Five Thought Leadership No-Nos You Can't Afford to Make

The term thought leadership may sound hokey and pompous… but done right it works.

Unfortunately, it’s often misperceived. People mistakenly think it’s akin to turning yourself into a walking billboard so you’re always promoting and flashing your knowledge and wares.

Done correctly, however,?thought leadership is the act of positioning yourself as an authority in your industry, the go-to expert people seek. It’s about speaking, writing, influencing, and shaping perceptions.?

It's a bit like having your own genie.

That's because becoming a thought leader in your industry makes more of your own wishes come true.?

I've seen it change the trajectory of individuals and companies.?

I’ve had clients go from virtual anonymity to sought-after expert. With the panache of thought leadership, a little-known person is courted by companies and hired by a well-respected company.?

Moreover, a person’s thought leadership redounds to his or her organization. It’s the firm’s intellectual property writ large.

But establishing true thought leadership isn’t a once-and-done phenomenon. It is an ongoing process and easy to muck it up.?

To ensure you avoid the pitfalls of trying to be a thought leader, here are 5 mistakes I often see:

Inconsistency?

Building thought leadership takes time and consistency. There’s no point in releasing a flurry of content one month and then vanishing the next.

People have short memories. Don’t be a flash in the pan but an ongoing presence.?

Incoherent

Don’t muddle your message.?

Politicians who are for something one month and against it the next have learned that the hard way. It just confuses people. You appear wishy-washy and lacking a spine.?

The same goes for thought leadership. Have a clear, consistent message that ties back to your main themes.

Self-promotional

Don’t use thought leadership as a cover for a sales pitch. Effective thought leadership is about providing insights and advancing the conversation. It’s not about beating your own horn.

But by sharing your knowledge and wisdom your talents will be obvious. You don’t need to flaunt them.

Unoriginal

Being a thought leader is staying in front. Spouting the same thing as everyone else makes you a follower, not a leader. Challenge the status quo. Take a stand. Don’t be afraid to take an unpopular or unconventional point of view.

Unreliable

Thought leadership isn’t bloviating. Your opinions need to be based on facts and data. Otherwise, you’re undermining your status as a thought leader. People will see through the bluster.

Avoid these mistakes and you’ll be on the fast track to thought leadership.?

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I help experienced professionals become the go-to-expert in their niche and grow their business and career. Schedule a?Free Marketing Consult with me and I promise you'll get at least one new, actionable idea.

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