The term "thought leader" is prominent across the business landscape. Not only is it a key term in this online resource, it is also found all over the Internet (Google "thought leader"), prevalent in the media (see FastCompany magazine, as a prime example), thrown about in marketing environs, and referenced by all manner of learning institutions.
In one of my moments of pondering, I wondered just what is a thought leader and how can I get to be one? I
proceeded to let my fingers walk to my favorite Internet search engine to investigate these questions. Here is what I found.
A resource referenced by multiple sites where I found discourse on thought leadership is elise.com. Since that site was referenced by many others, I figured I should go there to discover what insights await. I was not disappointed. A posted article that specifically addresses my pondering notes that a thought leader is "a recognized leader in one´s field" (ref: http://www.elise.com/web/a/000127print.php). The difference between a thought leader and just someone who knows something is how much that person is recognized by others as being knowledgeable.
Hmm. Does that mean that if I tell enough people that I know something, I can be a thought leader? Can I put
"thought leader" on my business card and suddenly be one? Well, no, as I continue to read with growing disappointment. You see, the recognition is built on trust and reputation, and on other people´s perceptions and referrals, rather than on advertising and self-promotion. Shucks. So much for that plan.
I sit back and ponder some more. Do I really want to continue pursuing trying to be a thought leader person?
Well, the article continues to note that "Companies will look to you for insight and vision. Journalists will quote you, analysts will call you, websites will link to you." Whoa! How awesome would that be? I have a somewhat expanded ego and inflated level of self-esteem. (Note to self: research "humility" as a concept, some day.) This thought leader thing might be just up my alley. I can´t give up on the idea yet.
As I continue to research this idea of thought leadership, I learn that I need to change my mindset to one of being generous with my time (not a problem), intelligence (hmmm), and knowledge (OK...I can do this). I need to be open and share what I know. Then I need to follow some more guidelines, such as:
- Cultivate and maintain a positive relationship with the media-all types. I need to give media sources something they can use; genuinely and respectfully provide what is in it for them.
- Write a lot. (Wow! Am I well on my way with this one.)
- Distribute my writings to information sources so they can publish them, interview me, or quote my work. (Does
this include the port-a-john wall where I left a sticker with my website URL?)
- Give presentations. (I knew I joined the National Speakers Association for a reason.)
- Make use of electronic resources. Create websites with useful "stuff", full of ideas, references, and valuable tools that others can use-relating to my areas of expertise, of course.
- Be generous with my information. Make what I have to offer available to the world rather than nickel-dime (be miserly with) every word and sentence.
- Make thought leadership a strategic imperative. (Hey! We´re back to my original pondering here.) Integrate
knowledge and skills transfer into all aspects of my business.
So, can I be a thought leader if I grow up? Growing up is not one of the criteria, which pleases me to no end.
Can I be one? Not through self-promotion or advertising campaigns. It seems that to be anointed a thought leader is out of my hands and in to the hands of everyone else I touch and influence. What is in my hands is the commitment to give-time, resources, information.
Guess that means I keep writing!
Sylvia
