A Career In Thought Leadership

It’s an honorable goal for someone to aspire to be a thought leader.Online classes and degree programs provide an excellent way for business leaders and marketers, for instance, to expand their knowledge and perhaps specialize in a new...

To establish yourself as a trusted figure in any field takes a lot of dedication, hard work, and time. Thought leaders are continually building their experience and credibility. Consider the principles of leader...

Thought leaders are the informed opinion leaders in their field of expertise. But at what point can an individual or business consider themselves a thought leader and start producing thought leadership content? It takes time, skill, and tenacity to be able to be considere...

While it’s true that a thought leader’s success can be attributed to a razor-sharp focus in a particular area, it’s important to draw from multiple sources within this area to increase the chances of a good idea springing up. According to Simon Sinek, best-known for his ...

It’s perfectly fine to share your opinion on a wide variety of subjects to show you are a present, well-rounded professional. But the beauty about thought leadership is that success can come from streamlining your focus to a single specialty. Practicality and common sense can att...

Unafraid to admit what they don’t know, true thought leaders make a conscious effort to understand and listen to what others have to say. This is a tried-and-true way to stay connected with peers in your field and expand your knowledge on a topic. The more people a leader listens...

Clients, prospects, the business, and the media are your audiences, so use them as a barometer of how effective your thought leadership content is. If they’re not convinced, it’s time to revisit your approach to idea generation.

• Clients. Make your content more about th...

A CEO for a Fortune 500 company invites rank-and-file employees to join her and listen in on meetings where senior management give her business updates. Her thinking behind this? It encourages employees to share their opinions, increases the chances of a good idea being expressed, and cre...

Fran Blanche fancies herself a “geek girl who makes stuff.” She had the foresight to combine her engineering background and “goofball” personality in weekly how-to videos (“Fran in the Lab”) that feature her fiddling with electronic components—something she knows like the back of...

Utilizing content marketing, social media, and other means to increase your authority and influence are key for successful thought leadership. But, the definition of thought leadership is innovative thinking full of insight, information and inspiration, which is why many thought leaders a...

Expertise, insight, and a valuable perspective are elements that lead to thought leadership status. To be an effective thought leader is to possess a depth of knowledge no one else has. There are several key benefits to this. It:

• Qualifies you as a reliable source of i...

Steve Jobs believed that “you always had to be a little different to buy an Apple computer.” This thought inspired Apple’s “Think Different” advertising campaign, featuring real “geniuses” whose “crazy” ideas had a profound impact on the world. Many CEOs like Jobs are kno...

An entry-level assistant for an online lifestyle publication expresses an interest in writing about fashion. His editor assigns him small pieces at first then much larger ones after the assistant’s writing skills and expertise blossom. He ultimately lands his own weekly fashion c...

You'll need to have more than a LinkedIn profile to become a thought leader. You'll need to have proven your experience and understanding in a field in tangible ways to show to others that you are a voice to listen to.

You don't have to be Steve Jobs to become a thought leader. You can star...

Clearly defining your niche or specific area of expertise can help you build your brand, establish credibility in your field, and raise your profile. For example, a garden author focuses her work entirely on what she knows best—succulents—and, as a result of the clout she’s built...

The best thought leaders continually stay current on what’s happening in their fields, which is especially crucial in faster-evolving industries like technology. This gives them the opportunity to recognize and analyze patterns and trends in the market, which can inspire ...

Thought leadership is the expression of ideas that demonstrate you have expertise in a particular field, area, or topic. Many executives and business leaders strive to become a thought leader in their respective fields. It takes dedication, patience, strategy, and education.