18 Mar Transforming Your CEO Into A Thought Leader This News Cycle

To run a company or an organization, you have to have a very full toolkit. You must be an expert in your field, a leader of people, an expert manager of time and possess a strong belief in yourself.

We often recognize these skills in the very best vice presidents, presidents and CEOs. That’s one reason why the news media often seeks the opinions of these key leaders. However, even with these skills, not every organizational leader is able to speak to the media or to serve as a thought leader in their fields.

It takes preparation and training to become comfortable in the role, and even the most polished of speakers need to remember three simple rules to succeed as an opinion leader. To truly stand out in the marketplace of ideas, you must:

1. Be willing to tell uncomfortable truths. The media will be looking for people who can speak about topics in a strong, clear-eyed way. Your leadership must be willing to really tell it like it is in their respective fields of expertise. This is not to say they should ever say anything controversial for controversy’s sake, or say anything that would bring disfavor to your organization. Quite the opposite. But to be seen as a bright signal in a field of noise, they must be an honest broker.
2. Find and join ongoing conversations. It’s the hardest thing to do at a party. You spot a group of people already engaged in conversation and make the decision to join them. For your expert, he or she will be joining in a much broader ongoing conversation. Just like at that party, in order to make an impact in the media conversation, you’ll need to bring a new perspective, a new way of looking at the topic being discussed. If you do so, you’ll find yourself in demand, just like at a party.
3. Stay in your lane. There’s nothing worse than offering expertise in a field that you’re not truly qualified to speak on, in part because the media will know right away. Speaking in areas outside of your strong suit can, in the short and long term, damage both your leader and your company’s reputation.

At NSPR, we work with companies to ensure their leaders enjoy and benefit from their time in the spotlight. We’ve spent a lifetime joining in ongoing conversations and helping our clients do the same. We’d like to help your leadership and your company receive the recognition they deserve. Reach out to us today for a free consultation.