We began our podcast, C-CRETS, to help underrepresented employees get their coin and a seat at the table. We’ve shared key strategies on personal development, stories about our own struggles, and insider information on climbing the corporate ladder. Our aim was to disclose information, aka C-CRETS, that enables you to thrive.
The podcast kicked off in 2020 and one year later, through consistently delivering value, our podcast’s listenership has 4x, new opportunities have been presented to us, and clients are seeking out our executive coaching services.
By showing up weekly over three seasons to help our listeners transform their careers, we were coincidently developing our thought leadership.
In Episode 46 ‘Do They Hear You? Getting Off Mute and Becoming a Thought Leader’ we shared four ways that you can be seen as a thought leader.
At the heart of it, thought leadership involves being able to effectively communicate information that is considered valuable to a targeted audience. So, let’s follow the acronym, LIP.
Lead
Leaders are heard and recognized. But it’s not just about using one’s voice, its also about using one’s keyboard.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has limited the previous face-to-face interactions that were a regular part of people’s everyday lives, many have become heavy consumers of digital content.
And content is the life blood of thought leadership.
In the world of business, it’s the creators of high-value content that speak to a specific demographic who are being positioned as leaders.
It’s becoming harder to be seen with the amount of content produced online. Your willingness to share your thoughts through mediums such as blogging, networking channels like LinkedIn, or even social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can help set you apart.
When you effectively communicate your thoughts to a targeted audience, you’ll not only be seen as a thought leader, but you’ll also gain relevance in that space.
The value of thought leadership is that you’ll be seen as a reliable and trustworthy source of information, which will enable you to inspire and influence others. It also allows you to share your knowledge and expertise, furthering your own understanding of it through its expression.
In addition, thought leadership not only demonstrates a person’s insights within a particular field, but allows them to build their personal brand. Becoming someone who is recognized as an authority figure on a topic is empowering. Be willing to think deeply about your area of expertise. Thought leadership is not about being a jack of all trades on a topic, as well-known thought leaders are mainly recognized for the depth that they show.
Impact
Thought leaders make an impact on others. Without the ability to affect others thinking or behavior, you cannot be considered a thought leader.
In the episode, you probably heard this statement—‘Without a following, you’re writing a diary.’
Thought leadership is not about simply spewing out what’s on your mind. Effective thought leaders strategically plan their content and grow a following.
The more attention you pay into the message that’s being created, the more consideration you have about the point of view of your audience, and the greater your willingness to add value to their lives, the more impact you will have as a thought leader.
The byproducts of creating good content include an increase in follower growth, the ability to influence others, and yes—greater impact. Thought leaders who make an impact are able to motivate their followers, inspire their trust and are often seen as role models in some aspect.
Purpose
And finally, there must be a purpose and a reason behind your desire to extend your reach. Thought leaders are purposeful about the content they make and the path that they want to pursue.
What you value as a person and the mission behind your interest in becoming a thought leader are important. Simply put, the clearer you are on your own value system relevant to the topic you’ll be creating content on, the better your messaging will be when it reaches the intended audience.
Leaders who are unclear about what they value do not keep followers for long. They’re also more prone to change the content topics that they talk about, which confuses followers.
In addition, it’s important that you decide on your mission beforehand. There is bound to be challenges and hiccups along the way, and it’ll be the thought-leader rooted in his or her purpose who’s quicker able to surmount any difficulties.
Knowing your purpose is key when it comes to navigating the complex and unpredictable world we’re facing today as the pandemic continues. Purpose will allow you as a thought-leader to implement strategies and make decisions that align with the direction you want to go.
However, it’s not just important to create content with purpose, you must also be consistent in your output. Consistency is what will enable followers to trust you, as well as help build your credibility and authority.
So, the next time you think of thought leadership, remember L-I-P. The best thought leaders are able to lead others, make an impact in their lives, and consistently produce work with purpose and intention.
At C-CRETS, we’re ready to help you further your career. Thought leadership is one of the modules we take clients through during our coaching services. You can find out more about coaching with us here.
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