If you want to be an industry thought leader, good news—you don’t need a PhD, a TED Talk, or a bestselling book (though those wouldn’t hurt!).
What you do need is the willingness to share your knowledge, insights, and big ideas in a way that feels authentic—without falling into the trap of stiff, jargon-heavy, or overly polished corporate speak. Bottom line: you don’t need to sound like a robot.
True thought leadership isn’t about using fancy words or playing it safe—it’s about adding real value, sparking conversations, and standing out for the right reasons.
But how do you get started, and what’s involved?
Whether you’re a CEO, C-suite executive, business owner, industry expert, board member, innovator or consultant, here’s a quick guide to help you begin your thought leadership journey—while keeping it real.
1. Find your niche
You can’t be a thought leader in everything. Pick a niche you genuinely care about. The more specific, the better.
If you’re stuck, ask yourself:
• What do people ask me for advice on?
• What industry challenges excite (or frustrate) me?
• What could I talk about for hours?
2. Have an opinion (and own it!)
Regurgitating industry news won’t cut it. Share your take. Challenge assumptions. If you think companies are handling digital transformation all wrong—say so! Thought leadership is about pushing boundaries, not playing it safe. However, be prepared to back up your views with insight and evidence.
And remember: real influence comes from authenticity, not from sounding like an AI-generated corporate memo.
3. Show up consistently
Posting once won’t make you the next Adam Grant. Thought leadership is a long game. Whether it’s LinkedIn, Twitter, blogs, or speaking gigs, show up regularly (without spamming).
Aim for:
• At least one post per week
• Engaging with industry discussions
• Experimenting with formats (articles, videos, podcasts, infographics)
4. Keep it conversational
No one wants to read a dry, corporate monologue. Thought leadership should feel like a chat, not a lecture.
• Better: “Why your AI strategy might be doomed before it starts.”
• Worse: “Key considerations in AI implementation frameworks.”
Make it human. Use examples, analogies, and humour to keep people engaged. Ditch the jargon and speak like a real person.
5. People remember stories, not numbers
Instead of saying, “Supply chain efficiency increased by 35%,” try, “One of my clients cut delivery times by 35%—here’s how they did it.”
Use real-life examples, case studies, and personal experiences to illustrate your points. The more human your content, the more impact it will have.
6. Engage with others
Great thought leaders don’t just broadcast; they interact.
• Comment on posts, answer questions, and share others’ insights.
• Follow the 80/20 rule: Spend 80% of your time engaging, 20% posting.
• Join industry groups, attend events, and collaborate.
7. Be okay with pushback
If you have opinions, not everyone will agree. That’s fine. A little (respectful) debate is healthy—it means people are listening. Just be ready to back up your views with logic, data, or experience.
8. Keep learning
The best thought leaders evolve. Stay ahead of the curve by:
• Following industry experts
• Attending conferences and workshops
• Being open to new perspectives
The more you learn, the more valuable your insights become.
9. Don’t overthink it—just start
Many people hold back because they want the perfect post. Don’t.
• Share a quick insight.
• Write a short article.
• Post a simple “I’ve been thinking about…” update.
The more you put yourself out there, the easier it gets. Thought leadership is a muscle—exercise it!
10. Build a community, not just an audience
The best thought leaders don’t just have followers; they build engaged communities. Encourage discussion, ask questions, and create space for others to share insights. When people feel part of something, they stick around.
In conclusion, becoming a thought leader isn’t about sounding important—it’s about being someone people trust and want to hear from. So go ahead, share your insights, start conversations, and make an impact—without the robotic corporate speak. You’ve got this!
Need help positioning you or your team as thought leaders?
At Parker Public Relations, we help CEOs, the C-Suite, business owners, industry experts, board members, innovators, consultants and authors owners cultivate a commanding presence in their industry and solidify their role as trusted experts and thought leaders.
Our services include:
• Clarifying your expert niche.
• Creating a thought leadership and executive branding strategy.
• Developing a polished executive profile
• Creating op-eds & articles.
• Facilitating media interviews & PR outreach.
• Developing thought leadership content (blogs and insights)
• Social media strategy and management
• Speech writing and public speaking engagements
