Are You a Thought Leader or Subject Matter Expert?

It used to be simple back when we had only plain ol' experts.

I'm talking about people with deep knowledge and experience in one area of work. We got even more granular in business, so we called them Subject Matter Experts or SMEs.

Then someone came in and threw this other term that sounded similar but somehow more important: The Thought Leader. By looking at its word combination, it sounds like not just any expert but a top-class thinker whose ideas are considered industry-leading.

Semantics aside, we cannot deny there's a lot of confusion around what thought leadership actually means. We hear different definitions of who these people represent, from social media show-offs to award-winning book authors and TED Talk speakers.

I was particularly amused by my colleague Vi?nja ?eljeznjak 's description of thought leaders, which could be translated as "very loud experts—or even not experts at all; just imposters who know how to use social media."

There is some truth to these words. We live in a world full of shallow TikTok and Instagram influencers, fake news, and online frauds of all kinds, so we naturally question everyone's credibility.

Who is a thought leader, really?

What the heck happened to subject matter experts?

Are the two, in fact, one and the same, or are there differences?

Let's unpack this phenomenon and resolve the dilemma once and for all.

Subject Matter Expert

Remember that colleague who always knew the answer when no one else did, who drilled deep into their craft (just for kicks) and was usually the smartest person in the room when the topic 'XWZ' was discussed?

That's a Subject Matter Expert (SME). The Deep Diver. The person with a powerful magnifying glass intensely focused on their area of expertise.

These are the folks who:

? Possess specialized knowledge that goes far beyond the surface-level

? Have a wealth of advanced insights gained through years of experience

? Are always eager to share their knowledge with others

? Excel at breaking down complex topics into digestible bits

? Create top-notch training materials and tutorials

But here's the thing about SMEs - they're like lasers. Super focused, but with a narrow beam. They connect with others through logic and facts.

They share the How of their subject but don't bother too much drilling into the Why.

Thought Leader

There's a reason why SMEs and thought leaders kinda sound the same—because every thought leader is, in fact, a seasoned subject matter expert.

The biggest difference? Thought leaders took the subject's How several steps further to answer the Why, the Where To, and When. Thought leaders are strategists and visionaries who stand on a mountaintop and survey the entire landscape.

These are the individuals who:

? See the big picture and understand how various elements connect

? Have a unique perspective that often challenges the status quo

? Share their specialized knowledge but with a twist

? Analyze situations and provide insights based on their broad experience

? Inspire others with their vision and passion

While the language of SMEs revolves around hard facts and ratios, thought leaders connect through emotions. As great communicators, they speak to inspire change, action, or a new way of thinking. They challenge the reasoning behind actions and decisions. They're not afraid to debate and defend their standpoint, often taking on a contrarian role.

4 Key Differences

Both SMEs and thought leaders have deep expertise, but this is how they are different:

1. Focus

SMEs drill down into specifics, while thought leaders zoom out for a broader view.

2. Communication

SMEs explain the "how," thought leaders inspire with the "why."

3. Perspective

While SMEs provide detailed knowledge, thought leaders broaden those insights to offer unique opinions and visions.

4. Impact

SMEs help solve specific problems, and thought leaders shape industry direction.

Why Both Matter

This following Spiderman quote is becoming slightly overused, but I'm still going to use it as it perfectly captures what's expected from thought leaders:

"With great power comes great responsibility."

In times of crisis or uncertainty, people turn to thought leaders for guidance and inspiration. They're the voices that help navigate through choppy waters.

But they are rarely helpful when you need a particular solution for a specific problem. That's where SMEs come in. They have the nitty-gritty knowledge to turn ideas—or even thought leaders' visions— into reality.

Both SMEs and thought leaders are invaluable in their own ways. The most successful organizations recognize that and know how to leverage their unique strengths:

—SMEs' depth of knowledge is needed to tackle specific challenges

—Thought leaders' vision and inspiration that drive the industry forward

Who do you aspire to be: a thought leader or a subject matter expert?

Just remember, whatever your answer today may change tomorrow.

You can transition from an SME into a thought leader one day. Or choose not to because that's not your cup of tea.

At the end of the day, being one or the other is less important. What's more important is mastering your craft and actively contributing to its development and evolution.