The Leader of the Pack — is that you?
What does it take to be a thought leader?
In your industry, do you lead or do you follow?
Let’s talk about what it takes to be a thought leader.
LinkedIn refers to thought leaders as Influencers. You have to be invited to be one on that site.
What is an Influencer? According to Robert Cialdini in his book, INFLUENCE, there are six principles of influence:
Reciprocity – As humans, we generally aim to return favors, pay back debts, and treat others as they treat us.
Commitment and Consistency – Cialdini says that we have a deep desire to be consistent. For this reason, once we’ve committed to something, we’re then more inclined to go through with it.
Social Proof – We’re assuming that if lots of other people are doing something, then it must be OK, meaning if lots of people are using and talking positively about your services, you must be great at it.
Liking – Cialdini says that we’re more likely to be influenced by people we like. Likability comes in many forms – people might be similar or familiar to us, they might give us compliments, or we may just simply trust them.If you want more information about likability, check out the book The 11 Laws of Likability by Michelle Tillis Lederman, a thought leader in this area J
Authority – We feel a sense of duty or obligation to people in positions of authority. How do you show you are in a position of authority in your industry? Do you have a book? Do you write articles or columns or put out a video thought from time to time? Are you interviewed and quoted by the media?
Scarcity – This principle says that things are more attractive when their availability is limited, or when we stand to lose the opportunity to acquire them on favorable terms.
Take a look around; see whether you are a thought leader. Pick one area to enhance so you can raise your influence and step into your role as a thought leader.
