Member-only story
Influence and Thought Leadership: A Simple Guide for Every Professional
How to Define It, Build It, and Benefit from It
One of the best things you can ever do for your career is to build thought leadership. It can bring you better job opportunities, increase your visibility to a wider audience, attract opportunities you never dreamt of, and position you as an expert in your field. Thought leadership is different from personal branding. Personal branding means that you build a public image around what you want to be known for. Thought leadership is what you do with your brand that proves it. You can build an amazing personal brand but if you don’t put it out there in the public eye, what use is it?
What Is a Thought Leader?
Thought leadership is the highest form and the longest-lasting form of influence. It is putting one’s expertise and life mission out to the public. Thought leaders influence people to change their behaviors and become (hopefully) better versions of themselves. We remember thought leaders long after they leave us and future generations often refer back to them in their own works and ideas. Presidents, royal family, generals, and some influencers who accomplish major milestones in their fields of expertise all count as such. Thought leaders are brave and bold, respected and…
