What is a thought leader?
At ThoughtLede, we believe that achieving a reputation as a credible thought leader is incredibly valuable for individuals and companies alike. But what is a thought leader? What is thought leadership?
A thought leader is a person or organization that demonstrates significant expertise or knowledge in a particular domain, often delivering that expertise through written content like blogs and white papers or through speaking appearances, whether live or on podcasts and videos. It’s not enough to simply possess a wealth of knowledge or to be an expert on certain subject matter; a thought leader must share that expertise and knowledge in a public forum, teaching others, inspiring conversation, and generating hard-earned credibility.
What subjects are conducive to thought leadership?
There are very few subjects that wouldn’t benefit from thought leadership. People can become thought leaders in business, politics, sports, charitable pursuits, investing, personal finances, travel, familial matters, even dating. Any domain that commands an audience of willing listeners eager to improve their own practice or better understand underlying dynamics is fertile ground for thought leadership. Many individuals and organizations have carved out valuable niches sharing knowledge as thought leaders in any one of the categories listed above.
How does one become a thought leader?
To become a thought leader, a person or business has to acquire a wealth of knowledge or expertise in a certain domain. Typically, that acquisition is achieved in one of two ways:
Direct, hands-on experience
Observation and synthesis of successful practices
Naturally, those that have accumulated significant experience in a domain over the course of a career can easily vouch for their credibility. That direct experience is difficult to replicate or replace, especially for those looking to expedite their accumulation of knowledge. However, it’s not the only way to acquire the credibility necessary to be a thought leader.
An alternative, especially for those willing to dedicate a significant amount of time over a shorter period, is the deep study of a domain. Individuals can “borrow” credibility by studying what has worked incredibly well in a category and what hasn’t. By not only observing these successes and failures but synthesizing them into digestible lessons learned, these parties are sharpening and deepening their own expertise in the space while also providing a valuable service to the category’s audience.
As we alluded to, the simple accumulation of expertise is not sufficient in the pursuit of thought leadership. Aspiring thought leaders must also share this expertise with an audience. It is only by sharing valuable, unique insights that they can begin to build credibility and renown. The consistent output of such insights will strengthen the author’s reputation as a category thought leader, particularly as the audience consumes, shares, and reacts to them.
How is thought leadership conveyed?
There are many ways to share one’s expertise to develop a reputation as a thought leader. Often, the written word is most effective at conveying domain authority, and thought leaders use several different written mediums to do so:
Social Media (e.g. LinkedIn, X posts)
Case Studies
White Papers/eBooks
Blog Posts
Email Newsletters
Thought leadership writing varies in length and tone across mediums, but no matter the format, the goal is the same: to inform the audience with unique insights and perspectives, simultaneously building one’s credibility and authority on the topic.
In an increasingly digital world - particularly one where audiences consume content in different, time-saving ways - non-written mediums for thought leadership content are gaining popularity. These include:
Social Media Videos (e.g. Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat)
Podcasts
Webinars/Webcasts
Of course, not everything is delivered digitally, even in the present era. Individuals can still very effectively demonstrate their domain authority by attending and speaking at specific events in front of a highly targeted audience. Events like industry conferences, attended by the most engaged members of a category - who are also the ones most likely to share valuable insights with others - can be extremely impactful venues for the delivery of thought leadership and development of credibility.
What are the benefits of being seen as a thought leader?
Why go to all this trouble? Accumulating such vast knowledge and conscientiously delivering it….to what end? Just to attain a sophisticated-sounding title like thought leader?
While the title itself - unofficial though it may be - reverberates in the ear with an air of elegance, it’s what it unlocks that delivers a return on your meaningful investment of time. Thought leadership creates credibility, and that credibility leads to greater exposure. Credibility and exposure combine to attract new business and new opportunities.
Publications of repute frequently turn to thought leaders for their thoughts on relevant news matters. And those quotes tend to have a compounding effect. A quote in The New York Times is seen by a journalist for the Wall Street Journal, who reaches out for a quote in their own story. Journalists for The Economist, or The Financial Times, or the The Washington Post see those quotes while researching for a story on a tangential topic and decide to reach out. And on the snowball rolls down the hill, seemingly irreversible in its ability to gather more credibility for the quoted thought leader.
That reputational enhancement is valuable for one’s own future career prospects or for improved results in one’s current role. Doors may open to previously unthinkable opportunities and an exciting new path in life. Alternatively, customers may queue up to purchase products or services from a person or organization that has consistently demonstrated its deep understanding of the domain, with co-signs from other constituents, peers, and media. Customers want to learn from or purchase from those that are trusted. But that trust has to be diligently and honestly earned through the consistent sharing of expertise and knowledge, all amassed through painstaking hard work.
Interested in demonstrating your own hard earned expertise and knowledge in your domain? ThoughtLede works with you to transform your unique insights, ideas, and perspectives into credible thought leadership. Get in touch today to begin building your credibility and authority.