Thought leadership: Start with the Problem, not the Solution
Peter Winick
Founder and CEO @ Thought Leadership Leverage | Monetizing Thought Leaders
Hey, thought leaders! I want to tell you about a powerful approach to thought leadership that can truly make a difference: starting with the problem, not the solution.
It might sound counterintuitive at first, but bear with me — it’s all about shifting your perspective to create more impactful and resonant thought leadership content. Yeah, I know it sounds wild, but trust me — it’s a game-changer that’ll take your content from meh to magnificent.
?? Nail the Problem
Step one? Roll up your sleeves and get elbow-deep in the muck of the problem. You have to understand it inside and out, from every angle. What’s keeping your audience awake at night? What’s tripping them up on their road to success? When you get down and dirty with the problem, you’ll uncover insights that’ll blow their minds.
?? Shed Some Light
Now, here’s where the magic happens — shine a big spotlight on that problem. Don’t just gloss over it; make it the star of the show. Hit them with stories, stats, and examples that drive it home. When you make the problem crystal clear, your audience can’t help but sit up and take notice.
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?? Stir the Pot
Time to get those mental gears turning! Once you’ve got their attention, challenge your audience to think deeper. Ask the tough questions that’ll make them squirm in their seats. When you get them pondering the problem’s implications, you open the door to some serious lightbulb moments.
?? Plant the Seeds
Now that you’ve laid the groundwork, it’s time to drop the solution bomb. But here’s the kicker — because you’ve spent so much time fleshing out the problem, your solution hits different. It’s not just a band-aid; it’s a game plan for kicking that problem’s butt once and for all. When you empower your audience to take action, you’re planting seeds of change that’ll grow into something truly remarkable.
So, there you have it — start with the problem, and you’ll pave the way for some seriously impactful thought leadership. By understanding, shedding light, stirring the pot, and planting seeds, you’ll spark a revolution that’ll change the game. Here’s to tackling tough problems head-on and making a real difference in the world! ???
International Keynote Speaker and inspirational storyteller. Unique understanding into generational workplace challenges. Data-Driven Insights about using influence, not force, to proven results.
2 周Exactly. Entreprenuers fall in love with their solutions and overlook the problems. Great article. I would add, get out of the office and go talk to dozens of customers. Drill down hard and don't be afraid to change the solution to accommodate your more nuanced understanding of the problem.
Helping Business leaders and Educators build Championship Teams. | Keynote Speaker, Workshops and Coaching | Author
2 周Great thoughts Peter. Gaining clarity of the problem is essential to coming up with effective solutions. Keep up your wonderful work!
Keynote Speaker and Author within Personalization and Omnichannel Marketing, CXO at Agillic, Board Member and Angel Investor
2 周So true! Thought Leadership is 'Problem Marketing'
Focused on improving C-Suite leadership by using reflective listening, neuroscience and high impact strategies to improve your bottom line. Global Speaker and Facilitator.
2 周When i'm called to do a keynote, or perhaps coach a corporate team, this is the exact approach I was taught to use, and continue to do so. By eliminating the constraints, the event planners are free to "spill the tea" on exactly what is happening in their department or group. Relating "Impactful Solutions" is much easier, because you don't have to dig to find the problems; and like Star Trek's brilliant engineer - Montgomery Scott, you can now become a "miracle worker" !
Thanks! This is the approach that we need. People are jumping into the solution without understanding the problem