While people have defined “thought leadership” in a variety of ways over the years, real thought leadership has never been as difficult to define as it is today.
Today, in the age when everyone can have a bully pulpit, i.e. a blog, user generated content, Twitter, Facebook page, their own YouTube channel, etc., almost anyone can “position” themselves as a thought-leader. But what really is thought-leadership and why is sharing perspectives from those who have something valuable to say so critical to the industry?
We often counsel clients to identify an issues platform we call Issues Factory, that will allow them to share their unique view of the industry, a technology, a trend. Of course, this Issues Factory is designed to support our client’s vision, mission and message. While we design the platform to help educate an industry, it also very clearly serves our clients altruistically and their communications objectives including helping raise their industry visibility, awareness and leadership mindshare. It’s often a very good weapon in an arsenal of communications tactics.
Today, anyone can have a voice. But if you follow the “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should” rule, you’ll agree that having a thought and wanting to share it does not a thought leader make!
With all the noise out there today — partly because of the plethora of vehicles everyone has at their disposal — it might be easy for real thought leaders to refrain from sharing perspectives. After all, it does take time and effort and for those who are focused on measured ROI, the results of driving an industry dialog are not often clear. At the same time, it’s never been more important for the true industry pundits – those really in-the-know with sound perspectives and voices to reason – to come forth and share their expertise, rants and raves.
With new industries growing strongly including SaaS, cloud, big data, mobile social gaming, mobile apps, coupled with a growing number of big contextual developments including an even larger global economy and a possible recession, we need the best minds who are on the front lines of what’s really going on to start the discussions, nurture them along and drive some sanity from a knowledge base that’s real and valuable. While it’s much, much harder now to rise above the noise making your voice heard, the need for shared vision and experience has never been stronger.
So, will the real thought leaders please rise and take your place at the pulpit? We need you.
