What do you do when you have a big idea?
How do you spread that idea to other people to create a movement? To build a platform that other people can climb onto?
The true goal of thought leadership isn’t gaining fame or grabbing people’s attention. It’s about spreading your ideas and leading the way forward. (See: Thought leadership isn’t about ego — it’s about generosity)
People think that “thought leadership” is all about one person’s LinkedIn posts and moment with the mic, but my favorite thought leadership projects are way bigger than one person.
If you’re developing a big idea and you want other people (on your team, in your firm, in your industry, or on an even broader level) to get on board, here are a few tactics I’ve tried in my partnerships with thought leaders.
How to get people on board with a big idea
Share a story
One client told me recently that she couldn’t get on stage in front of her peers and lecture them like a professor. So, if your inclination is to “show, not tell,” put your energy into telling stories that illustrate your idea.
Consider prompts like:
- How has this idea played out in your own work?
- What’s a time when you were surprised that this principle worked?
- What about a time when this principle DIDN’T work? What did you learn from that experience?
Go visual
Another client likes to have a single image that illustrates any new concept he’s pitching to his team. He’s known for his wacky images that take people out of their corporate headspace — think bumble bees, dump trucks, niche movie references, and kids’ toys. He’s a pro at using these unexpected images to share a metaphor that people remember.
Act it out
Sometimes people need concrete examples of how they could actually implement a big-picture idea in their daily work. Give them examples, conversation scripts, and scenarios where they could shift their behavior to move in a new direction. If you’re presenting the idea in person, try role-playing as a group to act out the idea.
Encourage people to make it their own
Finally, the real key to spreading an idea is helping other people take ownership of it, making it their own. Give people the tools they need to turn the idea from a fuzzy concept to a real practice they can use. I’ve seen leaders hold contests to reward people who use the idea in their work. Allow people the freedom to add their own spin on the original idea, applying it in their own work in a way that works for them.
The most exciting part of thought leadership is seeing good ideas grow legs. Business leaders aren’t academics or philosophers. As their thought partner, I don’t care about writing pretty poetry. I want to craft ideas that people can actually use to get better and make a bigger impact in their work.
How will you spread your next big idea?
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