Becoming a thought leader

Yesterday I read a blog post titled “How to Become a Thought Leader in Six Steps.” But the post should have been titled, “How to Promote Your Thought Leadership in Six Steps” because it focused on ways to gain visibility as a thought leader, rather than give steps on how to become one.

Promoting and becoming a thought leader are not the same. Becoming a thought leader precedes promoting yourself as one (otherwise you’re promoting a smoke screen).

To become a thought leader you must:

• Be an expert. Thought leaders are recognized authorities (affiliate link) in their field. They either have a specific niche focus or a unique point of view that compels others to tune in.
• Be passionate. Thought leaders love what they do. They personally connect with their topic or area of expertise, and this gives them energy and motivation that sustains them for years.
• Be called to teach. Thought leaders enjoy sharing their unique perspective and helping others learn from new ideas. They are willing to engage others and share information freely.
• Be generous. Thought leaders give without the expectation of an immediate return. They have a “no strings attached” attitude that enables them to willingly share insights that serve the needs of others before their own.
• Be a lifelong learner. Thought leaders are hungry to learn and seek knowledge from every source — from the market, mentors, clients, and peers. They are constantly accessing new information and applying their unique spin.
• Be a risk taker. Thought leaders are willing to do what others may fear, like being a naysayer or public speaking. They have an opinion and they confidently share it. Their confidence is balanced with an underlying attitude of generosity and teaching (not selling or pitching).
• Be continuously connecting and communicating. Thought leaders don’t horde what they know and confine that information to a tight circle of contacts. They use blogs, public speaking, writing and other mainstream media to connect with audiences and communicate their ideas. They foster community involvement and have a genuine interest in the conversation, not a monologue where they are center stage.

With the influence of social media and the urge to develop a personal brand, executives, entrepreneurs, and authors are clamoring to be heard and dubbed the next thought leader in their field. But becoming a thought leaders takes more than vying for attention. It’s also about embodying a specific set of characteristics that sets you apart from the usual “expert.”

I’m curious, who are your favorite thought leaders and what other characteristics do they embody?

photo credit: HikingArtist.com on flickr.com