Silly business term: thought leader

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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.

Comments

10 responses to “Silly business term: thought leader”

October 30, 2007

Norm

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

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October 30, 2007

Norm

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

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October 30, 2007

Ronin Marketeer » In Defense of the Thought Leader

[…] Christopher Penn proposes deep sixing the term “Thought Leader” […]

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October 31, 2007

Dave LaMorte

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

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October 31, 2007

Dave LaMorte

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

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October 31, 2007

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.

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October 31, 2007

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.

Reply
November 1, 2007

Donna Papacosta

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

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November 1, 2007

Donna Papacosta

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

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February 11, 2013

Tyler Hodgkins

I think “thought leader” is a silly term (which is why I came to this page). But I think you misunderstood its definition. It is not “somebody who leads in thought”. A thought leader is somebody who brings unique and powerful ideas to the table — somebody who leads thought forward.

The term that people should use is “Visionary”. “Thought leader” is an Americanized term that has a lesser, washed-out meaning.

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