To most, becoming an executive thought leader was never conceivable in the past. People only imagined CEOs and founders of major corporations like Steve Jobs to fit the bill.
However, due to the accessibility of social media, the wide-scale influx of news publications, and the increased demand for more industry voices among the general public, almost anyone can become a thought leader regardless of the company they work for or their position.
All that’s needed is a strong personality paired with tangible insights and opinions that are relevant, educational, and in high demand. The rewards? Improved visibility and credibility, greater career prospects, and an opportunity to enact real change in the world.
If becoming an executive thought leader sounds like something that could benefit your career, here are five important steps to fast-track your ambitions and stand out among the crowd.
- Refresh your online profile.
Think about it: What’s the first thing you do when you hear of someone these days? You Google their name. This is the exact thing people will do when they stumble across your thought leadership.
Hence, it’s very important to capture new imagery and video content to update your Twitter, LinkedIn, and any biographies you may have.
If you’re an experienced programmer who specialises in cybersecurity, don’t be afraid to show off your age. While you might think you looked better in your twenties, to a journalist writing about you, the fifty-year-old you might seem more experienced, improving your odds of securing coverage.
You should also be aware of any of the posts you share on your personal social media accounts since these will also be visible to audiences. Make sure that you appear online as the best possible version of yourself.
- Don’t oversell yourself.
Executive thought leaders make this mistake time and time again. They oversell themselves for more likes, journalists who could cover them, and events they can attend and speak at.
But all they do is damage their credibility at a time when they are attempting to build it.
If you want to become an executive thought leader, it’s important to focus on what you’re good at and share what you know. If you avoid wasting journalists’ time, they’ll want to work with you again, and your LinkedIn connections will continue to engage with your content.
Besides, if you’re a well-qualified executive within your company, you don’t want to run the risk of damaging the trust of key stakeholders, such as investors and fellow employees. Depending on the context, the ramifications of making false statements can often be serious.
- But do make bold predictions and comments.
You should, however, make sure that whatever you say carries some weight. This is crucial to set yourself apart from a host of other thought leaders who are commenting on similar topics.
Make bold predictions and support them with statistics, real-world case studies, and company reports. This will make your pitches stronger and help to sell your story to a journalist, especially if the story resonates with the publication’s audience.
For instance, compare these two headlines pitched to a national publication:
Headline 1: “Car parts will be more expensive next year.”
Headline 2: “Risk of 5% insurance price hike led by South Korean battery shortage.”
While slightly longer, the second headline has much better news value and is likely to ensure greater engagement since it provides additional context, uses specific stats, and isn’t at all generic. More importantly, it makes the executive who pitched appear much more credible.
- Be mindful of attacking others and avoid sensitive topics.
Whether a political issue or an in-house one, executive thought leaders must be mindful of attacking others, even if they strongly disagree with their opinions or actions.
Always question whether expressing your opinions to the media or on social media is worthwhile. If it incites negativity and is unlikely to be productive in any way, it’s probably best to ditch the topic.
This isn’t to suggest you should never make counterarguments. When presented thoughtfully and respectfully, counterarguments can highlight your analytical skills and strengthen your reputation as an insightful leader who cares about the issues you campaign for. Just make sure your agenda and language used are clear and constructive.
- Consult a professional.
But, most importantly, consider consulting an executive thought leadership professional.
Executive thought leadership agencies have represented hundreds of clients; they know how to advise leaders on what their strengths are, the publications they should be targeting, and how they can grow their following on social media.
Moreover, because of their deep relationships with a range of journalists, they can fast-track your odds of securing consistent top-tier coverage. It may take you years to reach the same heights alone.
Plus, building an executive thought leadership profile takes time, so the investment is usually worth it to minimise any risk and maximise your impact in the best possible way.
