Thought Leaders are common in this day and age. You can see them everywhere! However, what makes them a Thought Leader? And how do you find them?
A Thought Leader is somebody who is considered as an authority or expert in their industry. People look up to them and respect their views and opinions. They go out and speak on stage. They are Influencers with a huge social media following. These are the kinds of people who are considered as a Thought Leader.
However, that is the common perception of what a Thought Leader is. I, on the other hand, look at it slightly differently.
I believe that most of us here are Thought Leaders at some level or the other but, we fail to realize that. When was the last time you posted something on Facebook? And when was the last time you made a comment on Instagram? Whenever we share our views with the world, we are sharing our thoughts. That, itself, can make you a Thought Leader. The only difference is the level at which you are playing this game.
So what are these 4 levels of Thought Leadership?
Level 4: Social Media Posts
A Level 4 Thought Leader is online constantly, getting themselves updated on the latest trends, posting views about what they think is right and wrong. Social media has made it so easy to voice out people’s opinions that anyone with a smartphone can just log in and talk about a certain topic that interests them. That’s what makes social media so powerful. It is the way it allows people to connect using their thoughts. And this is what makes all of us Thought Leaders in some way or the other.
Level 3: Blog, Video, Podcast
The next level of Thought Leadership is about individuals who are taking their thoughts seriously. They compose lengthy blogs and post it on their website or another platform and similar mediums where blogs are considered valuable. They create and post videos that are longer and in-depth, and they probably do podcasts, too! They might even have a community of followers! These people, in my opinion, are Level 3 Thought Leaders.
Level 2: Webinar Seminar
Being a Level 2 Thought Leader is when an individual takes time and the effort in creating valuable content for a set of audience who aren’t just casually watching their videos or reading their blogs.
A Level 2 Thought Leader hosts webinars! This way, they are able to build personal relationships and have real-time conversations. By doing this, they would be able to inspire people to explore the highlights of a certain topic and help gain rich insights.
This can also happen offline in real events. Others would go on stage, book themselves as a speaker and share their ideas about a certain topic to a specific audience who are dedicated to learning from them.
Level 1: Book
The ultimate way to establish your Thought Leadership is through a book. It is not an easy feat as it requires commitment and effort. A level 2 Thought Leader may already know tons about a certain topic though they may not take the time to structure all their ideas and compile it in the form of a book. That’s what makes authors stand out from other types of Thought Leaders.
Experts write books!
A Level 1 Thought Leader writes and publishes something on a subject that is important to them, allowing themselves to express their creativity or share their expert advice and teachings with others who, in return, can have and bring with them for the rest of their lives.
Many new opportunities will open up once you establish yourself as a Level 1 Thought Leader and the best way to do it is through writing a book.
