What is thought leadership?
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Bit Famous works with businesses and organisations
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By Steve Blears

Director - Bit Famous

What is thought leadership?

Thought leadership is positioning yourself or your company as a trusted and authoritative source of ideas and insights within a particular industry or field. This involves regularly sharing valuable and insightful content, such as articles, blog posts, videos, or podcasts, that can help to educate and inform others. Thought leaders are often seen as experts in their field, and play a key role in shaping public opinion and driving industry trends. Being a thought leader can help to build credibility and trust, and it can also provide opportunities for networking and business development.

How do I develop thought leadership in my business?

If you are looking to develop thought leadership in your business, there are a few key steps you can take:

Identify your areas of expertise: Before you begin, identify the areas in which you or your company have expertise and knowledge to share. This will help to focus your efforts and ensure you are providing valuable and relevant content.

Develop your communication skills: Are you and your people confident in your communication skills? Bit Famous has a range of coaching and training for leaders, emerging leaders and ambitious employees. These include presenting, speaking and appearing on panel discussions, appearing on the media, social video, and podcasting.

Develop a content plan: Create a plan for regularly sharing thought leadership content, such as articles, blog posts, videos, or podcasts. This could involve creating a content calendar and identifying specific topics and formats to focus on.

Share your content widely: Use a variety of channels to share your thought leadership content, including your website, social media, email newsletters, and industry publications. This can help to increase the reach and visibility of your content.

Engage with your audience: Thought leadership is not just about sharing content, it's also about engaging with others in your industry or field. Respond to comments and questions on your content, participate in online discussions, and attend industry events to connect with others and build your network.

Look for opportunities to speak: Develop a talk or keynote that showcases how you make a difference or help people. Panel discussions are also an ideal way to shake hands with the whole room at a business event.

Monitor and measure your impact: Regularly monitor and measure the impact of your thought leadership efforts, such as the number of views or shares your content receives, or the level of engagement with your audience. This can help to identify areas for improvement and ensure that your efforts are effective.

How could sharing thought leadership help my business?

Sharing thought leadership can bring many benefits to a business, including:

Improved brand awareness and reputation: Sharing thought leadership content can help to increase the visibility and awareness of your brand, and it can also enhance your reputation as a trusted and authoritative source of information and ideas.

Increased credibility and trust: By regularly sharing valuable and insightful content, you can build credibility and trust with your audience, which can help to establish your company as a leader in your industry or field.

Greater opportunities for networking and business development: Sharing thought leadership can help to connect you with others in your industry or field, which can provide opportunities for networking and business development. Our clients regularly find themselves asked to speak at industry events, appear on panel discussions and appear in the media.

Enhanced employee morale and engagement: Sharing thought leadership is beneficial for employees, as it can provide a sense of pride and accomplishment. It can also foster a positive and energised company culture.

Increased sales and revenue: By building credibility and trust with your audience, sharing thought leadership can also help to generate leads and improve sales, which can ultimately impact your bottom line.

How can I teach my people to share their thought leadership?

If you want to teach your employees how to share their thought leadership, there are a few key steps you can take:

Identify potential thought leaders: Look for employees who have expertise and knowledge in specific areas, and who are passionate about sharing their insights with others. These individuals may be good candidates to become thought leaders within your organisation.

Provide training and support: Offer training and support to help employees develop the confidence skills and knowledge they need to effectively share their thought leadership.

Encourage and recognise thought leadership: Encourage and recognise employees who are actively sharing their thought leadership content. This could include highlighting their efforts or offering rewards or incentives.

Foster a positive company culture: Create a positive and energising company culture that encourages and supports thought leadership. This could involve providing opportunities for employees to connect with each other and share their expertise and knowledge with others.

Monitor and measure results: Regularly monitor and measure the impact of employee thought leadership on the company's brand awareness, reputation, and other key metrics. This can help to identify areas for improvement and ensure that the program is effective.

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