This article is more than 6 years old.
The term "thought leader" has spread through the business world like some un-killable virus wrecking the careers of the innocent and guilty alike. It's time to put an end to this scourge.
If you have considered adding the term to your CV/resume, or your LinkedIn profile, just don't. Really, don't. If you already use the term, eliminate it the moment you finish reading this column.
- Real thought leaders don't need to announce the fact. They just are. You wouldn't announce that you are a war hero, or a saint, or a genius. So don't announce that you are a thought leader. Let your thoughts speak for themselves. If you are a thought leader it will become evident.
- The term makes you look like a wannabe. Who wants to be a wannabe? No one. The world is full of people who aspire to better themselves and that is a good thing. But announcing to the world that you are still aspiring while at the same time claiming to be a leader is inherently contradictory.
- It makes you look insecure. Quiet confidence is always more appealing than paper thin claims of awesomeness.
- The term's ubiquity makes it meaningless. In other words, when everyone is a thought leader then no one is a thought leader. Look through LinkedIn and see how many people are claiming to be thought leaders. Too many. It has become as hollow as the terms 'serial entrepreneur,' 'social media expert,' and the word 'experienced' in front of anything else.
- Real thought leaders always face strong opposition, sometimes hatred. This is perhaps the most important part of the problem. Truly revolutionary ideas almost always receive short shrift. That is why it is doubtful that many of the people using the moniker actually are leading thought in the way that the idea heroes of yore have done. Take a look at these individuals:
- Charles Darwin, who is credited with developing the theory of evolution, faced huge opposition from the Church.
- Galileo stated, correctly, that the earth revolved around the sun -- again much opposition to the idea.
- Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx wrote the business plan at school and was given a poor grade. "The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a 'C', the idea must be feasible," his professor reportedly wrote. The rest is history.
- Alibaba founder Jack Ma says he faced opposition on his payment system idea: "I discussed Alipay with several people who called it the stupidest idea."
Now you know what to do. So go do it.
