Being a thought leader is vital for your career success. Think about what your job is. Do you get to communicate significant new knowledge? Develop new relationships with your clients? Develop new relationships with industry leaders? Networking is vital for all careers, but especially in the internet age where your influence is felt from everywhere at once.
Being a thought leader in your field is a great way to build credibility, especially if you’re sharing unique ideas and resources. Credibility allows people to take what you say more seriously; when people hear that someone else thinks something is important, that person will probably be more likely to follow that thought through when they decide what to do about it. Being recognized for your ideas and innovations increases the value you bring to your clients and also helps build your credibility as an expert in your field.
Being recognized as an authority in your field is just one step toward building credibility. Career developers recognize those who can add value to their organizations and communities. The next step is to put yourself out there by publicly displaying what you know and how you’re using your expertise in the market. Being recognized as an expert doesn’t always mean you’ll get more opportunities. The biggest myth in the recruiting world is that you have to have boardroom experience in order to get hired. Years of working in a similar position can be more valuable than your university degree. Building up a portfolio of on the job success has immense value
If you want to be successful in your chosen field, one of the most important aspects is your ability to build credibility. This means turning what you know into valuable information that clients and other industry experts can rely on. In today’s competitive business environment, there’s no time to develop false credibility. It’s critical that you identify real opportunities to enhance your credibility as a leader in your industry so you can convincingly build relationships with your clients, fellow professionals, fellow leaders, and other stakeholders.