Amit Suvarna’s Post

I miss old-school thought leadership. Pre-internet and certainly pre-social media, to be considered a thought leader you had to be really damn good at and specialized in what you do (and likely educated in that specialty), possess a truly unique viewpoint on a particular subject, and your purpose for putting forth your ideas was to inspire change. Perhaps most importantly, because self-promotion was fairly limited, your peers and colleagues had to tell those in charge of a conference or publication that you were worthy of some speaking or print real estate. (Read: PR and marketing people weren’t a major factor in the decision.) You couldn’t be a primary care physician and present yourself as an expert in clinical depression in an article. You couldn’t be a graphic designer and present yourself as a strategic marketer to an audience at a trade show. Today, if you’re a polished writer or speaker who knows how to “fake it till you make it” and can follow insufficient formulas to accumulate followers and engagement via algorithmic silliness, you too can become a perceived expert in whatever. Maybe, just maybe, we need to go back to a system that is not follower, engagement, or algorithm-driven, but peer-review driven. And those peer reviews cannot be evaluated based on the peers’ volume of followers, but by their level of sophistication in a field. Think about it.

Thought leadership: buzzword or brand cornerstone? Here's why CEOs can't afford to ignore it. You've built a successful business, but are you truly leading your industry? Thought leadership isn't just about sharing insights—it's about shaping conversations and driving innovation. Here's how you can elevate your status from business leader to industry visionary: ↳ Embrace the TAS framework: Timely: Address current industry trends and challenges. Authoritative: Showcase your expertise and unique perspective. Strategic: Align your content with your business goals and audience needs. ↳ Leverage automation: Don't let your busy schedule hinder your thought leadership efforts. Utilize automated content solutions to amplify your voice without compromising your primary responsibilities. ↳ Invest in original research: Want to stand out from the crowd? Conduct and share original research. It's your "secret sauce" for providing unique insights that can't be found elsewhere. ↳ Keep it fresh: Regularly update and repurpose your existing content. This not only preserves SEO value but also ensures your insights remain relevant and valuable to your audience. Remember, thought leadership isn't about shock value—it's about establishing authority and credibility. By consistently producing valuable content, you're not just building your personal brand, but strengthening your organization's market position. Are you ready to lead the conversation in your industry? Stay tuned for more exciting realtime updates, knowledge tips, and career opportunities. Follow us here 👆👆👆 #ThoughtLeadership #CEOStrategy #ContentMarketing #IndustryInfluence #BusinessGrowth

How I put in the daily work and strive to become a thought leader. I think that's the whole point here on LinkedIn. It's not: - posting twice a day - commenting for over an hour - developing your personal brand Developing a personal brand is worthless, if you're still part of the status quo. Being a thought leader is being a contrarian. It's not developing a personal brand. It's working towards making an impact and fostering a movement. That's starts with a daily habit of thought leadership. To be a thought leader, you need 4 things: (1) Be different. Express your different. It's no longer about being better. There are too many choices and too many better mousetraps out there. Regurgitating what has already been said by someone else too many times is not different. It's boring. (2) Express your unique point of view (POV). Your POV shares what you 'stand for' and 'stand against'. It shares your own own framework. Your content should cause people to think, not react. If you're part of an existing framework, call yourself an expert, and don't get people to think, you're part of the status quo - and part of the noise. (3) Share content that changes their perspective. Developing a unique POV story helps shift people's thinking, leading to a changed perspective. This is powerful—Henry Ford revolutionized transportation with the Model T by asking, "What else is possible?" instead of delivering a faster horse. Ask yourself this question to discover new possibilities, inspire others, and change their perspective. (4) Be relatable and build relationships. We’ve transitioned from lead generation in the Attention Economy to the Relationship Economy and demand generation. To understand this, look in the mirror and ask, "How do I buy?" If you research online, so do your customers. People don’t want to be sold to—they want to buy from those they like, know, and trust. You've got to create demand while building relationships. Find your 'inner' thought leader. Focus on building relationships while changing perspectives. Turn it into a habit. P.S. Drop your thoughts below or send me a message. Let's lead the way together! P.P.S. P.S. Please repost ♻️ to help others tap into their 'inner' thought leader!

Thought leadership...About Thought Leadership?! As someone who’s worked in both B2B and B2C marketing, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of strong content and how it can influence purchase decisions for businesses and consumers alike! Kenneth Cassar breaks down thought leadership into four key types commonly used the data industry. If you’re looking to elevate your brand and engage your audience, it's worth a read! #thoughtleadership #contentmarketing #digitalmarketing #B2B #marketingstrategy

Where do you find inspiration for your next topic? —> Here are the 𝟰 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 I call the 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗸. (𝘈𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳) 1️⃣ 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 Industry trends, where the market is going, global or sector changes, and future developments generate many conversations relevant to your audience. Demonstrating that you know those trends and have a perspective to share generates a list of topics your target audience seeks. They want expert comments, predictions, opinions, and practical examples. 2️⃣ 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 While it's worthwhile to explore your areas of curiosity and talk about things that interest you, you must strike a balance with topics like this and ensure you're not overdoing it. Pay close attention to your audience and the topics that interest them—not you! Study your audience's preferences and behaviours and understand their struggles, needs, and desires. Also, watch out for their comments on your posts—they can be fantastic resources for audience-centric topics. 3️⃣ 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 Yes, sometimes you need to talk about your solutions, products, services, specific business approach, or even your team of rockstars delivering results. But, but, Iva… Thought leadership never sells! That's true, but there are ways to approach it: You can sound educational, knowledgeable, and inspirational while still mentioning your products and services. Devin Reed posted about this today, explaining the principle in 3 steps: 1. Lead with relevant problems 2. Give answers and frameworks 3. Introduce your product 4️⃣ 𝗬𝗼𝘂 Personality is the bedrock of thought leadership content. There are lists of topics that you can draw from your expertise and passions. (Plus, they are easier to identify than what your audience wants) Think about what you know, what you practice most, your interests, personal observations, values, and even your current role and day job. —> You can use each of these topics to populate your content calendar, but you can also mix and match them. For example, combining expertise in business strategy with AI adoption could lead to a theme like "Crafting Your AI Business Strategy." Do you create Think Tanks or Idea Hubs for your planned content? #ThoughtLeadership #ContentMarketing #AuthorityBuilding #ThoughtLeadershipStrategy

Thought leadership is crucial, but doing it right takes effort, structure, and strategy. And I am happy to share the framework on how to do it well! Only 15% of B2B decision-makers rate the quality of thought leadership as "very good or excellent," and under-resourcing is a major barrier. Yet, a whopping 77% of buyers agree that when done well, thought leadership offers original, business-relevant insights that stand out . Quality matters, and without structure, most efforts fail. Structure is non-negotiable. Effective thought leadership starts by aligning goals with measurable business outcomes, not vanity metrics. You need clear themes, a deep understanding of your audience, and a solid strategy to avoid being another generic voice in an oversaturated market. 63% of failed content falls flat because it’s too corporate or lacks originality . Getting it right takes time. Building a framework—like defining your core values, identifying the right channels, and creating a consistent messaging strategy—requires real effort upfront. But the impact is undeniable: 9 out of 10 decision-makers are more receptive to businesses that produce high-quality content , and 65% of buyers say thought leadership improved their view of a company . I have a lovely framework to help set out the structure you need. Happy to share it if you DM me or drop a note in comments. 😁 #ThoughtLeadership #B2BMarketing #BrandStrategy #ContentThatMatters

Thought leadership plays a crucial role in rallying your audience around your brand and business. It’s the lifeblood of the integrated comms programs we run for our clients at Mission North. But here’s the thing: It’s not thought leadership if everyone agrees with your POV. If nobody hates what you have to say, nobody will love it either. Playing it safe doesn’t build an audience. And without an audience, it’s impossible to lead a movement. True thought leadership… ✅ Frames the issue differently than everyone else ✅ Forces people to think more deeply about it ✅ Orients around problems, not solutions ✅ Sparks healthy discourse and debate ✅ Balances sizzle with substance ✅ Requires lots of reps I value the following voices on LinkedIn for their thought leadership. Tom Fishburne for his use of humor to illuminate the biggest issues shaping marketing. Scott Galloway for challenging the status quo on innovation, politics and the economy. Adam Grant for his super smart and concise insights on leadership and organizational behavior. Reid Hoffman for his deeply investigated,  intellectually honest perspectives on AI. Ian Bremmer for his provocative one-liners on geopolitics. Liz Fosslien for her visual thought leadership on the future of work. Who else sets the bar for thought leadership on LinkedIn?

Andy Crestodina is at it again with another compelling article about standing out in the digital world. Can AI handle Thought Leadership content? The resounding answer is NO! Why? Because, like Seth Godin said so well, "thought leadership content requires strong opinions". It demands clarity on WHAT YOU STAND FOR. When you stand for something, you'll stand out to those who agree and filter out those who don't (the ones who won't buy your services). 💥This is the content that has the greatest impact because it's human! ✅ It isn’t just information, it’s emotion. ✅It isn’t just read, it is remembered. Take a stand and stand out. 👉 Give me 3 BOLD statements in the comments about what you believe is non-negotiable in your business and industry. Example: "Build a brand story before you build a website to save money while increasing revenue." 👇Drop 1-3 in the comments and start resonating with those you're meant to serve (and love to serve). The link to Andy's article: https://lnkd.in/eXKyfYEg

Some Friday thoughts on thought leadership - an often mocked and maligned concept. I've engaged in several conversations here this week that either dismiss the idea (as elitist or pretentious) or make the case for thought leadership as an integral part of the content marketing mix. I'm in the latter camp but only when it's done well. Having worked with dozens of organisations - both incumbents and disruptors - over the past decade to deliver 'knowledge assets' my colleagues at teammagenta have identified some success factors. Our key learning is that it's not a solo endeavour. It's a community activity. We see three important roles: Experts. Sherpas. Creators. * Experts are business leaders, innovators and fresh thinkers with deep domain knowledge. They may need assistance to communicate their ideas effectively. * Sherpas are great at shaping ideas into narratives that resonate with key audiences/markets. * Creators are the folks who develop those narrative into compelling stories and bring them to life via relevant channels and media. When those three personas are at the table the effectiveness of your thought leadership increases. If you'd like to know more about the process of creating thought leadership that moves the needle and encourages action I'd love to share with you 'Talk about the Future' our communications handbook for thought leaders. Here's a quick look. Thanks to Ritika Arya and Aditya Nair for the visualisation. Welcome the thoughts of my connections who excel in one or more of the roles. Ashley Ryall, Serge Perignon, Kavita Gunderia, John Winsor, Alex Malouf, Jo Watson (CMgr MCMI), John Healy, Todd Brous, Karim Lakhani, Jen Stave, PhD, Mike Klein MBA, FIIC, FCSCE, SCMP, Abhinav Kumar, Anthony Hayward, Shoba Purushothaman, Kevin McCole, Salil J., Lucy P., Steve Hickson, Krishna Kapadia, Alex Staniforth, Judith Everett, Barry Matthews, Catherine Day McGowin, Rich Wilson, Richa Arora, Dee A., Erin Meyer, Charl FJ Faul (付强), Tara Panjwani, Ruchi Mann, Soumya Palchoudhuri, Una Mapes ., Morgan Cox, koosum kalyan

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 o𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞? In today’s B2B tech world, thought leadership isn’t just about visibility—it’s about 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭. It's easy to churn out content, but the real leaders? They set the agenda, challenge norms, and inspire change. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝’𝐬 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲: - 𝑨𝒅𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝑷𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑶𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 Generic advice won’t cut it. Dive deep into the specific challenges your audience faces. Offer unconventional solutions backed by real-world examples, and become the go-to resource for practical, actionable advice. - 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬—𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 True thought leadership isn’t a one-way broadcast. Every post should be a conversation starter. Pose a provocative question, share a bold prediction, or highlight a controversial trend that challenges the industry to think differently. - 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬—𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐳e In a sea of sameness, safe content gets ignored. Daring to express a strong stance, even if it means some will disagree, will help you build a loyal following that values your unique perspective. - 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚-𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟 Anyone can claim to be a thought leader. Prove it by sharing case studies, unique data insights, or firsthand experiences. Show your audience that your ideas aren’t just theories—they’re tested strategies that deliver results. 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝟐𝐁 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡. #ThoughtLeadership #B2BMarketing #TechInnovation #DigitalTransformation #LeadTheWay #ContentMarketing #IndustryInsights #MarketingTips