What do you do if you receive feedback that challenges your thought leadership?

Be receptive to the feedback. Have an open communication. Use the feedback to reflect. Evaluate the credibility of the source. Acknowledge the valid points. Try incorporating them in your content or approach. Communicate your response. View feedback as an ongoing opportunity for learning and growth. Stay curious, seek out diverse perspectives, and remain adaptable in your approach to thought leadership.

The very first thing to do is to acknowledge the difference of opinion. Then ask questions and listen. If you have an opportunity, repeat back what you heard to validate you listened and heard the opposing viewpoint. It is best to reflect a bit, and if the situation warrants, ask time to consider and propose a (short) time to continue the conversation. The point of all this is to be flexible and understanding about other opinions. The best part of a team is that you have so many varied opinions to choose from!

When you view feedback as a gift, you’re likely to not only listen to the critique but also hear what’s said. Understand that not everyone is going to understand your vision, but feedback helps you to figure out better ways to convey your message. If someone challenges you simply because they don’t like your message or vision, then consider the source of the critique. Sometimes when someone lets me know that they don’t like what I’m saying, I think I must be doing something right. Often debate leads to action and change.

As a Business Psychologist, I've navigated my thought leadership journey, and constructive criticism has been a game-changer. Here's my approach: Embrace the "why." When a colleague politely mentioned my social media content felt jargon-heavy, I dug deeper. Was it a generational gap in communication style? This analysis helped me tailor my message for better audience connection. I pivoted from industry acronyms to real-world examples, making my content more accessible. Engagement soared, proving the value of adapting based on feedback. Pro Tip: Seek diverse perspectives. Don't just rely on internal feedback. Connect with external thought leaders in your field. Their insights can reveal blind spots and spark innovative approaches.

Not all advice is good advice! Not all advice should be taken to heart, especially when it doesn’t resonate with our core values or vision. I've seen bad given from a place of experience which made the receiver feel defeated and lose their confidence. Filtering feedback is as crucial as adapting to it. Strategic adaptation isn’t about indiscriminately applying every piece of advice but discerning which insights align with our principles and goals. The key = Evaluating the source of the feedback: does this person embody the values and success you aspire to? If not, their advice, however well-meaning, might not serve your path to growth!

Thought leadership thrives on open exchange. When you receive challenging feedback, don't silo it. Share it generously with your network of fellow thought leaders. Frame it as an opportunity for collective learning. This fosters a collaborative spirit and sparks discussions about industry best practices. Everyone benefits from the shared insights, propelling the entire field forward. Example: On a mastermind call I openly discussed the feedback about jargon. Together, we brainstormed creative ways to communicate complex ideas simply - valuable for us all. Pro Tip: Turn feedback into a teaching moment. Create a blog post or social media thread outlining the feedback you received and the steps you're taking to adapt.

Not all feedback serves you equally. I've learned to filter critiques to maintain confidence. Distinguish constructive criticism from uninformed opinions. Focus on actionable insights from credible sources. This protects your self-belief while allowing valuable feedback to fuel your growth. Example: Once, a social media comment criticized my content style without offering specifics. I acknowledged their right to an opinion, but I prioritized detailed feedback from industry experts. Pro Tip: Practice mental reframing. Instead of seeing feedback as a personal attack, view it as a chance to refine your message. This positive mindset fosters resilience and keeps you focused on continuous improvement as a Thought Leader.

La comunicación como motor del liderazgo de opinión es fundamental. Si sabemos comunicarnos, nuestro liderazgo de opinión tendrá credibilidad, responsabilidad, influencia. Y es lo que se busca finalmente: transmitir la información e influenciar. #liderazgodeopinion = #comunicacion ✍️ 🇨🇱