Thought leaders are in high demand. The companies they work for or come from become sought-after places to work. But how do you find a thought leader inside your own company? Chances are they are going to be ones with key qualities that all thought leaders possess. Here is a list of those qualities.
They Take Your Best Practices and Find Ways to Improve Them
A great thought leader will always suggest better ways to do tasks and jobs. They are not afraid to invest the time to get to know how something is done, then help find ways to improve them. Just like Doug Engelbart saw the way computers were being used and invented the mouse to help make things easier and faster to engage. He totally changed the way computers, programmers, and people interacted with technology.
The thought leader who is changing the way we think of customer service, Frank Eliason, doesn’t mince words about what needs to change and what works in customer service.
People Follow Them
A true thought leader has many people who listen when they speak. Just putting the words thought leader under your signature line doesn’t mean squat if no one is listening to what you have to say. Look for those in your company who have others listening when they talk.
Watch them on social media. If they have many followers who interact with them on a regular basis then you’ll probably be safe to say they may be a thought leader. From Kennedy to Roosevelt, most of our presidents have been thought leaders.
They Work with Mentors and Other Influencers
They aren’t afraid to stand with other thought leaders. They don’t feel threatened by innovation or the idea that someone is smarter or better than them. They are confident in their ability to contribute to any endeavor and enjoy working with others who feel the same. Amanda Nguyen of Rise works with thought leaders over the world. Inside your company, find those individuals who are asking for mentors and willing to work alongside those who have been already identified as leaders.
They Don’t Call Themselves ‘Thought Leaders’
In today’s world, being a thought leader has become a catchphrase that everyone is trying to claim. It’s the same as social media mogul used to be. The phrase has begun to have a shadowed tint to it’s glow. This doesn’t mean, however, that those who really are thought leaders have disappeared. They just have the confidence and forward thinking to not call themselves one.
They are always looking into the future and what would be best for their company and their industry. They think beyond the rules. If they are in IT a real thought leader might decide that buying domains for each product is a better investment than trying to create sub-folders on your current website. The key is that they aren’t going to waste time calling themselves thought leaders when they would be better suited for actually living the role.
These clues are just a few ways to find thought leaders inside your own company. And by lifting them up and supporting their ideas, you’ll set your company up to be in the spotlight along side them. In the future, these incredible leaders may not be called thought leaders any longer, but their qualities will continue to shine long after the name has fallen into disuse. The companies must be willing to build up these leaders and continue to find the next leaders.