345. Expert Interview: Are You Ready to be a Thought Leader?
Denise Brosseau
Denise Brosseau is the CEO of the Thought Leadership Lab, a lecturer at the Stanford Business School and the author of Ready to Be a Thought Leader? She loves working with entrepreneurs and executives, particularly women, on their journey from leader to thought leader as she believes that becoming the go-to thought leader in your niche is the very best career insurance around. Denise has been featured in Fast Company, Entrepreneur, and Forbes and was recognized as a Champion of Change by the White House.
Are You Ready to be a Thought Leader?
“Everybody is beginning at a somewhat different space, but there are some specific steps that are critical. Ask yourself: What am I passionate about? What gets me up in the morning? What do I read about when no one is looking? What is something I could argue for an hour about? That, to me, is where to start to establish yourself as a brand and become a thought leader. Answering these questions, you will be able to say, “That’s my niche, that’s where I belong.”
Why Is This Important?
“Becoming a thought leader serves as way to differentiate yourself, to stand out from the crowd. It provides a kind of career insurance. If we keep putting our head down, just doing our to-do list, then no one recognizes the skills, expertise, or the accomplishments we bring to the table, or the knowledge and ideas that distinguish us. We are a cog in the wheel, just one of many. On the other hand, when we can stand out and be a change agent in a particular niche, then we make known the successes we’ve had. That’s when we become someone others want to work for, work with and hire.”
What Are the Key Lessons Learned Here?
“The difference between leaders and thought leaders is that thought leaders have developed a set of steps, best practices, or a how-to guide for explaining what they know is the best way to do things. It could be as simple as a checklist or as complex as a book. But somewhere in the thought leader is that ability to codify and communicate, often visually, something that you can give to someone so they can then build on what you have learned.”
Connecting With Denise Brosseau
Website: thoughtleadershiplab.com/
Twitter: twitter.com/thoughtleadrlab
Facebook: facebook.com/thoughtleadershiplab
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/denisebrosseau
Free Gift
Free copy of The Thought Leadership Manifesto to new signups on Denise’s mailing list at thoughtleadershiplab.com. E-book includes 12 strategies to secure the support of influencers and empower them to amplify your message.
