What do you do if your mentees struggle to establish themselves as thought leaders?

As a mentor we are responsible to establish a clear sense of the mentee's skills, goals, and objectives. Upon doing so, we are responsible to assess how our skill set is best suited to inspire, guide and identify specific action steps that will ensure their success. The next step is to quantify the level of dedication, commitment, and sacrifice, that the mentee is willing to invest in their success. If the will is not there, let the mentee know that they are not yet ready to seriously embark upon the journey toward successful thought leadership. If they are committed, provide specific actionable steps, a timeline, and a clear vision of the destination they will achieve if they are consistent.

Thought leadership is a mind set, not a skill you acquire. If the mentee is struggling, it means they still have some evolving to do. This is not about skills, this is about personality, and realization of the space they are operating in. They need to grow into the role, and have the foresight. So the first step is to mentor them to own their actions, and be responsible for the outcome of their decisions. That would be a real good place to start the inward journey towards self realization... even in a corporate world. It's when you are comfortable with yourself that you don't fear anything about the world. That's when thought leadership really blooms.

Thought leadership is a mindset. And I usually check my mentees mindset, if it is a dependent, independent or interdependent. If they are aware of their vision, the problem they want to solve. Are they focusing on themselves or for the business and or for the society. The right leadership mindset inventory is the first place to start for building thought leadership. I encourage and give feedback on their mindset. The next challenge is to change yourself to change the world. The best corollary is of Mahatma Gandhi- leadership without title. The right mindset and a purpose and then how to engage with community and influence a revolution or change.

Struggling mentees often lack a clear direction. Advise them to pick a specific industry challenge and offer their unique solution through presentations, articles or social media. Regular, high-quality content positions them as experts & builds their credibility, attracting a dedicated audience.

If you can ignite a distinctive thought provoking spark in a person's generic thoughts through your articulated sensible thoughts,irrespective of any specific field or realm, you are a thought leader.It is not about a skill or relevance to a specific topic, you could be a thought leader in any areas if you know the pulse of it and have sensible out of the box thoughts around it.Sometimes life experience can take you through wider spectrum of different topics.Sometimes travel experience takes you through different angles of multiple subjects and topics.Your mentee should not get confined to a deliberated or specific topic.Passion and the ability to think beyond and inspire others,should take you through multiple facets of thought leadership.

See the hidden potential in you, discover what makes you special, and carve out a specific skill that drives your passion. Early in my career, I was eager to explore multiple areas and be a jack-of-all-trades. However, I soon realized that true impact and recognition come from depth, not breadth. By focusing on a niche I was passionate about, I was able to contribute unique perspectives, establish myself as an expert, and gain the recognition I aspired to. A true thought leader is one who leads with purpose, passion, and expertise, and you cannot have expertise without a niche. So it's a must to identify your niche, delve deep into your chosen field, and cultivate it.

1. Offer guidance and support: As a mentor, it's important to provide continuous guidance and support. Offer advice on how to build their personal brand, create valuable content, and engage with their target audience. 2. Encourage networking and collaboration: Encourage your mentees to network with industry professionals, attend conferences, and collaborate with others in their field. 3. Provide opportunities for growth: Create opportunities for your mentees to showcase their expertise, such as speaking engagements, guest blogging, or participating in industry events. 4. Celebrate their successes: Positive reinforcements can boost their confidence and motivation to continue on their path to thought leadership!

Remind them that Rome was not built in a day. Thought Leadership requires, in my opinion, evidence, as well as expertise. And evidence requires time as patience. Build a plan with your mentee that spans months, not minutes. Remind them of your own journey… it’s unlikely that you were thrust suddenly into the spotlight… you would have had to work at being respected for your news and views too. And you would have had to demonstrate consistency as well. These are attributes that all leaders require in spades for a multitude of reasons. So, they’re always good ones to practice to perfection too.