What defines Thought Leadership and how can you achieve it?

Thought leaders are those who fearlessly question existing beliefs and values. They are the driving force behind advancements such as women's rights, equal pay, and diverse leadership. Being a thought leader goes beyond expertise in your field. It requires bringing about meaningful change that improves the lives of those in your industry. Becoming a thought leader is not easy, as gaining trust and credibility can be an uphill battle. And even once you've achieved that status, the responsibility to inspire and create positive change never ends.

Simply put, Thought Leadership is having the intrinsic motivation to provoke the thoughts of an industry and/or the society with a novel idea to solve their pressing concerns with no intention of selling/marketing. It is important note that Thought Leadership is not claimed but attained. One can achieve Thought Leadership by: - Digest: Assess your values, expertise, and subject-matter. - Develop: Create a (novel) point of view from the subject matter that addresses the audiences' and industry's challenges. - Distribute: Put the viewpoint into contents and distribute them to the relevant platforms that can reach the targeted audience. - Dissect: Measure the results of the campaign. This framework can be of assistance to achieving it.

Along the lines mentioned already (around innovative thought that is shared with others), thought leadership also needs to be easily followed. That’s the tough part here. We leverage thought leaders as part of our collective community to enhance and influence the discussion. And for those who consider themselves thought leaders, the real test is the followership. Not how many followers, but rather how much changed as a result of what was shared to the community - and is it being used to enhance and influence the community? True thought leaders generate rolling snowballs of energy that collectively get bigger and bigger as they continue to roll.

Thought leadership is all about sharing inspirational, research-driven content that drives change and creates educational value. Thought leadership isn’t just about preaching to the masses, though. As Tim Gibbon, founder and director of Elemental Communications, explains: There is also a strong cooperative element, with thought leadership allowing peers to collaborate, and share experiences, expertise, and knowledge. The best thought leaders are defined as experts in their field. Thought leaders are usually those with: Strong opinions. Experience. Knowledge. Transparency. A desire to share their wisdom with others. The ability to think outside the box.

Thought leadership is one of those terms that is often over-used and seldom attained. To become a thought leader means having a unique point-of-view that adds dimension and insight to a topical area or industry. In-depth knowledge, a visionary perspective and the ability to lead your audience are paramount. I also believe there are certain intangibles, like charisma, that play a role in elevating an industry expert to a true thought leader. Dynamic leaders with this magnetic attraction can be counted on one hand.

As a C-suite executive, I think of thought leadership a bit differently. I think it is senior leader’s responsibility to be a master themselves. However, it is more important for me to help identify, promote and build thought leaders throughout the organization. Who is challenging the status quo? Who is taking risks and learning fast? Who is passionately promoting discussion and debate? As senior leaders, we can fuel thought leadership to advance the individuals and to lift the entire organization with cutting edge thinking.

Thought leadership is important for businesses and individuals alike, as it helps to establish credibility and authority within a specific niche or industry. Some key reasons why thought leadership is important include: Building a solid reputation. Consistently offering innovative and thought-provoking insights. Generating engaging content. Sharing valuable content demonstrates expertise and leadership, which can lead to increased interest and engagement from customers. Expand professional networks, promote business development, attract talent, and ultimately drive business growth. Staying ahead of the competition. Businesses need to show that they are industry leaders in their own right and able to innovate on their own.

Without thought leaders, we’d exist in the same traditional vacuum. By presenting fresh, new and innovative ideas — thought-leaders challenge the way things are traditionally done. This innovative way of thinking in niche topics will be how we solve some of the biggest challenges of this era i.e. Climate Change.

Thought Leadership transcends mere novelty and rests at the intersection of diversity and perspective. It isn't about introducing groundbreaking ideas but igniting conversation and even debate. Thought Leaders have various roles – be it a conscience, gadfly, or sounding board – challenging prevailing opinions without necessarily disrupting the status quo. Their influence does not always come from originality but from the amalgamation of experience, education, and passion. True Thought Leaders champion the voiceless, offering a platform to those less comfortable in the limelight. The title itself, "Thought Leader," confers credibility, granting them the power to capture the attention of decision-makers and shape the broader narrative.

In my opinion, thought leadership is important as it establishes credibility and trust, setting individuals or organizations apart as experts in their field. This influence shapes industry trends and promotes innovation by challenging conventional ideas. Thought leaders attract more opportunities, like partnerships and speaking engagements, and play a key role in educating and inspiring others. Their unique insights and perspectives drive progress and differentiation in a competitive market.

Content Idea Notebook. Try recording every content idea that comes to mind, no matter how silly it may seem. Write it down (or make a voice message to yourself at least). After a week or two, go through the notes, and it'll become clear what drives you and sparks your enthusiasm. This notebook will also help to overcome the 'blank page block'. You won't need to spend energy thinking about what to write about.

In a world now soon being dominated by Gen AI tools such as Chat GPT, content production has rather become quick. This also means that only unique content that is fresh and inspiring will stand out. With this in perspective, choose a thought leadership topic that you are passionate about, are a SME in and can make contributions that will leave a lasting impact.

Think about what makes your thought process unique on a generic idea. Take the topic of organizational leadership, for instance. There are hundreds of thousands of books in this category, yet readers continue to flock to this section and buy more and more books to help their own organizational leadership skills improve. This logic can be applied to all thought leadership books.

Thought leadership topic should be identified based on one’s expertise and an area where one is an SME. The topic should be relevant and while contributing to the topic through articles, posts, videos, podcasts etc the content should be original and meaningful. While various Gen AI tools can provide you with a base for content and I do feel it’s useful to leverage Gen AI but the final output should be original and not duplicated. In my mind a Thought Leadership content if it isn’t original then it’s loses its value and is infact not a Thought Leadership content.

In my opinion, to identify your thought leadership topic, start by assessing your expertise and passion. Reflect on areas where you have extensive knowledge or unique experience. Consider emerging trends or gaps in your field that you can address. Analyze what topics resonate with your audience and align with your personal or brand values. Look for intersections between your strengths and market needs. Finally, choose a topic that not only showcases your expertise but also offers fresh perspectives or solutions to your audience. This approach will help you establish a compelling and authentic thought leadership presence.

To me, there are several ways to create content to become thought leaders: 1. From our achievements Once we have a commendable achievement, we gain credibility to leverage on. Most people never reflect on why they are successful and they never share with others because they are busy. Joe Girard for example became successful and then he developed his method of selling. 2. Interview others Not everyone has any meaningful achievements. But by interviewing enough people, we can see some patterns which then we can come to conclusions. 3. By sharing our progress on our way to becoming thought leaders I have seen people like Ali Abdaal just freely share content. Within a short time, he raised and now I believe is recognized as a thought leader.

Thought leadership content creation comes easy to some while can be a task for others. A simple way to approach this will be to maintain a place where you either scribble or type your notes. Once you have jotted down your ideas, give it a shape and structure in line with the format you choose. Apart from this, it always helps to converse with your workmates, domain and industry experts if accessible, friends ready to lend a listening ear. Lastly, read or watch content related to the area of your thought leadership topic/s, always helps to stay on top of trends in the Industry.

In my opinion, promote your thought leadership content by utilizing social media, tailored to each platform's audience. Engage in relevant online discussions and groups. Publish articles on your blog and consider guest posting on established industry blogs. Use email newsletters for regular engagement. Speaking at conferences or webinars enhances visibility, as does collaborating with other thought leaders. Consistent delivery of valuable content and active audience engagement are crucial for establishing your authority in your field.

With a content project, distribution can take about the same budget as content production. Or more. And even that doesn't guarantee success. But the good thing is that you can repurpose. 1. Re-announce old articles after a year or two. Your new audience hasn't seen them, and the old one has probably forgotten (or won't go back to re-read anyway). 2. Update old articles. Outdated articles can also be re-announced, but first, they need to be updated: add new information, remove what’s no longer relevant, and get something useful from the comments. 3. Make Resizes — Held a webinar? Write an article based on it. — Wrote an article that’s getting good views? Make a short summary and post it on social networks.

It's where you should start. Don't shout in the void. 1. Identify where / how you can and want to be heard. 2. Design a "striking" message for that particular channel and audience. This way, you make sure your thought leadership will end in the right ears and might get you a foot in the right door.

I believe we live in an era where we can publish our content freely. There used to be too many gatekeepers. For TV, we have to deal with producers. For books, we have to deal with publishers. For articles, we have to deal with editors. Now with the internet, we can freely share our thoughts - like what I am doing now. If enough people consume our materials, people will regard us a thought leaders.

In my opinion, promote your thought leadership content by utilizing social media, tailored to each platform's audience. Engage in relevant online discussions and groups. Publish articles on your blog and consider guest posting on established industry blogs. Use email newsletters for regular engagement. Speaking at conferences or webinars enhances visibility, as does collaborating with other thought leaders. Consistent delivery of valuable content and active audience engagement are crucial for establishing your authority in your field.

Consistency is the key. There are two types of maintenance: 1. Continuously sharing the content about the topics that have already been produced - in other words, the same context and talk about it again and again with perhaps some different examples. 2. Create a new perspective that developed from our previous perspective - or can sometimes totally challenge the previous content that we have shared before. We can only be a thought leader when we have enough people subscribe to our thoughts on a certain topic. As the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind, the need to continuously publish our content is the key, and to not diverting too much on our previously known topic from our audience.

Thought leadership isn’t just expertise; it's making an impact! ?? Master Your Domain: Dive deep, become the expert, carve your unique space in the industry. ?? Launch Your Insights: Share content—blogs, videos, or podcasts. ??? Engage & Connect: Fuel discussions! Network and spark conversations with peers in the field. ?? Take the Stage: Speak up and showcase your expertise on a larger platform. ?? Stay Authentic: Be real! Share your experiences, successes, and even setbacks—authenticity wins trust. ?? Adapt & Thrive: Embrace change! Stay flexible and evolve with the ever-changing landscape. ?? Impact & Innovate: Craft ideas that shape the industry’s future. ?? Build Your Network: Foster knowledge-sharing around your expertise.

In my opinion, maintaining your thought leadership status involves continuously updating your knowledge and staying abreast of industry trends. Regularly publish insightful content, like articles, blogs, or social media posts, to keep your audience engaged. Networking with other professionals and attending industry events can provide fresh perspectives and ideas. Actively participating in discussions and providing valuable contributions on relevant platforms also reinforces your status. Additionally, be open to feedback and adapt to changing dynamics in your field, ensuring your insights remain relevant and impactful. Consistency in these efforts is key to sustaining your thought leadership.

???????? '?????????????? ??????????????' ?????? ???????????? ?????????????? - ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ??????????????. So what's the difference that makes the difference? The equation is, Thought Leadership = Innovation - Realisation Innovation is new thought, perspectives and ideas - surplus value creation. Realisation is what everyone already knows. That gap is your thought leadership. - New models and frameworks. - Proprietary research. - Insights from lived experience. Your can take the road that is packed with other cars, honking at each other or change your perspective to find a new way home. Thought leadership is the standard by which you are measured in the market.

For me the first most important foundational endeavour to continue to be a thought leader is to not come from a place of wanting to maintain a ‘status’. The idea of maintaining can make us lose our authentic, genuine passion and curiosity which led us on the path of becoming a thought leader. Then there is pressure to live up to something. What we call as the ‘status’ will remain if we continue to grow ourselves with new knowledge, experiences and curiosity in our given space /field for the sheer joy and contentment of having something to be shared with the world.

Thought leadership is the delivery of authentic and genuine content that uses the expertise, insight, and experience of the author, with the goal of sharing that wisdom with others. Thought leadership is all about you creating value, building knowledge, and taking a stand. It’s about influencing others to think about something differently. A few ways to become a Thought Leader: 1. Start writing content 2. Don’t be overly promotional 3. Be authentic and consistent 4. Create a POV on important topics in your industry 5. Keep readers updated on the latest news and trends in the industry. 5. Go social, and join online groups 6. Share your expertise and insights through your content an speech 7. Establish brand credibility and authority

True thought leadership stems from the authentic desire to make a positive difference. Just having a reach makes an influencer, not a thought leader. Just having knowledge makes an expert, not a thought leader. But having an authentic vision for positive impact and pursuing it in a way that inspires passion and action in others is a mark of thought leadership. It is informed. It is genuine. And it is powered by values and a desire to leave the world a better place.

The winning formula of a Thought Leadership project is: + Understanding Your Audience: This means not just knowing who they are but also avoiding platforms they don’t use. + Writing Well: Focus on good topics, clear wording, and a friendly tone. + Effective Distribution: It's not just about creating content but also about getting it seen. For any stand-alone blog to really take off, you've got to have at least paid social media and some solid SEO in your toolkit. But to start on LinkedIn you need to start writing :)

At the heart of thought leadership is the capacity to think differently. This means not just reiterating what's already known, but pushing boundaries, challenging status quos, and offering new ways of understanding or approaching problems. True thought leaders are credible and authentic. They have a deep understanding of their subject matter, gained through extensive research, experience, or both. They are genuine in their pursuit of knowledge and solutions, and their passion for their subject is evident. My take on thought leadership is that it should also have practical applications, and not just theoretical insights, providing solutions that can be implemented in real-world contexts.

Thought is a cognition processing with Action through emotional connection to innate ability and also outside team members. So aside connecting from A to Z. ask yourself what do you like to be treated, before getting the team to follow the style of leadership. Asking question is good. But reinsure the attitude of Beings. Being a leader is to inspire. not to manipulate or underly personal agenda online and off line.. Thanks for the invitation to join this perspective. Many blessings!