Becoming a Thought Leader

Course details

Do you hope to build lasting change and a legacy that matters? Then maybe it's time for you to become a thought leader. Thought leaders are recognized for their ideas and their contributions to the world. They share their expertise and engage a community of followers—while enhancing their own reputations in their fields. In this course, thought leadership consultant and author Denise Brosseau defines exactly what a thought leader is and explains the risks and rewards that come with this unique position. She describes how to plan your strategy, develop a compelling message, build influence, maximize your visibility, and track your impact. She also shares tips to scale your ideas to reach the widest possible audience—online and off.

Learning objectives
Recognize three qualities that define thought leaders.
List three elements of intersection used to choose a thought leadership niche.
Recall what a community is made up of.
Explain the disadvantages of explaining your early ideas to friends and family.
Summarize three places where you can find people to serve as champions and allies.
Identify the key difference between a leader and a thought leader.

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - What is a thought leader
03 - Rewards and risks of thought leadership

1. Develop Your Strategy

04 - Identify your niche
05 - Define your What if future
06 - Understand the context and trends
07 - Tribes, communities, and followers

2. Build Your Ripples of Influence

08 - Select your path forward as a thought leader
09 - Identify and enroll stakeholders
10 - What's in it for your stakeholders
11 - Clarify your message
12 - Overcome objections

3. Codify Your Ideas

13 - Distill your expertise
14 - Develop a visual framework
15 - Enroll others in your cause

4. Amplify Your Ideas

16 - Determine your audience
17 - Define your avatar
18 - Find your thought leadership brand voice
19 - Be discoverable for your ideas
20 - Monetize your expertise

5. Expand Your Influence and Impact

21 - Track your impact as a thought leader
22 - Accelerate your influence