ideas and a willingness to subject them to scrutiny. A dynamic exchange of ideas can lead to collective learning and may even refine your own thought process. By cultivating an environment where debates are welcomed, you establish yourself as a secure, open-minded leader who is not intimidated by opposing perspectives. This willingness to engage in constructive discourse can heighten your credibility and further strengthen your leadership position.