Silly business term: thought leader

30 Oct

Posted by: Christopher S. Penn in: Rant

I’m always amused when I see someone bill themselves as a thought leader in their field (heck, my own company’s marketing department does it to me), mostly because the term thought leader is a joke. You are either a leader or you are not. It’d be like having a thought quarterback in the NFL, a thought pitcher in Fenway Park, a thought general on the battlefield. Do leaders need to think? Of course! But then they need to demonstrate the true leadership part and do.

Brilliant execution of a good plan beats no execution of a great plan every time.

My final turn of phrase on this silly term that needs to be retired: a thought leader is someone who is thinking about leading - but probably never will.

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5 Responses

Norm
30|Oct|2007 1

Great thought. Oddly very relevant to a situation in my life right now.
Ronin Marketeer » In Defense of the Thought Leader
30|Oct|2007 2

[...] Christopher Penn proposes deep sixing the term “Thought Leader” [...]
Dave LaMorte
31|Oct|2007 3

I still don’t understand what a thought leader really is.
CT Moore
31|Oct|2007 4

I don’t know, I think that “thought leaders” have anything to do with actually leading anyone. I think that the real thought leaders are the guys who convince everyone else that they’re not just talking shit.

My point is that thought leaders are basically idealogues, and idealogues tend to be powerful people. Unlike those in a leadership role, however, idealogues don’t get scapegoated when things go awry. Rather, the leaders get sacrificed for not executing or understanding the ideas better.

“Thought leaders,” then, I guess (’cause I’m not sure any of us really know what’s going on anymore) are people who share the reigns of power, but don’t have to worry about being trampled if their thrown for their saddle.
Donna Papacosta
01|Nov|2007 5

“Thought leader” really is a silly phrase, Chris. Glad to see you call it out.