What do you do if you want to advance your career in project management by becoming a thought leader?

2 Why does thought leadership matter?

Thought leadership matters because it can help you advance your career in project management in several ways. First, it can help you build your reputation and credibility as an expert and a trusted advisor. This can open up new opportunities for you, such as speaking engagements, publications, promotions, or partnerships. Second, it can help you expand your network and reach. By sharing your ideas and insights with a wider audience, you can connect with other professionals, mentors, clients, or influencers who can support your growth and development. Third, it can help you improve your skills and performance. By constantly exploring new topics, trends, and best practices, you can stay on top of your game and deliver better results for your projects and stakeholders.

3 How do you develop thought leadership?

Developing thought leadership takes a consistent and deliberate effort to cultivate curiosity, creativity, and generosity. To develop your thought leadership in project management, read widely and deeply on the latest developments, research, and innovations. Reflect critically and creatively to apply what you learn to your own projects and contexts. Write regularly and clearly, expressing thoughts, observations, or opinions on topics that interest or matter to you. Finally, share generously and authentically with peers, colleagues, or mentors. Ask for feedback and share your writings with a wider audience on social media, blogs, forums, or newsletters. Invite dialogue and collaboration for best results.

4 How do you share thought leadership?

Sharing thought leadership is not about self-promotion or bragging, but rather adding value and contributing to the project management community. To do so effectively and ethically, consider your platforms and channels. Depending on your goals, audience, and style, you can use LinkedIn, Twitter, Medium, or Quora for short-form content like tips, insights, or questions. Long-form content such as stories, case studies, or frameworks can be shared through blogs, podcasts, webinars, or newsletters. Platforms like SlideShare, YouTube, or TEDx may be used to share presentations, videos, or talks. Additionally, choose your topics and angles based on your niche, expertise, and passion. For example, you could share insights on project management methodologies, tools, or trends; perspectives on project management challenges; or stories of successes and failures. Finally, decide on a tone and voice that reflects your personality, brand and values. Be consistent in your approach by being authentic and respectful.

5 How do you measure thought leadership?

Measuring thought leadership is not about counting likes, shares, or followers; rather, it is about assessing the impact, value, and growth of your thought leadership. To do this effectively, you should set goals and metrics to define what you want to achieve and how you will measure it. You can then use tools such as Google Analytics and Hootsuite to track and analyze your progress. Additionally, you should seek feedback from your audience, peers, and mentors to evaluate your results. Finally, based on the results and feedback, adjust your strategy and actions to improve your thought leadership. This could include refining topics or angles you write about or experimenting with new platforms or channels.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?