Silly business term: thought leader

Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 in Rant | 8 comments

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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  • http://normanhuelsman.com/ Norm

    Great thought. Oddly very relevant to a situation in my life right now.

  • http://normanhuelsman.com Norm

    Great thought. Oddly very relevant to a situation in my life right now.

  • Pingback: Ronin Marketeer » In Defense of the Thought Leader

  • http://www.davidlamorte.com/ Dave LaMorte

    I still don’t understand what a thought leader really is.

  • http://www.davidlamorte.com Dave LaMorte

    I still don’t understand what a thought leader really is.

  • http://www.gypsybandito.com/ CT Moore

    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.

  • http://www.gypsybandito.com CT Moore

    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.

  • http://trafcom.typepad.com/blog Donna Papacosta

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

  • http://trafcom.typepad.com/blog Donna Papacosta

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