- Ideas about thought leadership have evolved. They first applied to inspirational people with business insight. It evolved to encompass leaders in any industry.
- Thought leaders have dynamic ideas that they share publicly. They use their achievements and innovative thinking to inspire and influence people to action.
- Thought leaders can reach audiences anywhere with their writing, art, speeches and interviews. Opportunities for widespread communication have flourished on the Internet.
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Effective leaders use thought leadership to influence people’s decisions in a way that moves them toward a common goal. Whether in politics or business, a thought leadership strategy animates teams and inspires action. It empowers people who may never meet because thought leadership can span generations and cultures.
Many examples of thought leadership throughout history still impact society today. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, for example, was not only a watershed moment in the Civil Rights Movement. It was also a chance for the speakers to influence generations to follow them. The same can be said for innovators like Thomas Edison. He used his innovative ideas to revolutionize how we live with electricity.
Ahead, we define thought leadership and discuss its importance. We will provide examples of thought leadership to help confirm its significance and show how leaders have used thought leadership to fulfill their goals.
Additionally, we will reveal four examples of executive thought leaders and how they achieved success. Rounding out our examples are four thought leaders from history. Finally, we will share insights about when and how you can become a thought leader in your industry.
What Is Thought Leadership?
Thought leadership is a term used to describe leaders from any industry who influence people with their achievements and unique ways of thinking. The definition of thought leadership has expanded since the term was first introduced by Joel Kurtzman in 1994. His definition centered around people with unique insights about business, consumers and the marketplace.
The vehicles for thought leadership have also evolved. Before, only business and government leaders had a platform to debate ideas. Now, everyone has a platform online, where ideas are exchanged more rapidly than ever.
Why Is Thought Leadership Important?
Thought leadership is important because it connects leaders with the people they serve. This connection allows them to share insights that can positively impact others’ lives. It opens paths to information that people could not get before. Thought leadership changes the patterns of gate-keeping and outdated leadership styles.
Social media has amplified the voices of thought leaders, making their expertise more accessible through more channels than ever before. However, the rise of misinformation and disinformation online presents leaders with new challenges. Leaders can combat these challenges using thought leadership strategies to promote accurate, credible information and foster trust.
4 Examples of Effective Thought Leadership
Even though the term emerged in the 1990s, examples of thought leadership cut through history and across platforms. From verbal to visual, below are a few examples of effective forms of thought leadership:
1. Writing
The most common form of thought leadership is writing. Media outlets tap bestselling authors to share their ideas and experiences. Captivated followers want to learn what contributed to the authors’ inspiring stories. As a result, authors become a part of the zeitgeist and influence culture through their words.
A great example of how publishing a book can take you on the path of becoming a thought leader is the story of researcher and storyteller Brene Brown. Brown took the findings of her work as a research professor at the University of Houston and turned it into a platform to explore topics like courage, shame, empathy and vulnerability. She has published several books and has expanded her thought leadership by starting a podcast and recording a TV special.
2. Speeches
Captivating and charismatic leaders use speeches to compel people to action. Speeches are one of the few forms of communication where one person has the undivided attention of a large audience. With this form of communication, the range of influence possibilities is wide. The President’s State of the Union Address is a rare opportunity for one specific person. Other opportunities are open to most of us. For example, acceptance speeches at award ceremonies or toasting the bride and groom at a wedding reception.
In 1851, abolitionist and women’s rights activist Sojourner Truth gave a powerful speech at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, OH. In it, she shared her life story in a way that empowered and inspired the women in the audience. Even today, her “Ain’t I A Woman?” speech is a source of inspiration for women and movement leaders.
3. Art
Sometimes no words are needed to create effective thought leadership. Some of the most well-known forms of thought leadership are murals, like artist and sculptor Pablo Picasso’s Guernica or the work of painter Diego Rivera. Works of art are a universally accessible form of storytelling. They are also powerful forms of expression that can convey more than written words. Whether in the form of music, visual art, dance or film, creating art is a powerful form of thought leadership.
Musician and humanitarian Harry Belafonte’s influence on the music industry and the Civil Rights Movement made him a beloved artist and thought leader. His music transmitted joy and crossed genres in the 1950s and 1960s, solidifying him as a legendary American crooner. His commitment to racial equity also became part of his legacy, proving the power of his multi-faceted forms of thought leadership.
4. Interviews
Freedom of the press is vital for giving a voice to populations, especially when vetting political leaders and public figures. Sitting down for an interview also helps leaders share their messages with the masses. That is why interviews are an important aspect of thought leadership — they are a vehicle for information and influence for savvy leaders. Today, podcasts have become a popular form of media that creates another conduit for interviews as a form of thought leadership.
The Leadership Matters podcast is a good example. Host and CEO advisor Alan H. H. Fleischmann interviews leaders to learn their views on leadership. In each episode, he welcomes executive thought leaders, newscasters and bestselling authors. Fleischmann invites them to break down the keys to their success and reveal how others can follow in their footsteps.
Who Are Considered To Be Thought Leaders?
There are thought leaders in every area of expertise. From philosophers like Socrates and Plato in ancient Greece to author Thomas Paine during the American Revolution, these leaders focused on sharing their knowledge with the world. Here are examples of four executive thought leaders and historical thought leaders:
4 Executive Thought Leaders
These executives, investors and entrepreneurs embody the characteristics of a thought leader:
- Warren Buffett. A thought leader in the financial markets, Warren Buffett has become one of the most influential and often quoted investors today.
- Steve Jobs. Creating a product that revolutionized communication made Steve Jobs a thought leader in technology, product design and brand identity.
- Daymond John. Shark Tank made this entrepreneur a household name. It allowed him to share his branding expertise with millions of people each week.
- Madam C. J. Walker. As the first self-made Black female millionaire, entrepreneur Madam C. J. Walker showed generations of Black women they can create Black generational wealth.
4 Historical Thought Leaders
These historical figures predate the term but influenced masses of people with their thought leadership strategies:
- Dr. Booker T. Washington. A proponent of practical education, Dr. Booker T. Washington had a vision for the Tuskegee Institute. He saw it to completion, becoming the Founding Principal and first President. The Institute later became Tuskegee University.
- W.E.B. Dubois. A pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement, W.E.B. Dubois moved away from Dr. Booker T. Washington’s approach to achieving racial equity. He influenced a new generation of Black Americans with his book “Souls of Black Folk.”
- Franklin D. Roosevelt. With his Fireside chats, President Roosevelt provided thought leadership directly to Americans during World War II. His chats helped boost morale and influence their worldviews.
- Jean-Michel Basquiat. Basquiat influenced a genre of art by expressing his inner thoughts through street art and fine art paintings. One of his paintings sold at auction for over $110 million in 2017.
How to Become a Thought Leader
Becoming a thought leader requires mastery. The thought leaders above spent their lives mastering an art, science or industry. They became thought leaders when they found a way to share their knowledge with others in a helpful and impactful way. While there is no established path to becoming a thought leader, one thing to consider is your amount of knowledge on a given subject.
In his book “Outliers: The Story of Success” bestselling author and thought leader Malcolm Gladwell talks about mastery. He introduced the concept of “10,000 hours” to illustrate the time it takes to master something. This is also a good gauge for how to become a thought leader. After achieving mastery, the examples of thought leadership described above are a great way to share that knowledge with others.
Learn more about key thought leaders and the importance of thought leadership by following Robert F. Smith on LinkedIn and subscribing to his YouTube channel.
