One of the top ways to differentiate yourself in an industry is establishing yourself as a thought leader. In an increasingly globalized world, there is a tremendous advantage to becoming a social influencer—someone who is seen to be on the cutting edge of their field.
Even if you are already a respected leader, there are plenty of reasons to take the next step in your career and build a profile as a thought leader. By developing your online brand, you will expand your network and gain the opportunity to engage with a broader audience in your industry. You will also enhance your ability to positively influence your colleagues and even have a voice in the direction of the sector.
Thought leadership is a valuable opportunity to expand your reach, innovate, grow as a leader, and build your professional profile on and offline.
What is a thought leader?
Thought leaders are professionals who have established credibility and authority in their field by sharing their expertise publicly. They speak confidently from their own experience, offering insights on timely issues in their sector.
The level of influence distinguishes thought leaders. A true thought leader has the reach and authority to change minds and enact change, inspiring positive shifts in their business or industry.
What distinguishes thought leaders from their peers?
What’s the difference between a true thought leader and an average person sharing their opinions online? First and foremost, thought leaders are experts who are great at what they do. They typically have solid resumes and years of experience to draw from, so they have instant credibility when they speak up on timely issues.
Thought leaders are also lifelong learners. Rather than sticking to what they know, they are constantly curious, seeking out the latest thinking on issues in their field and searching for new solutions to old problems. Thought leaders continually read, listen, and research to increase their understanding of current ideas and gain new perspectives.
And thought leaders do more than think. They act. To establish credibility, individuals must be continually innovating, growing, and making strides in their work. It’s all about walking the walk.
How do you establish yourself as a thought leader?
To establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry, you must provide value for your colleagues by sharing valuable, novel ideas. Every leader is different, and therefore everyone’s approach to thought leadership will be different, too. However, a few standard principles will be helpful to employ as you establish your strategy.
1. Find your niche and share your thoughts.
As a leader, you must understand where your niche lies. What unique experience or expertise do you hold that could be beneficial for others in your field? Your value may come from your education, your unique combination of professional experiences, personal background, or all of the above. The better you can define your niche, the stronger your identity as a thought leader will be. When people understand who you are and why you know what you know, they are more likely to listen to what you have to say.
Once that niche is established, you are well-positioned to share thoughts in the subject areas you identified. Every thought leader takes a different approach, but there are a few overarching principles that most follow. First, take a firm stance on the critical issues in your niche of expertise and make that stance known. Remember, it usually takes a few repetitions before your audience hears and understands your message, so share your thoughts widely across various platforms to ensure the ideas reach the right people.
Second, stay up to date on the latest news in your industry and be the first to share updates with your colleagues. When you reliably establish yourself as someone on top of the newest innovations, your peers will begin to look to you for information. It’s vital to remember that your status as a thought leader is premised on your strong reputation, so be sure to evaluate your sources critically and ensure that you only share accurate news.
2. Create valuable content
If you’re serious about taking on the mantle of thought leader, you should be prepared to create your content in addition to re-sharing content with others. Content creation requires a significant investment of time, energy, and resources, but it’s integral for building your reputation as an influencer in the industry.
The content types and platforms you select for sharing will depend on your audience and the skills and strengths you bring to the process. Typically, most thought leaders share text posts and articles—especially when first starting—but you can also generate significant engagement by creating a podcast, videos, or other multimedia.
The key to any content is to create value for your followers. Think about the niche you identified for yourself, and consider how you could offer expertise, advice, and tools within that niche to help leaders in your industry. When you share content that is valuable and meaningful to your audience, people will be more likely to engage, like, and follow, building your profile as a thought leader in the process.
3. Provide advice and feedback in your community
Keep in mind that your peers are looking for more than just content. As an insider, you can offer unique feedback and advice that only people with your specific experience can provide.
Be generous with your advice, offering it openly and freely to anyone in the field who is interested in guidance. Not only will it demonstrate that you know your stuff, but this approach shows that you care about the success of your peers and the well-being of your industry.
4. Engage with your audience
Know who your audience is in your industry and pursue opportunities to engage with those peers. Follow the proper industry tags on LinkedIn or Twitter and make a habit of replying to comments on the most popular posts. If everyone in your field attends the same conferences, participate actively in those spaces by attending networking events, asking questions at panels, and even pursuing speaking opportunities.
Being engaged in the timely conversations happening in your field is one of the best ways to make people take notice of your knowledge and expertise. It also helps you stay on top of the latest news and innovations.
5. Commit your time and get personal
Working toward becoming a thought leader requires commitment. Creating content, staying up on industry news, and engaging with the community all take considerable time and effort, so be prepared to put in the hours if you’re serious about making it happen.
It also requires vulnerability. People connect most to thought leaders who are willing to get personal, even if they speak mainly on industry issues. For the best chances of success, be ready to share personal details and stories. It humanizes you and helps your peers better understand your perspective.
Where do you get your content?
A great way to kickstart your content is to begin with your personal narrative. Share the journey that brought you into your industry and tell the audience why you are passionate about what you do. You may be surprised by the genuine engagement you receive from this approach.
The meat of your content should consist of analysis. Package your expert thoughts into small tidbits and plain language (leave out the buzzwords) to ensure it’s easy to understand. Even industry insiders appreciate when you drop the jargon and keep things simple.
To make your content more robust, use your connections! Network with other leaders that have similar expertise and share their voices on your platforms. Plenty of prominent thought leaders have built their brands by interviewing influential contacts and sharing the conversations via video, article, or podcast.
Above all, don’t forget to tell a story with your content. What do you want your audience to know, and why is it so important? Use anecdotes from your life and professional experience to develop a cohesive narrative that underlies all your content. And don’t forget to use data and your expert analysis to drive your message home.
The bottom line
Thought leaders are not born—they are made. Establishing yourself as a thought leader starts with understanding your niche and the value you bring as an expert in your field. From there, it takes commitment, time, and creativity to develop content that will engage an audience of your peers and build a strong brand. To stand out from a crowd of qualified people, do not be afraid to be authentic, vulnerable, and generous with your time.
Are you ready to take the plunge? The great news is that it’s simple to get started. All it takes to begin your thought leadership journey is to offer your ideas and click ‘share.’
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