Member Login | About Us | Become a Member | Contact Us

N E X T

Top

Nine Great Ways to Avoid Being a Thought Leader [Slide Show]

by Craig Badings |

January 4, 2012

| 10,299 views

Take the first step (it's free).

Sign in with your preferred account, below.

Slide 1 of

Do the words "thought leader" give you cold chills? If you don't want the limelight, if you don't want anyone to know about your expertise, and if you are dead set on hiding your light under a bushel, here are nine steps that'll help you fade into obscurity.

1. Don't say anything new

If you have new thoughts about your business sector or your niche area of expertise, please do everyone (and yourself) a favor: keep those thoughts to yourself.

2. Immediately cull any inquisitiveness

Immediately cull any inquisitiveness you have about your clients' or customers' issues and challenges. If you find out anything valuable, keep it to yourself, and don't do anything about it.

3. Don't share intellectual property

Don't share any of that latent intellectual property. You cannot afford to have anyone know that you have unique insights to share.

4. Put away any thoughts of research

Put away any thoughts of research that could shed light on topics that interest your client. You may stumble across something that vaguely positions you as someone with insight, and you can't afford for that to happen.

5. Don't ever scan your competitors

Don't ever scan your competitors to ascertain where the gaps are that you could fill with your expertise and insights. That is a long, slippery slope that'll lead to your being recognized as someone in a thought leadership position.

6. Never deep dive on a topic of interest

Never deep dive on an issue or topic of concern to your clients. If you do, make sure no one knows. Be extra careful, for once you're labeled a thought leader, it's very difficult to shake that perception.

7. Package Your Content Carefully

Steer clear of packaging your content in any way that vaguely says to the market that you have something new or insightful to share. Heck, people may turn to you for advice, and then what will you do?

8. Keep a very low social media profile

Keep a very low social media profile. If you do have accounts on social networks, keep them personal, and don't let on that you're an expert in anything. Remember, digital erasers do not exist, and you don't want rumors spreading online that you could have insights to share.

9. Use your 15 minutes wisely

You will face a conundrum: Andy Warhol once said that we will all have our 15 minutes of fame. Make sure your 15 minutes aren't about your expertise at work; you may need to seek your 15 minutes elsewhere. It may be that you are the world's best mom or dad, but even then, be cautioned you can't write or speak about it. After all, you may find yourself on the speaking circuit or being interviewed on TV as the modern day guru on parenting. And we can't have that now, can we?

Slide 1 of 10

Craig Badings is author of Brand Stand: Seven Steps to Thought Leadership. Reach Craig via his blog or via Twitter.

Career Management, Humor, Marketing Tips, Personal Branding, Thought Leadership

Subscribe Today

IT'S FREE! Become a member to get the tools and knowledge you need to market smarter.

we respect your privacy.

Stay connected!

Don't miss a bit of MarketingProfs ... join the 600,000 marketers following us.

Editors' PRO Picks

Seminar: Create Meaningful Experiences for Your Brand

Brian Solis shares why great products, creative marketing, and delightful customer service are no longer enough to win customers. more
Take 10: How to Leverage Your Online Community

Presented by: Paul Chaney
In just 10 minutes, we'll share six practical tips that will help you tap into your online community to grow your business and benefit your customers. more
How-To Guide: Build Your Content Marketing Dream Team

In this 22-page guide, you'll learn how to identify the key hires to get your team started, what traits and skills to look for in your key hires, how to manage freelancers, and much more! more
SmartTools: Email Campaign Planner

Through eight simple to follow, well-defined steps, SmartTools: Email Campaign Planner will help you establish an effective email marketing program to gather and convert leads. more
How-To-Guide: The Perfect Pitch: Hit a Home Run With Every Headline, Subject Line, and Call to Action

Learn how to write headlines that will inspire your audience to read and want more. more
Seminar: SEO—How Customer Experience Impacts Search

Learn the most important elements of, and key changes in, customer search behavior. We'll also cover how to drive conversations through SEO, content, and social media. more
Take 10: Three Steps for Using Influencer Video to Increase Your Bottom Line

Presented by: Mark Lerner
In just 10 minutes, you'll learn three simple steps to source quality influencer video and use it to impact your bottom line in a meaningful and measurable way. more

MarketingProfs uses single
sign-on with Facebook, Twitter, Google and others to make subscribing and signing in easier for you. That's it, and nothing more! Rest assured that MarketingProfs: