Maybe you are or are not a "thought leader", Allen, but you have my brain engaged (which is where I think thought originates). I suspect this is an issue of definitions.

For instance, when I see the term "Thought Leader" in someone's tag line or bio, I do not assume that it has much to do with brand development or image.

But sometimes I find it difficult to discern what thoughts are produced by the person behind the bio and what or who are they leading.

That's when I begin to think that the self-proclaimed "thought leader" is more than a little delusional (or perhaps just selling themselves, even if only by using a cliche and what has become a worn-out phrase).

I have a similar aversion to the word "expert" And yet it, like "guru" and thought leader" are only tags - aren't they.

In my opinion, what's important is what people have to say, what value I assign to what they have to say and subsequently it is up to me if and what tag I give them.
I'd much rather be provoked and challenged to consider different perspectives rather than have someone say "My way is the right way" and so perhaps I'll tag people as "provocateurs" or Challengers"

Agree. I temporarily fell prey to self-delusion while setting up my blog. Fortunately, I caught myself and instead now describe my purpose as "striving to humbly present great ideas." Much more accurate... since most of the ideas aren't mine.

http://thoughtblog.typepad.com/

This is true for a lot of things, but branding is an especially rich area for disinformation, I mean "thought leadership". That was the exact reason I gave this presentation to some industrial design students:
http://blog.experiencecurve.com/archives/brief-history-of-branding

I try and bring into context the forces that gave rise to branding in the first place, and why branding right now is stuck in a mode of marketing "fast moving consumer goods" which is becoming increasingly less relevant.

Uh oh, i'd better shut up before I get tagged a thought leader :-)

cheers,

karl

I'm going to offer a different opinion on this one Allen (and contributors). We should view Thought Leadership along the same lines as career management or education - it's something everyone should strive to participate in. There should be plenty of thought leaders sharing and contributing new ideas, sometimes as major breakthroughs and sometimes in small increments.

Then on your resumes or websites, promote your thought leadership. That's what resumes and websites are for. Anyone can claim to be an expert (as everyone usually does). But when you make your thought leadership content available to others, it makes your expertise and ideas clear for others to see and assess.

In reality, qualification as a thought leader is driven by the people who read your content and put it to use. That is even more true with the term "guru," a designation which must clearly be earned and not self-proclaimed.

Hope we inspire someone who has not yet publicly shared their opinions to respond and join the ranks of thought leaders that make MarketingProfs the quality site that it is.

Funny that you should mention both "guru" and "thought leader" in the same post because over the weekend I added the caption "thought leaders" to a photo I placed on my website of Albert Einstein and Marilyn Monroe.

I had already claimed "global guru" status a long time ago only because it sounded good at the time.

All the best,
Laurel

'Guru' and 'Thought Leaders' should be used by people to describe someone, never by someone to describe himself ...!?!

I never understood how someone could call himself a 'Guru' ...

Originally 'Guru' was the term describing a personal spiritual teacher in the Hinduism & Tibetan Buddhism. And I really cannot imagine any of these people calling themselves 'gurus', they were way too modest for that. Only their students and followers would call them like this ...

To me, someone describing himself as a Guru or Thought Leader is doing so only because he's actually not smart and charismatic enough to be recognized as such by its peers ...

Hear Hear (or is it Here Here)!!!

I will admit that I do use the word "guru" sometimes, though certainly never in connection with myself. And "thought leadership" is a term I use when talking internal marketing strategy (as in "how can we position ourselves as thought leaders?"), but NEVER as part of a public marketing message.

Thing is, thought leadership is in the eyes of the beholder, and if you gotta say you is one, you probably ain't!!

I agree with Jim Lenskold, Trish Lambert and some others. I also agree that the term is often inappropriate and overused.
As someone who works extensively with knowledge businesses, I often advise "thought leadership marketing" because it's the most effective way to position yourself among prospects and clients -- but that's a strategy not a branding tool.
It's absurd to apply the term to consumer marketing and branding -- how much thought leadership goes into producing a tube of toothpaste? But for a knowledge business it's essential, because your knowledge and thought are the basis of your business.
You demonstrate this thought leadership through persuasive content that is passed on via the internet, newsletters, blogs and books. You don't demonstrate it by publicly tagging yourself as a thought leader.
Leadership is validated by others, not by yourself.

Too often we (Americans) toss around words quite flippantly. "Guru" and "thought leader" currently fall into that category.

Being considered either a guru or thought leader should not be taken lightly. Other parts of the world hold those titles in esteem. They are part of a leadership lexicon with deep cultural connotations. Much to may amazement, I've been described publicly as both a guru and a thought leader. It was quite an experience.

A few years ago I was invited to author and present a paper on building capacity for innovative leadership at a global leadership forum in Istanbul. The paper was distributed before the conference. Prior to my oral presentation several Turkish businessmen approached me and commented that they had read the work and they concluded that I was a guru -a thought leader! Then they continued to query me in depth. My goodness, what a curious feeling.

The sense of responsibility I felt to listen carefully, give them honest, comprehensive and credible answers really kept me alert throughout the conference. Now when I speak, I'm keenly aware of the exepctations of the audience. If someone is sincerely looking for thought leadership, I don't want to let them go away without some food for thought.

I just read all the posts and I vote or totally agree with Jim Lenskold's post! Well said.

It took me over twenty years of hard work to have someone refer to me as a "global guru" so I am not about to relinquish that title yet although I must say, I was pretty close based on your intelligent comments!

You guys/gals are such a vibrant ... hmmmmmm ... bunch of grand thought-leaders (ooooops, there I can go again!).

Great conversation generating post!

Maybe in the blogosphere is about "conversation leardership" as much as anything.

Having a good conversation, nurturing it, keeping it alive and well is what more than a few businesses need.

Thanks for stirring the pot!