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Ready to Be a Thought Leader?: How to Increase Your Influence, Impact, and Success
The how-to guide to becoming a go-to expert Within their fields, thought leaders are sources of inspiration and innovation. They have the gift of harnessing their expertise and their networks to make their innovative thoughts real and replicable, sparking sustainable change and even creating movements around their ideas. In Ready to Be a Thought Leader?, renowned executive talent agent Denise Brosseau shows readers how to develop and use that gift as she maps the path from successful executive, professional, or civic leader to respected thought leader.
With the author's proven seven-step process—and starting from wherever they are in their careers—readers can set a course for maximum impact in their field. These guidelines, along with stories, tips, and success secrets from those who have successfully made the transition to high-profile thought leader, allow readers to create a long-term plan and start putting it into action today, even if they only have 15 minutes to spare.
Offers a step-by-step process for becoming a recognized thought leader in your field Includes real-world examples from such high-profile thought leaders as Robin Chase, founder and former CEO of Zipcar; Chip Conley, author of PEAK and former CEO of JDV Hospitality; and more Written by Denise Brosseau, founder of Thought Leadership Lab, an executive talent agency that helps executives become thought leaders, who has worked with start-up CEOs and leaders from such firms as Apple, Genentech, Symantec, Morgan Stanley, Medtronic, KPMG, DLA Piper, and more Ready to Be a Thought Leader? offers essential reading for anyone ready to expand their influence, increase their professional success, have an impact far beyond a single organization and industry, and ultimately leave a legacy that matters.
With the author's proven seven-step process—and starting from wherever they are in their careers—readers can set a course for maximum impact in their field. These guidelines, along with stories, tips, and success secrets from those who have successfully made the transition to high-profile thought leader, allow readers to create a long-term plan and start putting it into action today, even if they only have 15 minutes to spare.
Offers a step-by-step process for becoming a recognized thought leader in your field Includes real-world examples from such high-profile thought leaders as Robin Chase, founder and former CEO of Zipcar; Chip Conley, author of PEAK and former CEO of JDV Hospitality; and more Written by Denise Brosseau, founder of Thought Leadership Lab, an executive talent agency that helps executives become thought leaders, who has worked with start-up CEOs and leaders from such firms as Apple, Genentech, Symantec, Morgan Stanley, Medtronic, KPMG, DLA Piper, and more Ready to Be a Thought Leader? offers essential reading for anyone ready to expand their influence, increase their professional success, have an impact far beyond a single organization and industry, and ultimately leave a legacy that matters.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
65 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 16, 2014
“Ready To Be A Thought Leader? How to Increase Your Influence, Impact, and Success” by Denise Brosseau is an informative guidebook for the person or company that wants to achieve greater status as a thought leader. The book provides tools, guidance and case studies to assist the reader in determining the best path to become known for something.
After a brief introduction and a look at where you might be now, the first chapter dives in and makes you look at where your passions are. Brosseau's message is that you must find your passion to become an effective thought leader, and through this chapter she assists you in figuring that out if you don't know already. She calls this finding your “what if future.” The next chapters look at how you can influence others and activate advocates on your behalf. She then addresses you, being an expert, and taking on the role of thought leader. Once you accept that role, she helps you codify the lessons you've learned and then presents a formula that she calls SHOUT to get your message out to the masses. I especially liked this chapter and the last on inciting a revolution for the tools provided to help you do just that.
This book is a bit more “academic” than say a Jeffrey Gitomer book would be on the same topic. The reading is a bit more dense with case studies rather than stories. However, the information is practical and usable for those who wish to join the ranks of global thought leaders, or even by those who don't want to be as widely known, but need help getting a message to their chosen audience.
Recommended read for anyone wanting to increase their influence and impact on the world.
After a brief introduction and a look at where you might be now, the first chapter dives in and makes you look at where your passions are. Brosseau's message is that you must find your passion to become an effective thought leader, and through this chapter she assists you in figuring that out if you don't know already. She calls this finding your “what if future.” The next chapters look at how you can influence others and activate advocates on your behalf. She then addresses you, being an expert, and taking on the role of thought leader. Once you accept that role, she helps you codify the lessons you've learned and then presents a formula that she calls SHOUT to get your message out to the masses. I especially liked this chapter and the last on inciting a revolution for the tools provided to help you do just that.
This book is a bit more “academic” than say a Jeffrey Gitomer book would be on the same topic. The reading is a bit more dense with case studies rather than stories. However, the information is practical and usable for those who wish to join the ranks of global thought leaders, or even by those who don't want to be as widely known, but need help getting a message to their chosen audience.
Recommended read for anyone wanting to increase their influence and impact on the world.
December 1, 2015
I liked it, but if I had to choose between this and Michael Hyatt's Platform I'd choose Platform, which I feel has more practical advice.
September 17, 2017
Brosseau outlines steps to take you from a smart, creative person with an interesting take on the world (or, more realistically, some small part of it) to a "thoughtleader"--someone recognized by the public (or, again, the relevant part of it) as a leader worth listening to.
The steps are hardly revolutionary, but having them set out in a clear, step-by-step guide is really quite helpful and gives you a great framework to think about the steps you should take. Obviously, you need to have something to say of interest...but Brousseau is very good at assuring the reader that many more people meet this criteria than think they do. After you figure out what you have to say, you need to figure out the best way to say it, who to say it to, and how to ensure that your views are heard. Brousseau's suggestions go far beyond the obvious (e.g., tweet more), and include identifying others who share the space you want to be in, studying what they are saying, getting to know them, and getting their help--maybe even writing a paper together. She has tips on when to accept speaking engagements...and how to get invitations if you don't have any, and when to turn them down, if you have too many.
The book is clearly aimed at people working in the for-profit sector (as the author does), but she is clear that her ideas are well suited to the not-for-profit sector as well (and regularly inserts asides on how they apply to not-for-profits).
Highly readable and highly recommended, if this is something you have thought about.
The steps are hardly revolutionary, but having them set out in a clear, step-by-step guide is really quite helpful and gives you a great framework to think about the steps you should take. Obviously, you need to have something to say of interest...but Brousseau is very good at assuring the reader that many more people meet this criteria than think they do. After you figure out what you have to say, you need to figure out the best way to say it, who to say it to, and how to ensure that your views are heard. Brousseau's suggestions go far beyond the obvious (e.g., tweet more), and include identifying others who share the space you want to be in, studying what they are saying, getting to know them, and getting their help--maybe even writing a paper together. She has tips on when to accept speaking engagements...and how to get invitations if you don't have any, and when to turn them down, if you have too many.
The book is clearly aimed at people working in the for-profit sector (as the author does), but she is clear that her ideas are well suited to the not-for-profit sector as well (and regularly inserts asides on how they apply to not-for-profits).
Highly readable and highly recommended, if this is something you have thought about.
November 8, 2018
good book. love the naration
June 30, 2021
Lots of valuable information. I listened to the audio book and definitely want to get this in print
June 6, 2024
The best in this segment.
December 23, 2016
Thought Leader is not a certified career path. In that sense, writing a book on how to establish yourself as one, and why and for what purpose is a noble effort, and Denise Brousseau has done a good job with it. She offers a structured path to first become clear on what your message is, and why you would be suitable to spread the word. From there it describes how to build momentum and engage an invested community to actually effect change for the better.
However what I found a bit distracting, and I freely admit that this is a personal thing, is the writing style, which is typical for American management authors, complete with a lot of brand building and catchy, repetitive keywords. Now this might help with getting the ideas to stick, but I do not think that they make for nice writing.
However what I found a bit distracting, and I freely admit that this is a personal thing, is the writing style, which is typical for American management authors, complete with a lot of brand building and catchy, repetitive keywords. Now this might help with getting the ideas to stick, but I do not think that they make for nice writing.
February 14, 2015
I found myself saying: “I wish I had Denise’s book years ago”. Her genius is the simplicity of her message and she makes a tremendous impact, all while entertaining you!
Denise teaches us about:
• The impact that we could make
• The importance of being first followers
• But most importantly, CAREER INSURANCE!
Denise can turn anyone into the person:
• Whom everyone wants to hire
• Who makes things happen
• Who has a great reputation
• Who makes others more effective
She is fabulous!!
Denise teaches us about:
• The impact that we could make
• The importance of being first followers
• But most importantly, CAREER INSURANCE!
Denise can turn anyone into the person:
• Whom everyone wants to hire
• Who makes things happen
• Who has a great reputation
• Who makes others more effective
She is fabulous!!
January 20, 2016
A good, clear process for becoming a recognized thought leader
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews