Leveraging Thought Leadership

How do you take a personality trait that many might consider a setback, and turn it into a multi-faceted business? My guest today is Marcel Wijermars, the founder of Introverted Leadership and keynote speaker for the well-known speech, "The Introvert Way to Create a Life of Abundance." Years ago, Marcel realized his introverted nature was having a negative impact on his professional life. He had difficulties meeting people and networking, and those challenges were holding him back in business. Through self-experimentation, Marcel created models and frameworks to help himself overcome these challenges, and now shares those insights, helping thousands of others understand and appreciate their introverted nature. Being an introvert doesn't mean you are shy or have poor social skills. Introversion means that you don't get energy from social interaction. Marcel shares why fellow introverts need to be more strategic around which connections give them inspiration and are most beneficial to their business. Marcel gives some valuable tips for introverts traveling and attending events to help manage the energy drain. If you self-identify as an introvert or have associates who do this episode can help you better understand the difficulties and how to overcome them. Three Key Takeaways: * Finding your audience can be as easy as looking for the symptoms of the problem you are looking to solve. * Don't let what others consider a negative trait hold you back. It could in fact be the key to an entire business model. * Introverts need to focus their time on the connections that are most impactful to their business.

Imagine running a $100,000,000 company that produces airline magazines. Great, right? But then came the Covid era in 2020. When the world literally brings your company to a standstill, how do you move forward? Today, I'm talking with Simon Leslie, the co-founder and CEO of Ink Global, a media company that connects brands with global audiences. Simon is also the author of several books, including, There is No F in Sales: A Book About Selling in Every Market Condition and Equanimity: The Diary of a CEO in Crisis. We start our conversation by talking about Simon's first book, There is No F in Sales, which shines a light on his years of sales experience. Publishing the book brought a new level of credibility to his thought leadership, allowing Simon to take bigger steps in telling the story of his business to wider audiences. As if the world wanted to put his book to the ultimate test, the pandemic ground his business to a halt. Still, that didn't stop Simon. He shares how a series of conversations with other business leaders, meant to inspire his team, caused the spark that turned into his third book, Equanimity. Like many good stories of hardship, Simon's ends with an epic comeback! With courage, Ink Global made a huge transformation, heavily investing in digital technology and leading the way to new horizons. Now their content can be found on screens at gates, bars, and restaurants of airports around the world. Plus Simon explains how they feed their content into passengers' social media, based on their travels, to connect brands with audiences in an all-new way. Three Key Takeaways: * Being a visible thought leader for your company allows you to tell the story of your brand on stages you might never get invited to. * Don't look at your business and think "we are doing ok". A handful of good or bad deals is all that separates failure and success. * Have the courage to keep moving forward and transform when needed.

Your main goal as a thought leader is to get your insights into the world. But if your communication doesn't live up to its message, then your thought leadership will gather dust on a shelf To offer insights that elevate your communication, I've invited Emmy Award winning Journalist Jane Hanson to join me for today's podcast. In addition to being a journalist, Jane is a coach with thirty years of helping people communicate more clearly, more efficiently, and with greater panache. Jane shares a recent study that revealed the average American has an eight second attention span. Eight seconds! That means thought leaders have to be able to take advantage of a tiny flicker of time to communicate ideas quickly and clearly. Often, thought leaders are better at communicating in a single medium. However, to be successful, you'll need to master many different mediums - because different audiences have different preferences! Jane shares great advice for learning new mediums, and offers elements to strengthen your message in any form. Jane shares why thought leaders should follow in the footsteps of comedians, rehearsing their material over and over, working on timing, inflection, and nuance. If you are deeply familiar with your strongest talking points, speaking in front of crowds will become easier, and your speeches will appear more natural. Plus, we learn how to get personal with an audience by mingling and getting to know them before an event, adding touches that make your keynote feel tailor-made for that audience. Jane shares so much advice for becoming a better communicator. You are going to want to listen to the episode, read the transcript, and take notes! Three Key Takeaways: * Good communication is the heart and soul of thought leadership. * Tailor your message to the audience to increase clarity and impact. * Strife to deliver your ideas with passion, confidence, and comfort.

What is a model? How can you make one? How do you know if it is useful and what is a validated model? Statistician George P. Box once said, "All models are wrong, but some of them are useful." Models give us ways to depict how our insights relate to one another, and create structure that can be supported by statistical data – validating and confirming your ideas. Today, we take a deep dive into the process that turns insights into validated models. We will explore the topic with Dr. A.J. Marsden, Associate Professor at Boston College's Psychology and Human Services Department; she's also Thought Leadership Leverage's resident Organizational Psychologist. A.J. clearly defines models, and describes where they come from and how they function. We learn the basic components of a model, and why models need to be clean, simple, and free from anything that isn't essential. A.J goes on to explain why a good model needs structure and well defined dimensions, and breaks down how insights interact with each other on a fundamental level. In addition, you need to define observable behaviors in order to measure dimensions, providing valuable data for proving the model's validity and reliability. Creating a validated model means finding any weak spots in your content, and correcting them. A.J. describes the process, and goes into the statistical techniques used to create predictive validity. From there, a model can be written up in a technical report that provides functional numerical data to back up the insight and provide proof of your content's validity. If you are a stats nerd, data curious, or just struggling to identify what makes your insights "tick," this is the perfect episode for you. Three Key Takeaways: * When gathering data it is important to use participants that know and understand the concepts being used in the model. * Part of building a good model is understanding how the dimensions interact, and how the ideas support one another. * While you can create a model on your own, it can only be confirmed by a statistics professional who can develop a technical report. Without that, a model isn't validated.

Have you ever thought about writing a book to codify what your business does, and what it stands for? And once you do, how long should you work to promote that book after it hits the shelves? To discuss these questions and more, I've invited Becky Robinson to join me for this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership. Becky is the Founder and CEO of Weaving Influence where she works with business book authors to build their platform and grow the reach of their work. Additionally, Becky has become her own client having authored Reach: Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book or Cause. Our conversation begins with the difficult topic of measuring the ROI of a business book. Becky shares how that equation held her back from starting a book - until the pandemic hit. With some extra time, she started the journey, seeking to have her book launch coincide with the ten year anniversary of her business. Launching a book and running a company that specializes in the book publishing field gave Becky aunique perspective. Becky discusses some of the methods she used to get her book into the world, including pushing for100 Amazon reviews in the first month. To accomplish this, she sent 400 physical copies of the book to friends, colleagues, and anyone who would get value from it. She explains how a physical copy with a personalized note and signature has a far higher return than simply emailing a PDF. The journey of writing the book forced some additional clarity around the content Becky has used for years. She explains how she developed the four commitments, and defined the concept of "reach" in thought leadership publishing. In addition, she shares the importance of defining various terms, and the iterations authors go through in determining title and subtitle before landing on a final version. If you're planning to write a book, have a book coming out, or are out there supporting one - this episode is trove of advice that can help you reach your widest audience! Three Key Takeaways: * Online reviews are important for new books. They provide social "proof" of your insights and help create * Your book can't be for everyone. You'll need to focus on the people that need your book right now. * Don't view book marketing as a project with an end date. It is a life-long commitment.

Why do people buy? Does it come down to price and features, or are our purchasing habits driven by deeper needs? To better understand consumers, and how to successfully influence their purchasings, I've invited Kathy Risch to join me on our podcast. Kathy is the Senior Vice President, Shopper Insights & Thought Leadership at Acosta, where they provide sales, marketing, and commercial solutions to help lift businesses to success. We begin by examining the similarities and differences between purchasing physical things versus buying intangible ideas. Kathy explains that while data is black and white, people are not. Purchasing habits are based on emotions and needs; therefore, selling a product is easier when you speak to the problems that the product solves for the buyer. Selling ideas can take many forms; speaking on stage, running webinars for hundreds, or working one-on-one. Regardless of medium, Kathy says, you must always set the tone, remaining clear, organized, and straightforward when sharing your insights and ideas. In addition, you need to provide value in exchange for a client's time, delivering fresh and interesting solutions with actionable steps. If you are struggling to connect your ideas to your audience, this episode will provide valuable tips to help you get buy-in and make the sale. Three Key Takeaways: You need to connect your product's brand and vision with the emotional needs of the buyer Always be willing to explore new modalities, even if it goes outside your comfort zone. You need to meet your audience where they already get their information. Fresh insights tend to rise above the noise – always provide interesting and actionable discoveries, to show your value right away.

Can your insights literally change people's lives? That's great! But how do you make sure everyone hears what you have to say? My guest today is Stacy Mayer, a consultant and coach who works with women seeking to get promoted into higher level leadership positions. Stacy talks about her book, Promotions Made Easy: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Executive Suite, from the process of writing, to the effect the book has had on her business and her life. Stacy shares her writing journey, and talks about the impact the book has had since its publishing, elevating her credibility and ability to leverage her thought leadership. Even more, it's had a profound influence on her, personally, as people echo back the importance of her ideas. Now she sees how much deeper she can take her work, helping more women move up the ranks in big business. The effects of the book don't stop there. The book has also increased her offerings as a coach! Previously, she offered a six-week group training program, but now it has evolved to a lifetime enrollment offering peer round tables, guest coaches, and so much additional knowledge that she's been able to increase her fees. While the outcome of the book is all positive, getting it written wasn't without hardships. The idea for writing a book came from her husband and those who listen to her podcast Women Changing Leadership, feeling that she already had all the material she'd need for a book. Yet when faced with a blank page it didn't come easy. Stacy shares how the realization that she didn't have to start with the introduction, she could write the book in whichever order made sense by collecting the knowledge she had in spreadsheets and various documents she'd written over the years. Three Key Takeaways: * A thought leadership book allows your ideas to stand on their own, and reach people you may never meet in person. * Getting out and talking about your book will help grow your business, but others talking about your work will increase your reach faster. * A book doesn't have to be written in the order it will be read. Write to your passion, and write the connective tissue as you move ahead.

At one time the undisputed best embodiment of a set of ideas was a book. It was the clear winner, but is that still true? To explore today's best mediums for written media, we've turned to five-time New York Times bestselling author Dan Pink. Dan has worked as a writer for politicians and the government before going out on his own to write seven books about business, work, creativity, and behavior. Dan shares why you need to be "medium-agnostic," capable of publishing on many different mediums of media. He shares ways to test your ideas in various mediums, from books to Instagram, from TikTok to long-form articles. Once you've spread your wings a bit, you can build upon a broader foundation, leaning in on the ideas with depth and staying power. While much has changed in the publishing industry over the last twenty years, the need for robust, insightful ideas remains paramount. We discuss the need for thought leaders to produce quality content that engages your audience - and sparks your enthusiasm, too! If you've lost interest in your own ideas, the reader will never get hooked. They're only going to be as excited about your insights as you are in talking about them. When trying to determine the best medium for an idea you have to let the material tell you. Dan explains why you have to check the idea by asking "Are you sure?" to avoid having a bloated book that wastes the reader's time and undermines the idea. Three Key Takeaways: * Authors need to be good risk managers. Keep a low overhead, spend money on things that make money, and save money on everything else. * Think of a book as a long-term proposition and stick with it. Try other mediums – a lot of them! – to back up your book ideas. * It takes a certain level of maturity to leave some of your work on the editing floor, but remember that the reader needs to be entertained as well as educated - and keep things simple.

What does it take to put a great idea out into the world - and see it grow? When you have an idea that can potentially help millions, you have to be ready for the challenges that come along with trying to spread the word. Our guest today is Dr. Richard Safeer, the Chief Medical Director, Employee Health and Well-Being at Johns Hopkins Medicine. On January 19th, 2023 his first book, Cure for the Common Company: A Well-Being Prescription for a Happier, Healthier, and More Resilient Workforce hits the market, providing practical tips on creating a culture of well-being. When we think of health and well-being we rarely think of it as a team activity, but we need to have supportive people and supportive environments, including at our workplace. Richard shares how management and HR professionals can be a positive force for workers both in the office and while working remotely. He tells us about his time working at Johns Hopkins, putting the pieces together to develop an employee health and well-being strategy known as "Healthy at Hopkins," which would become the basis for his book. Richard discusses the challenges and growth that were required to get his work to market. He wrote the book without an agent (or contract), but after signing the contract, he realized that - while his work was extremely valuable, it wasn't entertaining! With inspiration from his favorite authors, Richard rewrote the book, seeking to bring more fun and catch the audience's attention, while still providing value and practical tips. Richard tells us how he is not a self-promoter by nature, but the need to get his ideas to the people that would benefit drove him to reach out and learn the skills necessary to market the book. Three Key Takeaways: * Ideas for a book can bubble up from decades of work and experience. * A book that is composed of dry facts probably won't make an impact. Your work has to be entertaining, in addition to providing value. * To put your ideas into a practical process, you may need to simplify and focus on the details.

Happy New Year! This episode showcases the best of our 2022 podcast. Listen in to hear some great insights from four amazing guests: Kelly Wright is the Founder of Culture Driven Sales which helps companies create exceptional cultures. She is also the President and COO of Gong, a company that analyses customer facing interactions to deliver the insights needed to close more deals. Kelly helps us connect thought leadership and sales. We learn why companies want to work with thought leadership partners that will challenge them and create a better environment for sales. Kelly shares what sales can do to aid in that goal and the tools they'll need to succeed. Kimberly Ellison-Taylor is an experienced accountant and active member and CEO of KET Solutions, a consulting firm focused on business growth, innovation, strategy, transformation and inclusive leadership. Kimberly has served on a number of boards and shares how thought leadership can help you prepare for such a position. Being a thought leader means having a broad perspective and an insightful, distinct view to share. Kimberly also shares how you can help the board identify gaps in their knowledge, patch them, and then use that knowledge to serve their market both internally and externally. Mark Smith is the Director, HR Thought Leadership at the Society of Human Resource Management (aka: SHRM). Mark has a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and years of experience in Human Resources consulting. Mark holds the first thought leadership position at his company and was responsible for building the role from the ground up. We learn the steps he had to take to make it a meaningful position within the organization and how he discovered ways to bridge the gap between the important research they were conducting and the audience they hoped to reach. Adam Zuckerman is the Product Leader, Employee Engagement Software at Willis Towers Watson, a company offering data-driven insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk, and capital. In the last couple of years Adam has focused more on the visibility of thought leadership for the product. One of the ways he is accomplishing that is through social media, specifically LinkedIn, a platform he had previously ignored. Adam shares ways to use the platform as a powerful tool to build relationships, discover new ideas, and hone your content. Three Key Takeaways: * Thought Leadership can help you punch above your weight if you can reach your audience in meaningful ways with actionable content. * Effective thought leadership needs to be well researched, and place its insights into the hands of those that need it most. * Social media can be a powerful tool for reaching your audience, and by listening to your audience you can sharpen your content.