09/24/2026
I’ve been thinking about the phrase “thought leader.”
More specifically, I’ve been thinking about how often people use it to describe themselves.
And I’m not sure it works that way.
Being a thought leader isn’t like being crowned Miss America. There’s no sash hanging in the closet that says THOUGHT LEADER that you get to put on every morning before heading out into the world. 😉
On The Nonprofit Show, I’m sometimes introduced or referred to as a thought leader. I’m incredibly appreciative when that happens, but I’ve never been comfortable introducing myself that way. Julia C. Patrick knows I shrink in my chair every single time.
Because, to me, thought leadership is bestowed, not proclaimed.
It happens when someone hears your perspective and thinks differently because of it.
When you help people see around the corner.
When you take something complicated and make it understandable.
When your ideas move a conversation forward.
When you challenge conventional thinking; not simply to be provocative, but because you genuinely believe there may be a better way.
And perhaps most importantly, when people sense sincerity behind the work.
That’s why I think the aspiration shouldn’t be “I want to be known as a thought leader.”
The aspiration should be:
I want my thinking to be useful.
I want my ideas to inspire.
I want my perspective to help someone see possibility where they didn’t see it before.
And I want to contribute something meaningful to my profession.
If other people eventually call that thought leadership, wonderful.
The minute we become more interested in wearing the sash, we’ve missed the point.
(My first draft of this post was shared with Agnes for review and recommended edits. This is the final result of that collaboration. IYKYK)
