There are many different ways to define the concept of thought leadership. Some may say that it’s a buzzword but I believe it’s a very important way to categorize a level of leadership. In my opinion, this concept means that you are an innovator in the way that you think and execute these thoughts and actions. A basic definition of a thought leader is an individual (or firm) that is identified as a leader in a specialized field and whose expertise is desired.
It’s important to be strategic about positioning yourself in your specific industry as a thought leader and there is no right or wrong answer on how to do it. I’m continuously working on branding myself as a thought leader in the digital communications space. Being in my early 30s and having owned my company for almost a decade has provided me with unique experiences that helped shape my story and who I am. I was a thought leader long before anyone gave me that title and my passion for continuous learning and marketing experimentation has helped me with this role.
Currently, these are the things that I have going on that are helping support my thought leadership journey:
- President of BNI Mountain High (beginning on April 1, 2018)
- Director and Chamber
- Leading social media workshops
- Blogging for myself
- Blogging for external blogs
- Working with clients who have a global audience
- Active on social media
- Networking in my business community
- Attending conferences
- Leading a session at a provincial conference (public speaking)
- Volunteering my expertise to various organizations/causes
Are you a thought leader in your industry and if not, do you want to be? I tinkered around on the world wide web to find some additional resources to help you explore this topic. These are three more articles that I found on the topic:
1. 10 Tips on How to Become a Thought Leader via Entrepreneur.
2. What Is Thought Leadership? And When You Should Use It via Marketing Insider Group.
3. The Golden Rules For Creating Thoughtful Thought Leadership via Fast Company.
So, what steps are you taking to be a thought leader in your industry? Share in the comments below.
