Did you know that not all “life coaches” and podcast hosts are actually qualified to be thought leaders? It’s true.
Many of them don’t possess any of the qualities of true thought leaders. They even mislead their loyal followers.
So what makes someone a good thought leader? We’re here to talk about it. Read on to learn all about a few traits that thought leaders share.
1. They Love to Learn
Good thought leaders don’t just spout off information without being informed first. Anyone who wants to claim to be a thought leader and a trusted authority needs to love to learn. They should be passionate about their own education or else they won’t be useful when it comes to teaching others.
Even if they’re already well-educated, they should be seeking more education anytime it’s available. They may read new journal articles or books, go to seminars, and even take classes to fill in the gaps in their knowledge in their area of expertise.
For example, a “thought leader” can’t start B2B podcasting if they’re not keeping up with modern best practices for their industry. They’ll be giving listeners outdated information.
2. They’re Open to New Ideas
Many people think that thought leaders are ultimate authorities and that they don’t need to listen to dissenting ideas or opinions. This isn’t true. Anyone who truly wants to be a thought leader needs to be able to balance conflicting ideas instead of refuting them right away.
Not only will this help them generate trust from their loyal followers, but it will also help with their personal growth. If you can’t understand (or at least try to understand) why someone would think differently from you, you won’t be able to adequately influence others.
3. They’re Passionate
All thought leaders need to be passionate about their niche, otherwise, no one will want to listen to them (and they may burn out on leading).
Passionate people are able to command attention and explain why other people should be passionate as well.
4. They’re Good Communicators
All good thought leaders need to be great at communication. They practice active listening skills and are able to communicate complicated concepts in simple ways so that people outside of their niche are able to understand them.
When they disagree with someone, they know how to communicate that without “talking down” to the person or starting conflict.
5. They Own Up to Mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes and thought leaders are no exception. All good leaders know how to own up to their mistakes and make changes so that they don’t make those same mistakes in the future.
If you never admit to being wrong, you show that you’re untrustworthy.
All Thought Leaders Share These Traits
Thought leaders need to be good communicators, avid learners, passionate about their niche, and open to new information. Are you set up to be a good thought leader?
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