Tips on Becoming a Thought Leader

How do you get recognized in today’s world? Over the past decades, leaders and though leadership experts have been reminding the rest of us that you no longer can get ahead by keeping your head down and working hard; that alone won’t get your recognized as an expert. Dorie Clark, in her recent book,

Stand Out: How to Find Your Breakthrough Idea and Build a Following Around It, provides a guide to becoming a recognized expert in your field.

To make a name for yourself, you have to capitalize on your unique perspective and knowledge and inspire others to listen and take action to advance the cause. To become a “thought leader”, you need to:

• Identify your cause
• Become an expert in the subject
• Recognize your own value
• Put yourself out there – through blogs, social media conversations, presentations, etc.
• Encourage people to follow your lead, by giving them easy-to-follow action steps they can take.

Drawing on interviews with such thought leaders as Seth Godin, Dan Pink, David Allen, Robert Cialdini, and other thought leaders, she provides some solid tips on how to identify and develop your “big idea” a big idea, leverage existing affiliations, and build a community of followers. Remember, it gives you a chance both to change the world for the better while giving you the ultimate career insurance.

After you emerge as a Thought Leader, share with us what’s working for you!