Thought leadership is dead. Long past its peak.
Or at least, it could easily seem that way. The term is so overused that it seems meaningless. It has become a buzzword.
But, there is still enormous value in the concept. Business audiences want:
- Insights on the trajectory of trends in their industry (emerging, rising, sustaining, or falling)
- Guidance and perspectives on complex topics
- Better understanding of the causes of sticky industry challenges and their potential solutions
- Trusted voices that rise above the noise
It doesn’t actually matter if all the above is called thought leadership or not. It might just be a particular combination of empathy (for audience needs) and expertise (in a particular topic). But it’s hard to advocate for that without a label, even one whose meaning has rubbed off over time.