THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & WHY IT MATTERS
Deboshree Dutta
Founder & CEO of Criya AI (Y Combinator)| Ex-Head of Product PayPal | Featured in Forbes, NYT, Tech Crunch, Harvard Business School, CBS
In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, great leaders recognize the importance of?thought leadership?as a conscious choice. They recognize that their voice and ideas have the power to inspire and influence others, and they are committed to using that power to drive positive change.
But, creating effective thought leadership content is not always an easy task. These leaders take a deliberate and thoughtful approach to the writing, carefully considering their audience, their message, and their own expertise.
So, we asked 10 Criya Experts about their process and their tips on writing thought leadership content. And, here’s what they had to share -
1. Keep a handy place to jot down thoughts when they come to you. Don't wait for inspiration, rather catch the inspiration when it comes, and write it down. This will trigger more thoughts that will become full write-ups. - Moshe Mikanovsky https://www.criya.site/mikanovsky
2. I am a prime example of someone who has writer's block. With the advent of ChatGPT, I am able to write an article in matter of minutes and train the model to write a highly personal article using my experience, anecdotes and translate my thoughts into consumable content. There are no more excuses not to be able to write! - Sangeeta Narayan https://www.criya.site/sangeeta
3. Begin by focusing on topics that you're knowledgeable about and genuinely interested in. Thought leadership involves conveying unique perspectives and insights on subjects you have a deep understanding and passion for. This not only simplifies the writing process but also makes it more enjoyable. Moreover, your genuine interest and expertise will radiate through your content, making it more captivating and engaging for your audience. Remember, it's completely normal if your initial drafts aren't flawless - they seldom are. Like any skill, writing improves with regular practice. The more you engage in it, the better you become, and the more effortless it will feel. Don't let the quest for perfection impede progress – start putting your thoughts to paper, continue learning, and most crucially, persist in sharing your valuable insights. - Jayendran Gopalsami https://criya.site/gopaljay
4. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. Get started. See what resonates with the audiences you're trying to cultivate. Try different tactics early on to find what suites you best. - Jacob Fenton https://www.criya.site/jacobfenton
5. Learn by doing! Stay consistent! Do not let the reactions and impressions on your content take away the joy of writing and expressing your perspectives. Keep experimenting with new approaches until you discover your own formula that sticks and gives you what you desire. I personally discovered my love for writing only after consistent practice, without any intention of gaining profit or benefits. If you are really looking for a benefit, well, you'll certainly unlock a whole new learning mindset within yourself. - Anshu Gautam https://www.criya.site/anshugautam
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6. My tip for new writers is get inspired by topics and questions that come up for you every day - maybe you solved a new problem at work, or explained a topic to a friend or a colleague. Write what you are passionate about, and what comes naturally to you. You could pick the perfect topic that is popular, but if it does not speak to you, you will not be able to write well about it. - Priyanka Upadhyay (Coach Pri) https://criya.site/productwithpri
7. Write to Inform not to showcase. As a leader you have a unique perspective that needs to be shared even if it is for an audience of one, yourself. Your content could also serve as your own personal journal to reflect on as it will help structure your ideas and opinions. - Ron L. https://www.criya.site/ron
8. Habits make it possible for us to do things without spending a lot of mental effort. Allocate 30 mins a day, preferably same time every day (like our recurring meetings at work) to journal and write about topics you like. First, develop the habit of writing for yourself and then expand the goal to take your views and insights to wider audience. - Latha Biswanath Ram https://criya.site/latharam
9. I myself on working to be a better writer and get better at sharing my thoughts via writing but I look up to Deb Liu's advice on writing as a discipline - https://debliu.substack.com/p/writing-as-a-discipline as well as this quote from Adam Grant -"Writing isn't what you do after you have an idea. It's how you develop an inkling into an insight. Turning thoughts into words sharpens reasoning. What's fuzzy in your head is clear on the page. "I'm not a writer" shouldn't stop you from writing. Writing is a tool for thinking." - Ketaki Kulkarni
10. I started writing by thinking of the practicality of it. The thoughts I crystallize into words can then be shared with all the future members of my team, saving me a lot of time in the future. This helped me get started, and it is now a feedback loop - writing helps me clarify my thoughts which helps me become a better leader, and helps my team (current and future) understand my objectives and ways of working without having to rely on my availability. - Somayaji Ayalasomayajula https://www.criya.site/somayaji -
Fractional marketing leader
1 年These are fascinating - this line really resonated: "As a leader you have a unique perspective that needs to be shared even if it is for an audience of one, yourself." Reminds me of Seth Godin's advice and I can see how this practice can support personal goals and growth while helping others to benefit from the knowledge you've acquired.
Principal PM Architect at Microsoft | Copilot in enterprise apps | Coach and consultant at PM Nirvana
1 年I love all the insights shared by the experts. Writing is a superpower and takes a lifetime to perfect. I reflect on my writing journey in my blog post here: https://www.pmnirvana.com/p/writing-for-product-managers
Product @ Amazon
1 年Thank you for featuring my perspective Deboshree Dutta. Loved reading perspectives of fellow Criyators.
Principal Product Lead at Microsoft | Certified Life Coach
1 年Thank you Deboshree Dutta and Criya for including my view and for starting a great conversation on this topic. It is insightful to read others' thoughts here. Writing is such an important skill,especially as you grow in your career, and yet so underrated.
?? Founder, Product-with-Pri | ICF certified PM Career Coach | Ex-Product Coach,Stanford | B2B Product Leader (ex-Salesforce, ServiceNow) | I help PMs increase their income & impact, & get to their next role faster!
1 年Thanks for including me Deboshree Dutta, always love reading the perspectives of so many others and this is a great topic because creating quality content and standing out from pure AI driven content is going to be important in the coming years!