Thought Leadership Isn’t a Performance. It’s Just Thinking Out Loud.
Earlier this week, I talked to a new freelancer who has spent the past decade in corporate marketing. She wanted my advice on how to position herself and her services. One of my immediate suggestions: Start a thought leadership practice. Force yourself to think about your work and reflect on what you’ve learned. Start “thinking […]
3 Common Thought Leadership Roadblocks
In my work with thought leaders, I’ve learned a lot about what makes great thought leadership sing. But you know what’s even more helpful? Learning what makes thought leadership get stalled and stuck. Why do smart people with the best intentions (and razor-sharp marketing teams) sometimes get mired in their own ideas? Three reasons: they […]
Your Thought Leadership Needs a Headline
If you’re an expert in your field, you know a lot. You have deep knowledge about your industry. But just having that knowledge doesn’t make you a thought leader. Thought leaders are experts who share their knowledge by breaking it down, presenting it in interesting ways, and neatly packaging distinct ideas. Every time you present […]
Develop Your Thought Leadership Strategy: Think G-A-I-N
When business leaders come to me for help with their thought leadership, they usually have a lot of “who’s” on the tip of their tongues. “Did you see that [X PERSON] is publishing a book? I want to do that.” “I want to show up on LinkedIn like [Y PERSON].” “[Z PERSON] is everywhere lately. […]
Your Mid-Year Review: Reflection Prompts
2024 is halfway behind us. This middle point in the year feels like a good time to pause and reflect. Reflection is a thought leader’s superpower, but most people don’t pause to reflect often enough. So, I invite you to save these prompts and pull them out when you’re feeling relaxed, rested, and creative. I […]
You Get One Idea
How would you describe yourself in one word? It’s a tough question, even for the most self-aware among us. We contain multitudes, and any given person has a wide range of attributes that describe them, depending on the day, the season, and who you’re asking. Funny. Optimistic. Confident. Intelligent. Kind. Humble. Strong. Now, […]
There Is No Magic Formula for Thought Leadership
My friend Alyssa asked me a question earlier this week, and I’m still thinking about it: Can you be a thought leader AND shy away from controversy? In other words, can you change an industry without pushing any buttons or being perceived as a “challenger”? Can you be a positive, optimistic person who highlights opportunities rather than […]
3 Things Thought Leaders Need to Know as ‘AI Slime’ Takes Over the Internet
New month, new terrifying headlines about AI’s growing power. This week, I read an explainer in Fast Company called Is the ‘Dead Internet’ theory suddenly coming true? This could be a sign. The premise: what was once a fringe theory (the internet is increasingly dominated by bot-created content, not human thoughts) is becoming more and […]
Thought Leadership Idea Starter: Chase the Sparks
Do you know what sets thought leaders apart? It’s not that they’re smarter than other people. They’re not more intuitive. They’re not even necessarily better at their jobs. But they have trained themselves to do one specific thing: They chase the sparks. What is a spark? Sparks are the little moments, ideas, and questions that […]
What are the Ingredients in Your “Secret Sauce”?
“I don’t want to give away my secret sauce!” I hear this all the time from thought leaders. They want to *hint* at the magic behind their work, but they’re afraid of revealing too much. Spoiler alert: unless you’re sharing your ATM pin or you work with nuclear codes, no one can somehow swoop in […]
