What is 'Thought Leadership' ?
Hi, Can anyone define the term 'Thought Leadership' for me and advise on
where would I find the latest trends and developments in 'Thought Leadership', advising on these issues, and PR practices promoting this trend on behalf of professional services firms, including management consultancies? Thanks.
Answers (4)
David N.
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See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_leader - in other words, much of what we are all looking for / trying to share here on LinkedIn.
Lance L.
Director, Public Relations at Siemens Medical Solutions
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Thought Leadership is the buzzword du jour for "expert." I first became aware of "thought leadership" from the management consulting firms (McKinsey, Anderson, AT Kearney, etc.) in the late 1990's. Although, now that every company is boosting it's thought leadership, it seems innovative companies are starting to back off this slogan.
The concept behind "thought leadership" is that you are recongized for your knowledge and insights within the industry. You are called upon to speak at conferences. Publications actively solicit your input for articles. Clients and potential clients recognize your name and the expertise you can bring.
Unfortunately, the problem is that everyone these days seems to think they are a "thought leader" in something (or everything). Note the "Best Answers" function here in LinkedIn as a case in point.
Chris B.
Freelance Marketing Gun For Hire
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'Thought Leadership' is an empty, self aggrandizing term that lazy PR hacks can preach to the equally lazy journalistic hacks writing any old nonesense for a lunch on someone elses expense account. Rather than look for trends, simply invent your own empty, self aggrandizing term for what you or you clients do.
The term used to be 'guru', but then Peter Drucker pointed out that people only used the word 'guru' because 'charlatan' was too long to fit in a headline. The phrase 'Thought leader' seems to neatly skip past that objection by dint of its higher Scrabble score, but it still amounts to the same thing.
Think of it this way. Market leaders are interesting. They have had the thoughts and backed them up with actions. The have worked hard to acheive and maintain their position. Thought leaders really don't have very much to offer unless they have actually acheived something. Anyone can be a 'thought leader' if they just have the time to write a book. Before you describe someone as a thought leader, first spend a little time focussing on their acheivements. Describe them as a human being rather than a cliche. Or at least take the time and effort to come up with your own cliche.
