A thought leader has been described as an individual or firm recognized as an authority in a specific field.[1]
A thought leader is a person who specializes in a given area and whom others in that industry turn to for guidance. As the term implies, a thought leader leads others in the thinking around a given topic.[2]
Meanings
editGo-to expert
editFrom the perspective of a thought leader as the 'go-to expert', being a thought leader means to consistently answer the biggest questions on the minds of the target audience on a particular topic. Thought leaders are commonly asked to speak at public events, conferences, or webinars to share their insight with a relevant audience. In a 1990 Wall Street Journal Marketing section article, Patrick Reilly used the term "thought leader publications" to refer to such magazines as Harper's.[3]
In the previous decade, the term was revived and re-engineered by marketers.[citation needed]
Criticism of the phrase and concept
editThe phrase "thought leader" is identified by some writers as an annoying example of business jargon.[4] Kevin Money and Nuno Da Camara of the John Madejski Centre for Reputation at the University of Reading's Henley Management College write that the nebulous nature of the phrase (the unclear nature of "what is and what is not thought leadership") contributes to its reputation among cynics as "meaningless management speak."[5] Some writers, such as Harvard Business Review contributor Dorie Clark, have defended the phrase while agreeing "that it is very icky when people call themselves thought leaders because that sounds a little bit egomaniacal."[6] New York Times columnist David Brooks mocked the lifecycle of the role in a satirical column entitled "The Thought Leader," published in December 2013.[7]
A parody on the term was published in 2016 by Pat Kelly on Canadian television's This Is That program. In the process of the discussion, imitating TED talks, Kelly elicits responses from the audience that exemplify the effect he describes as the result of applying well-known marketing techniques to achieve the impression of being an erudite speaker.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Prince, Russ Alan; Rogers, Bruce (March 16, 2012). "What Is A Thought Leader?". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
- ^ Biderman-Gross, Fran. "Council Post: What It Really Means (And Takes) To Become A Thought Leader". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
- ^ Reilly, Patrick (November 9, 1990). "'Thought' Magazines Weather Ad Storms". Wall Street Journal. ProQuest 398185791 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Attention Thought Leaders and Evangelists: Your Business Jargon Is Annoying". NFIB. National Federation of Independent Business. 2015-12-03. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ Kevin Money & Nuno Da Camara, Comment: Is thought leadership a cutting edge strategy or meaningless management speak? Financial Times (December 2, 2007).
- ^ Why the Term "Thought Leader" Isn't Gross, Harvard Business Review Ideacast (Dorie Clark interview by Sarah Green Carmichael) (October 1, 2015).
- ^ David Brooks, "The Thought Leader", The New York Times, December 17, 2013.
- ^ "This deconstruction of all TED Talks is itself the ideal TED Talk". The A.V. Club. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
Further reading
edit- Brosseau, Denise (February 2014). Ready to Be a Thought Leader?. Wiley/Jossey-Bass. ISBN 978-1-118-64761-5.
- Frick, Karin; Guertler, Detlef; Gloor, Peter A. (August 6, 2013). "Coolhunting for the World's Thought Leaders". COINs13 Conference.
- Acharya, Nupur (June 20, 2011). "Infosys, Tata Brands Beat Google and Apple". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on October 6, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- Myslewski, Rik (November 25, 2009). "Apple tops Google as UK 'Thought Leader'". The Register.