ten-and-a-halfthoughtsaboutthoughtleadershipfromthewriter-140317063807-phpapp01
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This document discusses the concept of thought leadership and provides various perspectives on what it is and isn't. It suggests that thought leadership is not just about being an expert, producing content, or marketing. Rather, it's about provoking new ideas, inspiring people, and changing perspectives. The document also notes that thought leadership is best achieved by asking questions rather than always providing answers, and that the process of writing out one's thoughts can help develop new insights.
ten-and-a-halfthoughtsaboutthoughtleadershipfromthewriter-140317063807-phpapp01
- 1. Whats the big idea? Ten-and-a-half thoughts about thought leadership.
- 2. It seems like everyone wants to be a thought leader these days.
- 3. But what, really, does that mean?
- 4. How do you go about being one?
- 5. And should you even be one anyway?
- 6. There are no definite answers. But we do have a few thoughts.
- 7. The old definition ofthought leadership assomething quasi-academic doesnt hold upanymore.
- 8. Technology is changing everything.
- 10. First, lets think very carefully about what thought leadership isnt. Hint: ≠ Its not PR. ≠ Its not marketing. ≠ Its not just content. ≠ And its not just being a subject matter expert, either.
- 11. Theres a big volume problem that risks devaluing thought leadership
- 12. Wouldnt you get bored of drinking champagne if you drank it every single day? The people who work in the chocolate factory lose their taste for chocolate.
- 13. to the noise Social media has only added
- 14. Shhh! Youll be heard better if you say less. But say it well.
- 15. * Too long; didnt read If you have a leading thought but nobody reads it, does it really exist? TL;DR*
- 16. Did Michelangelo call himself a thought leader? Did Plato or Einstein or Gandhi? God forbid that you should ever say it of yourself.
- 17. youre a thought leader. Let others say
- 18. And anyway, does everyone need to be a thought leader? Be honest with yourself do you? Does your organisation?
- 19. Maybe it would be better to follow well than lead badly?
- 20. One of the defining moments in human history was the harnessing of fire. Because being able to cook food and whatnot meant that for the first time ever we had time to think about things.
- 21. Good thought leadership should be an invitation to sit around the campfire.
- 22. Solving problems should not be thought leaderships job. Leave that to others. The job is to provoke, inspire, change how people see the world, open up new possibilities.
- 23. You know that Henry Ford quote, If Id have asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses? Well, great thought leaders are letting people know: Whatevers coming next, its not gonna be about horses.
- 24. Theres no shortage of people offering you answers. What the world needs is more people asking the right questions.
- 25. E M Forster said how will I know what I think until I see what I say? Thats partly why writing and thought leadership are so connected. Its often when you start working your thoughts out on paper that the magic happens.
- 26. This little collection of thoughts was inspired by a debate about thought leadership that we held at The Free Word centre while the storms raged in January 2014. Many thanks to our two speakers that evening: Cristina Ampil, managing director of PwC USs Thought Leadership Institute; and Nick Portet, creative director at a thoughtful private bank and to everyone else who came along and pitched in.
- 27. Want a hand shaping your thoughts? Get in touch: London Call us on +44 (0)20 7940 7540 New York Call us on +1 646 568 3181 Everywhere Drop us an email info@thewriter.com Tweet us @TheWriter Link with us on LinkedIn Read more at thewriter.com