What do you do if you want to become a successful thought leader in your late career?

Start early in your career! Seriously, thought leadership isn't hypothetical or theoretical. True thought leaders have "been there and done that," there not "ski experts" who advise you in the chalet while drinking brandy. They're 20 yards ahead of you on the slopes. Develop a body of work based on pragmatic application of your approaches and intellectual property. It's never "too late" in your career to do this, because you can freelance as a solo practitioner, or work pro bono for nonprofits. Finally, thought leaders publish and speak. They are sought out. They are cited. AND they are often critiqued by people who wish they could do it but can't!

Start today! Share content daily with your audience. Post every day, sharing about a topic you are knowledgeable and passionate about. Take the organic growth approach and before you know it you will find yourself in a position you never expected to be in.

Embrace Your Story: Your unique experiences and background can be a source of great ideas. Use what you know and what you've been through to inspire others. You'd be surprised what you can come up with once you take inventory of what you've learned and experienced. Instead of working hard to find your niche, once you go through this exercise, you'll see that your niche will find you.

Seja walk the talk. Uma carreira de sucesso se dá pelas pessoas que viveram experiências na pele e n?o s?o apenas repetidores de leituras de livros. Se você experienciou alguma prática ou experiência única em sua carreira, você tem grande possibilidade de replicar seus passos e conhecimentos para aqueles que est?o come?ando. Lembre-se que as pessoas ir?o buscar por formas de acelerar suas jornadas ou de obter ganhos naquilo que elas fazem. Seja autêntico!

O final da carreira é apenas o come?o de outra, que pode já come?ar acelerada se você souber capitalizar a experiência e a sabedoria acumulada. Fa?a um inventário do seu repertório (os maiores aprendizados, viagens, desafios, conquistas) e produza conteúdo de valor sobre ele. Evite o tom nostálgico e autocentrado, a finalidade é realmente entregar valor para quem te acompanha. Os #tbt existem para isso!

Offer value, not self-promotion. Don't just broadcast your ideas. Focus on providing valuable insights that address the specific challenges faced by a younger generation in your field. This establishes you as a mentor. Leverage your network, don't build from scratch. Don't start cold-calling connections. Tap into your existing professional network – former colleagues, clients, or industry associates. Reconnect and share your thought leadership goals, explore. Don't assume everyone knows your jargon. Tailor your communication style to resonate with a younger audience. Utilize clear, concise language, embrace current industry trends, and leverage relevant social media platforms to reach them where they are.

Tailor your thought leadership efforts to address the needs and interests of your audience, providing valuable insights and solutions that resonate with them. Produce high-quality content that showcases your expertise and provides value to your audience. This could include articles, blog posts, whitepapers, case studies, videos, podcasts, and presentations. Use a variety of formats to appeal to different learning preferences and engage your audience effectively.

Great story telling creates a memorable way to share a message. Stories and parables have been a part of human existence from the very beginning as we crave this type of sharing of wisdom.

Every new generation brings valuable lessons for the former generations. Gen Z has taught me the value of genuine statements. If you want to be a Thought Leader, your message needs to be legitimate and based on your unique capabilities and experiences. Therefore, bringing your real-life examples to illustrate your thoughts is the best way to deliver your messages. I would add an acronym (we love acronyms!) that you can check when you're writing your message: CGC - Current, Genuine, Concrete

You just do it. Being in a position where you have years of experience and knowledge behind you is a bonus! Thought leadership doesn’t have an age requirement, it has an expertise requirement and often those with the most experience are the ones with more expertise. Go for it! You’re never too old to start anything new.

Build relationships with other thought leaders, and professionals in your industry. Collaborate on projects, participate in panel discussions, and attend networking events to expand your reach and visibility within your field.

Embrace new platforms, not just old habits. Don't shy away from new tools. Explore and experiment with the latest communication and content creation platforms that resonate with younger audiences. This demonstrates your agility and positions you as a thought leader who understands the evolving media landscape. Bridge the knowledge gap, not the generation gap. Don't just learn new things, translate them. As you update your skills, actively seek opportunities to share your newfound knowledge with younger colleagues. This fosters collaboration, positions you as a resource, and showcases your adaptability. on't become outdated, stay relevant.

1. Remember - Change is the only constant 2. Never stop learning 3. If you find a person better than you, don’t compete with them, work with them to learn 4. There is no shortcut. Read, discuss and enhance knowledge 5. Share knowledge by writing , speaking.

Enjoying the journey should be a life-long mantra. As a matter of fact, no matter the goals you set and those you achieve, the experience aggregates along the journey is the most invaluable chest of knowledge. Oftentimes, I have asked “how did you solve an issue like this?” That triggers a direct search through my global experience…and always some nuggets come up. So the story of your journey makes who you are…don’t underestimate it!

I cannot imagine a thought leader not enjoying the journey... Thought Leaders are passionate about their interests and can see things in different manners, from different perspectives, and in uncommon ways. And they love being in that state - i.e. the journey!

If you want to become a successful thought leader later in your career, then you probably have the connections and experience that will help you get there. I like @jasonpatterson's comment about focusing on being a leader first and foremost, then sharing your thoughts. To me it seems a bit silly to be focusing on becoming a thought leader. Either you enjoy the journey and it kind of happens naturally (I am sure you can speed things up by being strategic about it) but then one needs to ask themselves why are you focusing on becoming a thought leader?

Leveraging your experience in your late career is a powerful way to become a thought leader. Focus on a niche where you can offer unique insights. Consistently create content, engage with your audience, and network strategically to amplify your reach. But remember, enjoy the ride! Choose a topic you're passionate about, celebrate milestones, and build a supportive network. Establish your expertise online and consider speaking at industry events. Thought leadership is a journey, embrace the learning, growth, and positive impact you can make!

Embrace the significance of 3 and 6-month periods in your life—they offer pivotal moments for reflection, adjustment, and progress. Remember, becoming a thought leader isn't just about reaching a destination—it's a journey of perpetual learning, growth, and enjoyment. Cherish each step, as it's the journey that truly defines your path to leadership

Your late career comes with a wealth of experiences. Embrace it as your unique selling points. Distill the insights you’ve gained over the years into core principles or lessons that can benefit others. What seems obvious to you after decades in the field can be revelatory to others. Thought leadership is about contributing to the growth of your field. Approach thought leadership with a spirit of generosity. Share your knowledge freely with the aim of enriching the collective understanding. Thought leadership is a dynamic process. Your areas of focus may shift as you delve deeper or as the industry evolves. Realign your efforts to ensure they remain true to your values and the contributions you wish to make.

1) Have your own, original vision but don’t strive too much for validation 2) To come up with a novel approach, get to know the great work already done by others 3) Be disruptive and innovative — but not too much too soon (the MAYA principle). 4) Communicate your ideas in a way people (as many people as possible) can understand. 5) Ensure that you cover both the theory and the real world and, most importantly, embody the connection between the two! [From my interview "5 Strategies that will make you stand out as a Thought Leader"]

Create a point of difference for yourself. Just having years of experience won't make your thought leadership valuable or, frankly, interesting. Know who else is leading thought in your space and find a unique perspective.

Identify Your Niche- Determine the area in which you have deep knowledge, expertise, and passion. Build Your Personal Brand- Share insights and content related to your niche. Network- Connect with other thought leaders. Create High-Quality Content-Provide value to your audience. Engage with Your Audience-Respond to comments. Be Authentic and Transparent-Share your experiences, successes, and failures. Make your audience part of the journey. Continuously Learn and Adapt-Adapt your content and strategies to remain relevant and influential. Monetize Your Expertise- Explore opportunities to monetize your thought leadership through consulting, speaking engagements, partnerships, product creation, and collaboration

Most thought leaders become leaders first and then share their thoughts later. It's very hard to become a thought leader if you're not a leader and simply share your thoughts. So your odds are better if you focus on the leadership part first.