How to Become a Thought Leader

The term ‘thought leader’ is being bantered about quite a bit lately. What is a thought leader anyway? Someone who has leading thoughts? Nope. Someone who is a pioneer in his or her field of endeavor? Maybe. Here is a definition paraphrased from the Wikipedia definition and Elise Bauer.

Thought Leaders are said to be people (or firms) who are recognized among their peers for innovative ideas; who confidently promote those ideas; and who earn recognition from the outside world for their deep understanding of their business, the needs of their clients, and the broader marketplace in which they operate.

This definition I found on an article entitled: How To Become A Thought Leader. Now at various sections of the article there exist links, which take you to a page so that you can purchase an e-book aptly titled, How To Become A Thought Leader.

My question is, did they read the definition they supplied? “To become identified by your peers for innovative ideas; who confidently promote those ideas; and who earn recognition from the outside world for their deep understanding of their business, the needs of their clients, and the broader marketplace in which they operate.”

I can read every book and article on the subject from here to China and never be recognized by my peers as a thought leader. To think of innovative ideas, to promote and implement those ideas and then to garner recognition for there contributions is not something you can get out of reading a book.

Then today I get an email from another source about guess what? Yes a new course I can sign up for to become a thought leader. Now listen I do not want to come across like I’m against info products because it’s quite the opposite. There are a lot of great seminars and e-courses out in the marketplace.

That being said becoming a thought leader is not in my opinion obtainable through a course. It seems to me that words like experience, dedication, creativity, caring, vision and passion exemplify the characteristics of a true thought leader.

True leadership is not found outside of yourself. It is you and you alone making the decisions and taking the actions that get you to this place we call leadership. There is one additional word that would exemplify a thought leader and that word is courage.

It takes courage to be an innovator, it takes courage to promote new ideas, it takes courage to enroll others in your ideas and it takes courage to take action implementing those ideas.

I would bet that if you had the opportunity to speak with someone recognized as a thought leader and asked them how they planned their path to becoming one they would say, “I never even heard of the term till recently. I was simply engaged in my work.”