You’ve probably heard the term, “executive thought leadership,” but what is it and why is
it important?
Put simply, executive thought leadership is how a CEO or executive leadership team
member showcases their unique perspective or expertise on a topic. Topics can range
from industry news and trends to company products, services and culture. An effective
thought leadership strategy can benefit both the executive and their company by:
- Building trust and credibility among target audiences
- Driving positive perceptions
- Elevating reputations
- Establishing them as an industry resource and authority
Questions to Ask
To create a successful strategy, first gain clarity by answering these initial questions:
- What do I want to accomplish? What are my goals?
- Who is the target audience(s)?
- What is the executive’s unique perspective(s) and/or expertise?
- How does thought leadership fit into the company’s overall communications
strategy? - What is the executive’s communication style?
- How does the executive currently engage target audiences? What are the results?
Optimize Your Content and Channels
The content of your communications and how they are delivered will be specific to your
executive and goals, but may include a combination of the following channels:
- Short, snackable social media posts
- Longer-form posts on a company or industry blog
- Op-ed articles
- Conference keynote speaker or panel member
- Podcast guest
- Award nominations
Ideas to Incorporate
While every strategy will be different, these are great guidelines to follow:
- Consistency is crucial — thought leadership isn’t a one-time initiative
- Storytelling is a powerful way to reinforce key points
- Be timely, relevant and authentic
- Spokesperson training can enhance public speaking skills
- Provide insights instead of directly promoting products and services
- Be patient; results don’t happen overnight
Elmore Can Jumpstart Your Thought Leadership Strategy
To start, the Elmore team will ask questions and listen to gain clarity. Then, we’ll put pen
to paper — or fingers to keyboard — to create a strategy that sets you up to successfully
meet your thought leadership goals.
Once we have an approved strategy, we’ll craft a thought leadership calendar, draft or
polish content, and connect with gatekeepers who oversee some of our target platforms.
We’ll provide customized spokesperson training to enhance the executive’s public
speaking skills. Upon implementation, we’ll establish baseline metrics, pivot when needed
and monitor growth throughout the journey.
Contact us today for more information.
