You want to become a thought leader in your field. What's the first step to developing your writing skills?

There is an old proverb that goes, ‘The goal of the teacher is for the student to surpass the teacher.’ To be a thought leader is to aspire for someone from your audience to surpass you. It's about constant learning, pondering, reading, questioning, and humbly embracing the possibility of being outdone. Curiosity fuels this journey. Keep questioning, keep seeking. Learn from established leaders and be willing to share newfound knowledge with future thought leaders. I set out every endeavor with the goal to nurture those who might outshine me. I strive to be a mentor, guide, and educator, for therein lies wisdom. Teaching invites challenge, deepening expertise. This, to me, is the essence of Thought Leadership.

If you haven't written before, start reading copiously. Across genres, styles, fiction not fiction till you land on pieces of writing that resonate with you. Then start writing. Start small. Small drafts. Twitter copy. Move on to longer pieces. Share this with colleagues. Writers. Editors. People with an interest in the written word. Then try your hand at drafting a special piece with your insights from your domain. Remember it will take a couple of times before you find your style and feel at home with how your thoughts are reflected in how you write.

Journaling is a powerful way to get started. The act of simply putting thoughts on a page will help you find your passion and hone your writing skills. Journaling will also help articulate your thoughts and feelings, manage anxiety and reduce stress, helps you clarify and achieve goals, and track your progress and growth.

Experience does not have to be niche, I would say if you want to be a thought leader, your experience should be applicable across multiple scenarios so you can make any example relatable for your audience. For that you don't need a niche, you need experience, networks and the ability to listen! If you listen to others, you have stories to tell. This can help you on your road to success.

You may have expertise in many fields but it’s easier to be known as a thought leader for a more defined skill set. If colleagues or others in the industry are going to refer to you, they’ll say, “They’re the go-to pro for ____” ...so think about what that singular specialty would be. It’s better to have that niche identity than a broad one. ("They do A and B and some of C and D, I think” isn't nearly as helpful.) You’ll stand out, be memorable, and be sought after for your perspective more often.

Need to be a SME. Identify your niche. Practice what you preach. Stay updated with the latest trends and formats. Analyze the posts by leading experts in terms of content , style ,tenor and length. A good mentor could be helpful. Start by writing small articles. Actively seek feedback . Act on comments .Adapt and improve.

Always be learning! Seek information from people, sources, and perspectives different from your own to broaden and diversify your domain knowledge. Go beyond LinkedIn — read articles, books, other social media channels and forums, listen to podcasts, watch Youtube channels… today, thought leadership is everywhere. However, amazing as the internet is in allowing global access to information and creators, remember to be appropriately skeptical. Not everyone knows what they’re talking about!

You need to write regularly and authentically! There are a lot of tools out there for writing, but nothing hits the spot like writing down your thoughts, coming back to them and building them out in your own tone and style. You also need to write for varying audiences and different attention spans! Short content, long content, advanced markets, developing markets - you need to be relatable. People do like variety and this is a key to success.

Hemingway, Maya Angelou, Stephen King, and countless other authors all wrote EVERY DAY, and said that discipline was key to their success. Building the habit of writing regularly with even 15 or 30 minutes of writing every day WILL sharpen your writing skills, help you write well for your medium of choice, and help you narrow your thought leadership focus. To keep the ideas flowing, keep a notebook or app handy and jot down any thoughts you have as you read or consume industry content. Note anything that strikes you, intrigues you, confuses you, etc. ponder these, research, discuss with others in the industry. You’ll find you’re enriching your knowledge base and gathering plenty of topics to write about.

Gaining feedback is crucial for improving writing in thought leadership because it offers valuable insights from different perspectives, identifies blind spots, and helps refine ideas. Ensure it is constructive as constructive criticism guides in honing clarity, persuasiveness, and relevance of content, enhancing its impact on the audience. Iterative feedback loops foster continuous improvement, ensuring that thought leadership pieces resonate effectively and contribute meaningfully to the discourse.

Talk shop. In coffee chats, on relevant forums, at conferences, the water cooler and beyond, share your thoughts on your area of expertise and take note of how your audience responds. Their feedback can help you identify areas of your messaging you may need to clarify, support with more evidence, or build bridges between ideas. Appreciating your audience’s feedback does not mean you should change your approach to write what you think your audience wants to hear, but to respect and consider their perspectives.

- Ruthless editing enhances clarity and precision in writing, ensuring that your message is conveyed effectively and your ideas shine through. - It fosters consistency and cohesion, maintaining a coherent structure and flow throughout your content, which enhances readability and professionalism. - By eliminating redundancy and fluff, ruthless editing keeps your writing concise and engaging, capturing readers' attention and maintaining their interest. - This iterative process of refinement allows for continual improvement, demonstrating attention to detail and a commitment to excellence in thought leadership endeavors.

- Experimentation in writing allows for exploration of different styles and formats, aiding in the discovery of the most effective ways to convey messages to your audience. - Learning involves studying techniques from established thought leaders, incorporating new approaches, and continuously expanding your vocabulary and knowledge base. - Soliciting feedback and iterating based on constructive criticism helps refine writing skills and enhance the quality and effectiveness of content. - Embracing failure as an opportunity for growth, staying curious, and maintaining a persistent attitude toward improvement are essential traits for aspiring thought leaders in developing their writing skills.

The funny thing is, to write effectively, you need to listen effectively. The biggest skill that most people lack, is that of active listening. When you listen, you absorb, when you absorb, you learn. These learnings are what can translate into notable gems for you personally, but also for you to share!