So you want to be a Thought Leader?

David Nikolich

A Thought Leader is someone who is seen by peers, customers and industry experts as having a deep understanding of their particular field. They’re the people others look to for original ideas, unique points of view and game changing insights. Many leaders would like to be seen as Thought Leaders, but very few achieve this level of recognition.

It’s not necessarily a role you can be promoted into, or even ever have as your official job title. In truth, it isn’t a role your company alone can give you. It requires the acknowledgement of your peers, wider industry, and customer base. It takes incredible amounts of dedication, passion and knowledge to become a Thought Leader.

If none of the above has put you off, then read on, because here’s where you should be focussing your energy if you want to achieve this lofty goal.

Construct your platforms. You should always be working on increasing your visibility across your business, industry and the wider public. That means understanding where people gather to share ideas, and then meeting them there. Work on your social media presence, and then focus on the channels that can best increase your authority and influence.

Work on your personal brand. If you’re going to be seen as the standout expert in your chosen field, you need to create a strong personal brand. And part of that brand will be fearlessness, and the willingness to be bold. Because at times, the commentary and ideas you offer on your platforms will go against the received wisdom of your industry.

Develop incredible communication skills. Can you express your passion for your area of expertise in a way that inspires others? Can you adapt how you communicate to different audiences? You should be as comfortable discussing technically complex ideas with industry experts as you are explaining them in layperson terms to leadership teams.

Build trust. Trust comes from being credible and reliable. When you promise something, follow it through. Peers, leaders and clients alike should know you as someone who can be absolutely relied upon to deliver what you say you will, every time, without fail.

Look to create a culture of learning around you. While everyone else is in the trenches, eyes fixed on day-to-day operations, you should be working on ways to move their eyes to the bigger picture. How do you do this? By studying past trends, disasters, and successes, and tirelessly refitting them to work for the present. Of course, to communicate this effectively you’ll need to…

Become an inspiration. It’s the Thought Leader who creates an environment of excitement and passion for colleagues, clients and everyone else in the in the industry. You need to be able to spread your own passion wherever you go, online and in person. Because it’s that energy that will make people look to you to create the next innovations and ideas in your industry.

Now, that’s our advice on how to get started as a Thought Leader. The next steps are over to you. Good luck!

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