Not everyone starts out as a leader – more so, a thought leader at that. Instead, most thought leaders today have worked to build a strategy to market themselves with confidence and charm.
And you can do this, too, with the right niche and audience. Let’s explore how to be a thought leader with these simple steps.
1. Find your voice
Most thought leaders start by establishing their authority over a certain topic. And let’s face it, you can’t always be an expert in so many things at once. It’s better to stick to a single industry, field, or niche and build your audience from there.
It can be any topic under the sun, just as long as you’re willing and comfortable enough to talk about it. This is an effective way to establish credibility within industry circles and experts.
2. Build your audience online
Now that you’ve found your niche, it’s time to grow your audience. Of course, there are a couple of ways to go about this. But the best way to start is to break through social media platforms. Take a look at your content first and evaluate what age group will be the most interested in your niche.
You can start making content on Tiktok, YouTube, and even live-stream on Twitch. Whatever you choose, make sure that you engage with your audience to build a loyal fanbase. Most importantly, don’t forget to listen to your supporters; it’s critical for you to listen in order to learn how to be a thought leader.
3. Expand your audience by making public appearances
Now that you’ve established your solid base of supporters, it’s time to try your luck in other groups. Remember, the best thought leader examples aren’t made overnight. You can try to increase your public appearances. Having a broad base of people you know is one of the essential thought leadership skills.
It’s best to start with speakership in schools, industry meetings, and community circles. You don’t have to start doing big things right away. Instead, focus on building your credibility among select groups of people. It’s best to make quality connections that can make you hit your goals faster.
4. Reinforce your image and brand to hit the mainstream
If you want to be credible as soon as possible, then you have to appear over and over again to a broad audience. It’s just one of the most effective ways how to be a thought leader. This can happen if you get invited by news outlets or news publications as a panel member or an expert.
Get published as often as you can. And also, don’t forget radio interviews, event appearances, and TV guestings. All are equally important.
But most importantly, don’t neglect to have a disciplined brand messaging. Being all over the place with who you appear to be will leave people confused about their impression of you.
5. Don’t stop learning from others
You can’t be a thought leader if you’re not catching up with new developments. It always pays to be a listening ear to new concerns from your niche. This keeps you relevant, but it also makes your ideas appear wise and timeless.
If you stand by your ideas with integrity, you’ll always have people you can inspire. It’s even better if you can openly admit your mistakes and learn from someone younger and less decorated than you.
And there you have it—simple directions on how to be a thought leader. But if you’re still wondering, why become a thought leader? Here’s an idea to chew on for you. It’s because they have the power to sway opinions and influence people for the better.
