Thought Leadership: Its utility @ Workplace

There was a time when I thought being a jack-of-all-trades was the key to success in personal and professional life. Who wouldn’t want to hire someone who could tackle any task, right? But I soon realized that being spread too thin meant missing out on opportunities that truly resonated with my expertise. I found myself drowning in “busy work” instead of focusing on projects that showcased my true skills.

It wasn’t until I honed in on my core strengths and expertise that things started to click. Refining my focus didn’t limit my opportunities as I feared it would; it expanded them. By developing my voice and sharing my expertise, I opened doors to projects and partnerships that aligned perfectly with my passions and strengths.

What Is Thought Leadership?

Thought leadership refers to the recognition of individuals or organizations as authoritative and influential within a specific industry or field. The term is primarily attributed to their exceptional expertise, capacity for innovative thinking, and adeptness at articulating and disseminating valuable insights. Thought leadership can be applied in various contexts, including business, technology, academia, and healthcare.

It is a valuable asset for individuals and organizations seeking to differentiate themselves, build trust, and drive positive change within their respective domains.

Who is a Thought Leader?

Thought leadership can be a powerful tool for sharing one’s influence with the people they work with — and even the industry as a whole. The idea here isn’t that theu’re going to try to turn others into “clones” of themselves. But by teaching valuable ideas that they can share and pass on themselves, you create an opportunity for organization-wide lift.

The best leaders don’t keep their insights and knowledge to themselves. In fact, knowledge sharing is viewed as a competitive advantage. As described by Northwestern University: “Knowledge sharing in teams has lead to enhanced performance. By engaging in the knowledge sharing process teams create a new unique knowledge resource that competitors cannot easily imitate. Knowledge sharing leads to superior team performance and is a source of competitive advantage for organisations.”

What does a Thought Leader do?

Thought leaders are pioneers and innovators at the forefront of new developments and trends, known for their knowledge and expertise in areas of focus. They consistently seek further information to expand their understanding. Besides sharing ideas and insights through various mediums, thought leaders may also hold other responsibilities, such as teaching, researching, or leading an organization.

Characteristics of Thought Leader

When an individual backs up their words with their actions, and others believe what they say, that person gains credibility, respect, and a thought leadership position. Here are some key characteristics of a thought leader and what sets these individuals apart as true thought leaders in their field:

1. Knowledge & Expertise

One of the critical characteristics of a thought leader is their deep knowledge and expertise in their area of focus-thoroughly understanding the subject and staying current with the latest research and developments in the field. Thought leaders constantly learn and seek new information to expand their knowledge and stay ahead of the curve.

2. Ability to Communicate Effectively

Another characteristic of a thought leader is their ability to communicate their ideas effectively. Including being able to articulate complex concepts clearly and concisely, having strong writing skills, and the ability to engage an audience. Generally, thought leaders use a variety of mediums, such as writing articles, giving talks, or using social media, to share ideas and insights.

3. Creative & Innovative Thinking Pattern

In addition to their knowledge and communication skills, thought leaders are also known for their creativity and innovative thinking. Nearly all thought leaders think outside the box and come up with fresh perspectives and solutions to problems. They are fearless in challenging the status quo and propose new ideas, even controversial or unconventional ones.

4. Ability to Build Relationships

Those considered thought leaders can cultivate robust ties and extensive networks within their respective fields. They can form connections with other individuals and work together on various projects and activities. They can leverage their networks to get information and insights and keep up with the most recent advances in their industry, allowing them to remain updated.

5. Ethical & Value-Driven

Strong ethical principles and a dedication to always acting in the most morally commendable manner are other characteristics common among thought leaders. Dedicated to fostering a bright and sustaintainable future, they make their choices in a way open to scrutiny and actively seek improvements. Also, they balance the company’s requirements and duties toward society and the environment.

Summary

When we look around our organization at the leaderhip level who seem to be succeeding — they get noticed by executives more senior, they get pursued by others for input, and they are respected for the things they know. Ever wonder why that is? It’s not random. That’s because in today’s knowledge economy, ideas and wisdom are the new currencies of the day. While “who” you know has always been important, these days “what” you know carries more weight than ever. But just having ideas isn’t enough.

How we get those ideas out into the world to build our credibility, establish our “brand,” and draw others to usis key to a vital aspect of leadership — thought leadership. In a world where everyone’s remit includes insights, fresh thinking, and proven ideas, every leader must strive to be a thought leader — because every leader has good ideas that they can share for the benefit of others. As Noel Tichy, author of “The Cycle of Leadership: How Great Leaders Teach Their Companies to Win” has explained, leaders must cultivate a “teachable point of view” within themselves to identify how and when to share their ideas with others. Sharing the right ideas at the right time and place can have an incredible impact. At the end of the day, some of the most important work any leader will accomplish is what they teach using their unique ideas, hard-won experiences and perspectives.

About the Author

Muhammad Sajwani is a C-Level HR, Transformation Leader, Board Advisor, Business Coach & Organisational Consultant working in the capacity of Managing Director, Evolve HR. He is an author, columnist and a contributor who besides writing for other platforms also regularly writes at BizCatalyst 360. He brings along 30+ years of local & international experience. He is a change catalyst specializing in unleashing the human Dreamgenius through Leadership, Creativity and Change Management. Muhammad has been instrumental in helping organizations come to terms with organizational changes like right-sizing and business process re-engineering. His innovative approach & high personal competence encourages people to not only accept change, but also to excel in it. Muhammad has diverse experience in conducting strategic & management development programs, conferences & events for organisations across sectors.