I hate the term “thought leader”
Have you ever tried to talk to a friend or family member who is not really enmeshed in social media about social media stuff? Have you said something like, “Wow, so and so just retweeted my post on Twitter and gave me a plus one on it via Google Plus and then called me a thought leader!” If so (and why wouldn’t you say something like this?) you were probably greeted with a blank stare, a pregnant pause, or a, “Is that good?” There are a lot of new words and phrases that are pouring out of the online world. Some of them are useful. I think. I can’t really think of any 100% useful ones right now. But a lot of them are really starting to drive me nuts. At the top of this latter list is the term “thought leader.”
What does this mean in the online world?
I think the term “thought leader” evolved because people became uncomfortable with calling themselves “influential” or “influencers.” Truth be told, I think the phrase “thought leader” means a lot of things in the world of social media. It could be synonymous with “innovative” in some cases. It could be synonymous with “a good predictor of the future.” Or, let’s just be honest, it could be another way of categorizing “the A-lister,” the “cool kids,” etc. However you slice it, it has always felt to me like using the phrase “thought leader” especially in a self-referential way, was a nice way to avoid looking like a 100% braggart. Thought leader makes you seem very important, but then you are leading people and so that’s kind of honorable and kind of not just about you.
Why I hate this term
I recently discovered that Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote a poem called, “Thought Leader, how do I hate thee? Let me count the ways.” I know, surprising, right? As it happens, her thoughts perfectly align with my own (who woulda thought?) so I thought I would just share it here.
Thought Leader, How I Hate Thee. Let Me Count The Ways
How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways.
I hate thee with all my fight and might
As thou doth blur the line betwixt wrong and right.
As thou doth kill the urge in others to race
To their own thoughts and clarity and light.
I hate thee as thou mask the height
That others can reach with their own grace.
I hate thee for the power thou doth abuse,
I hate thee for thy gathered train.
I hate thee for what you’re making us lose,
I hate thee for at disagreement you complain.
I hate thee for the doors you close,
I hate thee for the thorn in my side causes pain.
Now, let’s put this into some 21st century talk. Understand that this is not about any one person who has been called thought leader, but rather it’s what the term has come to symbolize for me.
If you’re a thought leader, by definition, you lead other peoples’ thoughts.
Why do we want that?
Social Media as a tool is still too new to be able to say that any one way of doing things is right or wrong. What works for one person is not guaranteed to work for another. What works for one company is not guaranteed to work for another. When it comes to facets of life beyond social media the idea of a thought leader makes me even more itchy. Martin Luther King was not a thought leader. All of the thoughts he infused into the world were translations of ideas from everyone ranging from Jesus to Gandhi. Gandhi was not a thought leader, he simply led people by example. He put thoughts out there and other people agreed.
When I hear or see the term “thought leader,” to me it feels like a closed door. When you are called a thought leader in the online world, it seems to mean that everything you say is right and cannot be argued with. After all, you’re a thought leader. If someone disagrees with a thought leader, we get into really mature discussions about “haters” and “haterade.” Because if you disagree with a thought leader, you hate them.
The term thought leader is, to me, what has led to the polarization of the online world in large measure. People feel they must be led by a thought leader, and if two groups of people are following two different thought leaders, obviously both groups are saying that the other leader is wrong. Hence, everyone hates everybody.
Most importantly though, the existence of “thought leaders” insinuates that you or I can’t be thoughtful or possess powerful or influential thoughts. If you are not “branded” (as cattle, not the marketing term) as a thought leader, what are you? A thought follower? Thoughtless? A snack that a brain-hungry zombie would pass by?
If content is still king online, then that means words that make up that content are the princes. The words “thought leader” used as an adjective wield a power that I am highly uncomfortable with. Clearly Elizabeth Barrett Browning didn’t like the ramifications either.
What do YOU think?
Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tmartin/71654890/ via Creative Commons
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I laughed a lot when I read this Margie and agree entirely. Frankly there are a number of terms which are complete and utter BS and this is one of them. Its not just about wielding power it is as though someone needs to be led by people who think and that is novel. Well it’s not. If you are in a situation which requires leadership and you cant think you are sunk. You cant separate thought from action either because as a thought its useless until and unless someone actually does something.
@AliHandscomb Pretty much. One can strive to lead by example or with words, but leading thoughts sounds an awful lot like brainwashing to me. Or branwashing, as I just typed. Hmm…
Hi Margie
I think that I agree with you on thought leaders but perhaps I should check with mine to make sure imy thinking on this matter is appropriate.
Actually the one new buzz word that I do like is evangelist. I know this term has been around for a long time and it may initially carry connotations of a televangelist. I like the term because if you consider yourself an evangelist, for social media, for example, it means that you are passionate about the platform and are doing your best to sing it’s praise. As you know I am an advocate for Google Plus and evangelize about its merits when I can, I also respect those who are passionate about their preferred platform. For me the bottom line is that we use the various platforms to engage with others and as a tool to help others be successful.
I have sort of strayed from the premise of thought leaders. I guess I am not as passionate about the term as you. If someone believes that they are a thought leader more power to them I just hope they are leading people to:
1. Think about others at least occasionally
2. Think about ways their “thought followers” can make the world a better place
3. Think about ways that we can help the disenfranchised
4. Think about ways we can make our government more responsive and accountable to the people they claim to serve
5. Think happy thoughts more often
@Fierce_living I see your point, but I guess if someone has to be led to think happy thoughts, there’s a risk that the thoughts are not REALLY theirs. That’s the problem. We need to be willing and able to generate our own thoughts for our own selves. If you are looking for a leader in how to think, you are in essence handing over your autonomy to some degree. That kind of freaks me out, even if it’s just a turn of phrase, ya know?
@margieclayman Ok I get it. Maybe a better word is thought enlightener or thought provoker. If I am down and not thinking happy thoughts I like to watch comedy. It’s not that I don’t have the capacity to think happy thoughts but a comedian (who may be a thought leader/ provoker/ enlightener when it comes to happy thoughts) can make me think of something in a way I had not considered before.
I think all of us at times need a different perspective and maybe that’s what thought leaders are all about. To be honest I would have never given thought leaders a second thought in the way that you did in this column. So your thoughts enlightened me and helped me to look at something different. Does that make you a thought leader? Heck I don’t know what does it mean when someone provokes you to think about something in a different light?
Now, how do you really feel, Margie? The SoMe word I dislike (hate is a bit strong – I reserve that for evil and evil people) is “Engage” and its various derivatives. I still prefer it to mean only when a couple puts a ring on their fingers (or one of their fingers)!
@BruceSallan1 In reality i don’t have an opinion. On much of anything.
Margie, With You on this word or any old, new and future buzz words! Guess I’m just anti-buzz word person…
@dabarlow If you shorten that to UnBuzz or the Anti-Buzz you could create a new buzz word
@margieclayman Grrrrrr…..Ugh…. What about a button (like the Staple’s “Easy”) but it say “Anti-Buzz” or “Unbuzz”? Then I can hit it when a buzz word is used in my presence…what ya think?
I like your ending and agree with you, Margie. “Thought leader” is an off-putting phrase for those who are simply trying to just get in the game. No, the rest of us also-rans, second-bests, almost-winners are not thoughtless.
Correctly so, it shuts doors in the faces of many who would be able to contribute meanifully to the conversations. We put a lesser value on the opinions of the non-thought leaders.
And yes, it polarizes and paralyzes us all.
Good post.
Martina
@martinamcgowan
@Doc_1 Thanks Martina. I’m always relieved when you agree with me. It lets me know I’m on the right path
Happy Sunday!
@margieclayman
Amusing, Margie
Have agreat week.
I see your point Margie, but I don’t view Thought Leader as a new buzzword, and especially not one with a germane only to SoMe.
I’ll never forget a lengthy conversation I had with a former VP. He told me that eventually in my career I would have to make a decision (in terms of developing my own skills) about whether I wanted to be a people leader or a thought leader. I challenged him and said that I felt every leader in the business needed to be both. In particular it was important for thought leaders to become skilled in leading their people because no one person can do it alone.
So, in a sense I suppose I agree with your meaning, but disagree with the specifics of it. I’m not certain about the origin of “thought leader” but I’m sure it was around long before social media was even a consideration.
@Sean McGinnis Good point, Sean. Someone raised that point on Twitter as well. Perhaps I should clarify that i don’t like how the term has come to be used in the world of social media, which I think would alleviate your concerns.
Thanks!
Margie. I had never read that poem.. WOW. What a way to lay this out. You are right. (Of course you are) But, wow. I had never thought of it like that. (I love it when a new light comes on..and more of “life” becomes clear -because we all know this IS life- on line, off line, walking down a street, stopping in your preferred place to get your go cup, or you are checking your twitter stream or reading the comments left to a post you wrote, this IS life.) Wow. (I know, I know I am repeating myself) Seriously though, “they are just words.” Nooo… they are not, are they? Because we hear them, read them, say them, they become part of us and through us, the “word” is spread. Even if you don’t think you are following these and this line of thought, how many times have each of us disregarded something ELSE, whether we thought of it ourselves or gleaned it for something else we saw, read or heard…. because somewhere at some point we were “told by a thought leader” something or ‘nother that it wasn’t right or even that it wasn’t possible or maybe plain wrong. I can tell already…. Livefyre is gonna mess with me…. FUGELSNOT. (it has only been 45 minutes, Yipee!)
@girlygrizzly Aha, you were able to comment on your first try! Yay!
Yeah, that’s one of the things I worry about with a lot of these words that are tossed about in the online world. If you’re not a thought leader, what are you? How can we define if you’re “influential?” If you aren’t labeled as such does that mean you are failing to influence anyone? I hardly think so, but if we look at the power of the words, that is what is being hinted at. And I just don’t think that’s right. I think deep down we use these words and as you say, we begin to absorb them even if we don’t really think about them.
Thanks for your comment, as always
I don’t like the term too. Have nothing else smart to add, so I will just go away now. I need to find some leader to think for me.
@Brankica Awesome
I think this is a thought – Full blog post. I agree with you too. I also happen to be a fan of Browning….no wonder. As long as “thought leaders” realize that their thoughts are not “right” or “wrong” and not focus on how many followers they have, they may be able to stay detached enough from the chaos that ego “thought leadership” may cause them to run into. That’s the trick…are you sharing from the heart without the need to be “right” or do you believe you have a corner on the “thought” market? Of course, some people have visionary tendencies and arrive ahead of the crowd when it comes to being able to reconnect with and rediscover ancient truths from within. They are also wise enough to know that they did not create the “thoughts” anew….to your points about MLK and Gandi. They just spoke from their unique personality. They were just outspoken and bold enough to assist in waking the world back up from mediocrity and fear. We all have more potential than we currently show the ourselves…and the world Thanks for this post!
@valencia Great comment, Valencia. Thank you!
Yes, there are most definitely visionaries, but I think visionaries understand that while they can talk about what they see for the future, or while they can share new ways of thinking about things, they can’t necessarily LEAD people to think exactly like them. In fact, many times visionaries aren’t able to convince anyone that they are right for months or years. People are still debating whether Darwin was right for heaven’s sakes. The term “thought leader” seems to say, “We’re not interested in discussing the pros and cons of this person’s ideas anymore. Anything they say is awesome.”Yuck!
I like giving people the term “Thought Leader” if they actually make me think. I don’t always agree with everything they say, but I appreciate how they challenge the status quo.
I think the follower phenomena is more sociological than the fault of social media.People like belonging to groups and “thought leaders” often find themselves at the head of tribes. We can’t make people think critically, but we can make people aware that there are more sides to an issue through blog posts and comments. We might get some heat, but anyone willing to listen will certainly hear us.
@susansilver I see your point. I think the terminology for the online phenomenon is what really bothers me. When you see that someone is called a “thought leader” in the online world it adds a certain weight to them that I’m not sure should really be given arbitrarily, ya know?
@margieclayman Language is a double bind like that. There is a history in which words have been used to keep people down. Language does influence thought.
Nobody is served if we use labels as cognitive shortcuts to make quick judgments.
That is where the danger lies as you point out.
I guess my personal issue is when we start discussing “worthiness”. Then it turns into an argument of semantics. My definition will vary from others. I don’t think there is one standard we can use to judge. Ultimately, it is a choice influenced by the individual and their experience.
That is my take. Maybe I am making mountains out of mole holes.
Margie “In Your words “awesome sauce!” You do provide some thought provoking subjects. What would you call that
ability-
@GrandmaOnDeck I would just call it being a conversationalist, Gloria. I like to bring up ideas, give my take, and then see if people agree or disagree and why. It’s my great joy in the online world
Glad you liked the post. Thank you!
Interesting post. I actually don’t mind someone being called a thought leader if that’s what they actually are. What I see is that a lot of content is referred to as thought leadership when I don’t think it is. In my mind, thought leadership is thinking about things in new ways. But it seems that content that is not product or support content is often called thought leadership when there may not be anything new there.
@LauraOrban You could be on to something there. Maybe it’s the fact that there are SO MANY thought leaders that rubs me the wrong way. And so many people who are called thought leaders think the same way about things. Maybe a thought mafia or something?
@margieclayman – Leadership isn’t a job description or a birthright. It is action, It is how you help others. It can come from the seemingly tiniest actions to the largest gestures. Leadership is what they say about you when you’re not in the room. Every human is a thought leader. We all have the ability to lead our thoughts into positive action. And I say @margieclayman is a leader and a thought leader, so there!
@KnealeMann Well-defined, Kneale. And thank you, that’s very kind of you.
I dislike the term because it is used imprecisely and willy nilly. It is something that I hear people say without much thought or regard for what it means and I often get the feeling they aren’t really sure what the point is either.
@TheJackB yeah, I think it’s kind of like the word friend, right? If you have a thought, you’re a thought leader. Meh.
Us too. It’s jargon. We don’t want to “lead” anyone’s thoughts or opinions. It sounds manipulative. What’s wrong with plain old “industry expert?”
@SciencePlusSoul Beats me!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this Margie and could not agree more.
This clip from Monty Python Life of Brian always reminds me of people blindly following “thought leaders.” And of course I love the portrayal of the great schism in the church. Brilliance by you and Monty Python!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uywIYQEHZLs
And now for something completely different…..a man blogging about the airspeed velocity of a European Swallow!
@BrandFlair I adore you :)I thought about using that but some folks don’t think very highly of Life of Brian, unfortunately, so I opted to use Elizabeth instead
@margieclayman Life of Brian is absolutely brilliant if you know your history of the church, bible and have a sense of humor.
To a certain extend, I think people started to use the term “thought leader” simply because “social media guru” or “marketing expert” are getting quite a bit of negative publicity. After all, a thought leader sounds way cooler than a self-proclaimed expert
@janwong yeah, that’s what I’m kind of thinking too. It sounds less like something a poopy braggart would say