Author Jessica Northey recently said, “A thought leader is true to themselves even when others might laugh, disagree or nay-say. They actually walk their talk.” When it comes to thought leadership, authenticity is paramount.
You simply can’t launch a thought leadership strategy that is out of alignment with your corporate story (brand positioning, value proposition, key differentiators, etc.) and strategy (purpose, vision, mission, values).
Why? Because, we live in a transparent world. That means your target audience will know, in an instant, if your thought leadership positions are aligned with what your company stands for.
> Are your thought leadership positions anchored in core beliefs?
> Are they synergistic with the company’s purpose, vision, mission and values?
> Do they align with the company’s market positioning and value proposition?
You should ask these questions at the beginning of the process and then again as your thought leadership strategy comes together. This is crucial, because each topic, point of view and opinion expressed in the thought leadership content you produce must align with your corporate story and strategy. If it does not, the content will work against you — not for you.
Remember, companies that become thought leaders don’t earn that position by accident and they don’t do it overnight. It takes time. However, those executives that stay true to the company’s story and strategy and remain committed to authentic thought leadership positions will build highly successful businesses in the years to come.
Speak with our experts today to learn how we can help amplify your story through strategically aligned thought leadership content.
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