Here's how you can become an industry expert and thought leader as a consultant.

One thing I see missing from this article is education and continued skill and knowledge Development. Investing in continuous learning is critical in this fast paced and ever changing economic environment. Seeking out educational opportunities, certifications, and workshops that enhance your expertise and keep you at the forefront of industry trends is critical. The other aspect that I find critical is exhibiting confidence and assertiveness by embracing your unique voice and perspective. Don't shy away from expressing your ideas, even if they are controversial. Assertiveness and confidence in your expertise are key traits of successful industry expert.

Today's "modern" landscape is so polluted with useless workshops, online courses and redundant insights sold as groundbreaking knowledge that I'd say: 1. Skip totally the research (it's most of the time paid by a party that will make this research irrelevant, because skewed); 2. Skip the industry forums (they're most of the time just marketing events), 3. Focus all your time and effort on reading books by people from your industry, because in order to publish a book, you have to be very consistent, very methodic and show to a lot of people from the publishing industry that you actually have some unique insights, knowledge and storytelling skills.

To become a thought leader as a consultant in a specific sector, we have to have hands on experience solving complex issues, understand the functional and financial dynamics, have regular interactions with peer groups and relevant communities. And cherry on the cake, if we are open to learning and investing at least 10 minutes everyday in L&D

Three platforms that are not ephemeral social media and will grant you views that don't decline with time are: 1. Youtube - because good video is hard and a lot of people don't want to do hard things; you'll stand out if you use a camera and not a phone, if your audio is above-average and if you wrote a script. 2. A podcast published on your own RSS feed and NOT using Spotify - because it skips the algorithms and if people follow you, they WILL get your updates every time. 3. An email newsletter. And yes - you can skip Linkedin and owning your website. Linkedin is ephemeral, and you can always set up the website once you have a LOT of followers.

The only valuable testimonials in 2024 and later is: VIDEO. Make people record videos. Everything else will be ignored by your audience, unfortunately.

"To truly lead, you must innovate." → absolutely NOT. To truly lead you have to listen carefully and you have to be willing to SOLVE PROBLEMS.

To establish yourself as an industry expert and thought leader, immerse yourself deeply in your field. Go beyond surface-level knowledge by staying updated with the latest research, attending workshops, and engaging in industry forums. Actively participate in conferences and networking events to build credibility and visibility. Publish insightful content like blogs and articles that address your audience's pain points. Collect testimonials and endorsements to enhance your social proof on professional platforms. Innovate constantly by challenging norms and proposing new solutions. Lastly, mentor others to cultivate the next generation of professionals and solidify your reputation as an influential figure in your industry.

The key is to approach networking and mentorship as mutually beneficial activities, where you can learn from others while also sharing your own insights and expertise. By building a diverse network and investing in the development of aspiring professionals, you can unlock new collaborative opportunities and cement your reputation as a valued contributor within your field.

Compartilhe sua jornada. Você pode ser um grande especialista em sua área e mesmo assim ainda ter dores e questionamentos que são inquietudes diárias e podem/devem ser compartilhadas como algo ainda em construção em você. Isso criará uma maior conexão com sua audiência e estimulará a participação dela em função da identificação com o processo de aprendizagem constante.