Thought leadership doesn’t happen overnight. If that were the case, thought leadership likely wouldn’t even exist. If everything was considered “thought leadership,” what would the value be?
Since thought leaders aren’t overnight sensations, then how do they establish themselves as such in the first place?
As a young executive, I look in every direction I can to further my career and advance my
professional development. I participate on the board of a few organizations in the region, I’m one of the HUG co-leaders in Pittsburgh, and I’m constantly watching and participating on industry webinars. But I’m still looking for every avenue to establish myself as a thought leader later on in life. Thought leaders had to start somewhere—likely as driven young executives.
Here are just a few things you can do now to help position yourself as a thought leader later in your career:
1. NETWORK. Attend industry presentations and networking events. Is there a upcoming seminar covering a relevant topic in your field? How about a networking event hosted by a company in or related to your industry? Make sure you’re there. The people you’ll meet and connections you’ll make can be invaluable throughout your career. Plus, you’ll be learning along the way.
Also, go on informational interviews. Meet with professionals on a one-on-one basis for coffee. Start conversations. Expand your network by connecting with them on LinkedIn. The more you build your network of professionals, the more you’ll be continually learning from others and expanding your industry presence.
2. JOIN. Join industry-relevant organizations. Several of these organizations will be a natural fit along with networking, as they sometimes offer a speaker series and the opportunity for professional development. The small investment to be a part of these organizations certainly tends to pay off over time, especially if you participate in functions often and stay active within the organization.
And don’t stop there. Take it a step further by running for a board position within those organizations. The leadership development you’ll gain from the opportunity, as well as the impact you could make on the organization and community, could be vitally important to establishing yourself as a thought leader down the road.
3. BLOG. I can’t say it enough. Blogging is extremely significant in establishing yourself as a thought leader. And what better time to start blogging than when you’re younger?
Write about topics that could potentially establish you as a thought leader. Think about your audience and write to them. What challenges or pain points are they facing? What questions are they asking? Be sure you’re addressing these as you write and you’ll prove your value to set yourself up as a thought leader later on.
Gain as much exposure as you can to expand your presence in your industry. Be sure to promote your blog on social media and stay actively engaged in conversation in the space.
What other moves are you making to help establish yourself as a thought leader? Let me know in the comments below!
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Christy Goodman is senior account executive for WordWrite Communications. She can be
reached at christy.goodman@wordwritepr.com and on Twitter @christylgoodman.
