By Jason S. Thompson, CPA/ABV, ASA, CFE, CFF
Partner, Director of Valuation and Litigation Services
Do you know what it means to be a “thought leader” within your business or organization? It’s not just someone who acts smart and offers lots of pushy ideas!
A thought leader is a person who shares their knowledge with other members of the team in order to enhance the capabilities of the entire organization. It’s someone who sees learning as an ongoing endeavor rather than something you do when you’re young to land your first job.
When someone behaves in this manner on a consistent basis over a long time, eventually others will seek them out for their knowledge and advice. So if you’re a manger or executive in your organization – or seek to become one – you should strive to be in a position where people recognize you as a thought leader.
Everyone who’s been around awhile gains knowledge, even if it’s just a basic sense of do’s and don’ts. But a thought leader seeks out information. They read about current events and devour industry-related publications and websites – such as Financial News, Wall Street Journal, Fortune magazine, etc. They read business related literature on a regular basis as they can provide informed discussions on new trends in business and government policies.
Thought leaders grasp that learning is not just about going to training: it’s also the things you do on your own to expand your base of knowledge and improve your power of positive thinking. Doing this also allows you to be a better performer in whatever path you choose in life.
For example, as a CPA I am often asked about the current state of the financial markets or who would be the best political candidate for local, state or federal office, and why. Instead of just giving a reflexive opinion, this is an opportunity to educate the questioner using the perspective you’ve gained over the years related to critical economic success factors – local, state, and national.
Thought leaders can be both young and old – certainly when it comes to emerging technology and digital communication, the novice can educate the old-timer these days!
But as a general rule of thumb, thought leaders tend to be people who’ve plied their trade for 10, 20 years or more. Experience breeds valuable insights as to what long-term success looks like. Sometimes the wise person will forego short-term success for the benefit of a long term permanent solution. In this age of instant gratification, this may appear to be a novel strategy.
Because they’ve been around the block a few times, their knowledge goes beyond theory to real-life successes and failures. Veterans know what works and what doesn’t. When it comes to becoming a thought leader, there really is no replacement for experience.
Sometimes people gain a great deal of information and experience during their tenure within an organization, but keep it to themselves. Often they think they are guarding their own position, or improving their chances at promotion by keeping a few “aces up their sleeves.”
While it’s possible hoarding knowledge can help an individual’s prospects in the short run, over the long term this type of practice is harmful to the health of the entire organization. Executives would be wise to instead promote a culture that rewards sharing and support between colleagues.
Thought leaders thrive in an environment where nurturing other people is standard practice. Servant leadership is the overriding principle. If you create dialogues with other people and freely offer them the benefit of your counsel and experience, soon people will seek out your knowledge.
You should seek to be an inspirational leader who drives others to thirst for the knowledge of experience and desire to learn more. This will lead to a stronger, more informed organization that operates in a productive manner to achieve success.
Seek out knowledge, and share it, and you will have enhanced your own professional status as well as your company’s future prospects.
If you have questions or comments, contact Jason Thompson at (317) 608-6694 or [email protected].