---
title: "Silly business term: thought leader"
author: "Christopher S Penn"
date: 2007-10-30
url: https://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/10/silly-business-term-thought-leader/
categories:
  - "Rant"
---

# Silly business term: thought leader

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.