“89% of the decision makers say thought leadership can enhance the perception of the organization." Being a thought leader is a tangible benefit. In a world where information is readily available in abundance, those who shape it stand out. Thought leaders not only share knowledge but also lead industry change. With this blog, we will cover who exactly is a thought leader and will take you on the journey of “becoming a thought leader.”
Who is a Thought Leader and What is Their Role?
If we go by the basic definition of “who is a thought leader," a thought leader is defined as someone who is an expert in a subject and to whom others turn to get guidance from. A thought leader can be an individual or a company as well. A thought leader is more than acquiring profits or dominating any industry. It is being authentic and empowering for the audience.
These leaders are genuinely interested in providing insights to the audience and keep an open mind to welcome others' thoughts. When curiosity is paired with listening skills, they become powerful thought leaders.
The role of a thought leader can be subjective, but here is what is expected of them commonly:
- Visionary of future trends
Thought leaders are not just experts in the current field but rather they predict the future trends of the respective industry.
This way, they help industries anticipate future challenges and make decisions accordingly.
When we talk about visionaries, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, comes often, as he was a visionary who envisioned a future where sustainable energy will dominate the automotive industry. Tesla's market leadership demonstrates the same thing today. Also, his SpaceX program reflects the rise of commercial space travel.
- Catalysts for Social Change
Many thought leaders influence industries and drive societal and cultural change. They often talk about issues like diversity, sustainability, or ethical business practices.
- Translate complex ideas
One of the key responsibilities of a thought leader is to translate complex ideas into easy, digestible content that is accessible to a generic audience. You are required to break the complex concepts into actionable insights that will be valuable for a larger set of people.
- Educational contributors
They are also responsible for educating the audience. Thought leaders often publish resources like eBooks, research papers, and online courses. They craft resources that resonate with the audience and help them with their primary problem statements.
For instance, Simon Sinek has become one of the most prominent educational contributors, wherein he has written plenty of books to educate people on leadership and importance of purpose. He is also one of the most influential speakers of TED talks.
Thought Leader vs. Expert: What’s the Difference?
- Focus:
Thought leader: Everything that a subject matter expert is along with focused on future trends and big-picture thinking. They are expected to push boundaries and lead innovation.
Expert : Have a broad understanding of the topic and understand how things work. Have an understanding of the historic events as well.
- Influence:
Thought leader: They have a huge influence on any industry and shape opinions and influence decisions.
Expert: They have influence limited to a particular domain. Therefore, people look at them to solve problems in that domain only.
- Approach to Knowledge:
Thought leader: They are more likely known to be visionaries and focus on evolving their field.
Expert: Their approach is more practical, and they are a reliable source for any information in the industry.
- Perception:
Thought leader: They are considered disruptive and can change industry trends.
Expert: They are looking for problem-solving and detailed guidance.
Myths busted about Thought leadership
Now we have discovered the differentiating factors between thought leaders and experts. It is also important to address some misconceptions that people might have on the journey of “How to become a thought Leader." Let us debunk some of the myths around thought leadership.
Myth 1: To become a thought leader you should be perfect in your domain.
You do not need to be know-it-all if you want to become a thought leader. Rather, you should be an excellent researcher. You must look at leadership as a continual field rather than a fixed end goal that you are required to achieve.
Myth 2: All your ideas need to be original.
Putting forward your original ideas is great, but it is not the only way to become a thought leader. You can put forward complex content or concepts into digestible and easy-to-understand chunks. Share actionable content. We at Editorial Institute transform initial ideas into compelling solutions through our expert advisory services.
Myth 3: You need world-class learning on the subject.
Well, learning is good, but being lost in the web of learning more is easy. This is the reason you must be mindful of what teachings you are investing in. You must invest in the skills or knowledge that will come in handy to you shortly. Along with it, you will learn everything during your journey.
Myth 4: Followers are a big deal.
It is good to have a decent social presence, but it is not entirely everything. If you are just counting numbers, then you are not in for the right reasons. It is important to think about how to make the existing community engaging rather than constantly thinking about how to make it big.
Myth 5: If someone is working on the same topic, you should drop the idea.
There will always be competitors. If you are about to get a breakthrough in a topic and someone else made the same content around it. It doesn’t mean you need to stop; there is always something unique to deliver. With this mindset, you must continue.
Myth 6: You need to maintain a certain personality.
To build a following, you need not forget your own personality. To be a thought leader, you can showcase who you actually are, and it will not affect building your community at all.
Myth 7: You must dominate your industry.
You should establish yourself as an industry leader, but that doesn't mean that you have to dominate. You need to be open to others’ opinions and be a good listener to grow.
Thought leadership is not only dominating an industry or becoming a know-it-all; rather, it is a journey to learn, unlearn, and inspire others. It goes beyond becoming an expert; it covers authenticity and the ability to translate complex topics into simpler chunks and make them into actionable content.
We have debunked some of the popular myths for you that will help you start your journey with confidence. To build authentic content, it is also required to incorporate original research insights. This is where you can take the help of The Editorial Institute, which will help you create original and authentic content with in-depth industry research.
