Leadership has multiple facets. Four key areas have to be well developed to be considered a great leader in the corporate environment today. These four foundational cornerstones of leadership are result-leadership, people-oriented leadership, thought leadership, and leading self. When all four of these go hand in hand, the success projected is phenomenal.

A leader that has these four areas covered checks all the boxes from every study or school of thought. It does not have to be limited to only the executive layer. People in middle management or newer managers can also start evaluating their competency in these four areas of leadership to see where they stand. Let us delve deeper into thought leadership.

What is thought leadership?

The term thought leader has come into existence from the world of marketing. A thought leader is an entity, it could be a person or an organisation which is recognized as an authority in a particular specialised area. Their expertise is valued and respected in their field. They display and demonstrate their knowledge and proficiency in several ways like writing articles, blogs, white papers or books, speaking at various events like conferences and conventions, or participating in panel discussions.

Contrary to what people may believe, thought leadership is not about promoting one self. Thought leaders are people that can draw from the past, analyse the present, and make predictions for the future in their area of prowess. They often share an understanding that is current and derived from real-world situations. They possess the knack to contribute to the conversations happening today and at the same time chime in and debate on what may happen tomorrow. Their skill lies in the innate ability to recognise trends before they happen and apply those insights to educate and achieve business results.

Why are all experienced people not thought leaders? I coach several esteemed clients from varied industries. Most of them have so many insights and ideas from their years of experience that would be very valuable to others, but they hesitate in putting themselves out there in spite of wanting to. This reluctance springs from several reasons – lack of time, know how, or just not recognising the tremendous impact it could have on their careers and those of others around them.

Why thought leadership?

In current times, the need for corporate leaders to be thought leaders is almost mandatory. Millennials and Gen Z's want to be inspired by their leaders. They will stay engaged only if they can value and respect the people that they work for. The internet now provides several avenues and opportunities to showcase your ideas and knowledge. You have no excuse to not jump on this trend.

Thought leadership also goes hand in hand with building your personal brand. Use it as a means for personal growth and development.

How do you become a thought leader?

Developing your thought leadership takes time. Experience, expertise, and insights, plus a willingness to share can help grow you as a trusted figure in any domain. You must develop and rely upon your experiences and create credibility over the long term. No matter what your journey has been, it can be leveraged.

Leaders that have the skills to observe and connect data and information from several sources are usually well-equipped to create innovative concepts which have been informed by the needs of the marketplace. Credibility is responsible for combining their expertise with a dose of honesty, humility, and an appreciation for the human aspect of leading people.

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