Becoming a Thought Leader in 2020

Let’s Fix Work Episode 88:

A lot of people are making a big deal about the end of the decade. I am not one of those people. As we close out another year, today’s show is not a wrap up episode. Instead, as we leave 2019 and head into 2020, I would like to take this opportunity to talk about something that’s on my mind.  In the HR community a lot of people are talking about influence and thought leadership. Some people think those words are played out. But there are people in the HR world who do want to be thought leaders and influencers. They have something smart to say about fixing work. I love these individuals. 

And it’s not just in the HR world where I see this shift happening. There’s a cultural movement happening. More and more people feel the need to educate. More people are feeling the need to teach. They have a message to share. 

Are you one of those people who wants to be a thought leader? Do you have a message of hope? Well, if you do, I have some tips for you. So if you want some tactical tips and strategies on becoming a thought leader in 2020, then sit back and listen to this episode of Let’s Fix Work.  

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. The importance of being comfortable within your own skin and with the title of ‘thought leader’
2. A reminder that you can’t compete or influence if you are not putting yourself and your content out there
3. Understanding that everyone has a competitor and some ways to audit and stop your competition 
4. Realized that in order to become a thought leader or influence, you have get in the mix and be where the conversations are happening
5. Why you must be willing to take risks and be willing to be ostracized from the people you absolutely love and adore 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

I WANT TO BECOME A THOUGHT LEADER. WHAT ARE SOME ‘FIRSTS’ THAT I NEED TO KNOW?

The first thing you need to understand is that you have to be comfortable saying, “I am a thought leader.” If you’re not comfortable saying it and you don’t believe it yourself, no one else is going to believe in you. Also, in order to be a thought leader, you’ve got to put your stuff out there, otherwise you won’t influence anybody. None of the content is going to be very good for a while. But, it’s going to be better than the person who didn’t put anything else out there. You can not compete and you can’t win if you’re not out there.

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS I CAN BE BETTER THAN MY COMPETITION?

Let’s get this out of the way first, people might push back and say, “Well, there’s no competition. Women should support women. This person does things differently.” Everybody has a competitor. Once you realize this, the next thing to understand is, you can’t stop your competition until you develop a list of people you compete against. 

Once you have your list of competitors, you’ve got to audit them. You’ve got to understand what they’re doing. I don’t hate my competition, I appreciate them. I think what they bring to the table is interesting, even if it’s different, even if I don’t agree with it. I admire it because they’re kicking butt and taking names. And it gives me a roadmap, it gives me some insight into what I would do right and what I would do differently in my business. 

Here is my last piece of advice about competitors. Once you’ve created your list, form a relationship with those individuals. Become friends with your competitors. Give them business. Get to know them and learn from them. Why? Well, because it turns out a competitor is also a really great mentor.

WHY DO I NEED TO BE WILLING TO TAKE RISKS AND BE OSTRACIZED IF I WANT TO BECOME A THOUGHT LEADER?

Well, in order to be a thought leader you have to be bold and brave. So that means showing up at places where you might not be comfortable going, having conversations that you haven’t had in the past and challenging people on ideas that are beloved. You have to be willing to risk it. You’ve got to be willing to be ostracized from the people you absolutely love and adore. 

There are people out there who are racist, sexist, homophobic, or misogynistic. These are people who think because they have a platform, they can use it, but you are not one of those individuals. You have principles and smart things to say. But sometimes what you are going to say is going to irk a lot of people, especially if you’re doing it right. Especially if you want to be a thought leader, an influencer or public speaker. These people may not like you and they may not appreciate you. 

You have to be willing to endure and persevere. You have to be willing to not be invited to the big party. And you have to have resilience in the face of FOMO. Embrace the joy of missing out, because what’s happening today is unimportant. You’re interested in the future and what’s happening in your industry tomorrow.

Resources from this episode:

The Gap Between the Good and Famous
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