“A lot of people are trying to become viewed as ‘thought leaders’ because they recognize that being a well-publicized, well-respected expert in their field is good for business,” says Mitchell Levy, CEO of THiNKaha and author of the new book, “#Creating Thought Leaders Tweet. “But most people have a hard time figuring out how to do it on their own.”
Levy, who works with corporations to develop thought leaders among employees, says CEOs recognize that the wide availability of information on the Internet has changed how customers do business.
“Customers are quite knowledgeable, and they get that way by using the resources available online,” Levy says. “It doesn’t take long before they know enough to spot a true expert – someone with vision; someone with a strong track record of success; someone who knows their field so well, they can tell you where it’s going, and where it should go.”
When we had only the traditional media and its well-guarded access, our thought leaders tended to be people who were already in vaulted positions, such as elected officials, CEOs of major corporations and entertainment personalities, Levy notes.
Today, thanks to the egalitarian nature of social media, anyone can become one. But many people don’t know where to begin.
