Here's how you can win over colleagues or superiors skeptical of your thought leadership efforts.

One thing I’ve found helpful is building trust by creating a trusting atmosphere where individuals and teams are encouraged to experiment. Allowing individuals and teams to make decisions and mistakes in a supportive environment builds a different level of trust. It also allows people to be pro-active and open so you can get the best from them.

Thought leadership is usually rooted in values, personal experiences, and beliefs. Allow these elements to speak for you because they are what build trust. Be authentic and transparent about your journey and the principles that guide your insights. Share your experiences openly and relate them to the values that drive your thought leadership. When colleagues and superiors see the genuine foundation of your ideas, they are more likely to trust and support your efforts. Demonstrating consistency in your values and actions reinforces your credibility and helps to win over skeptics.

There is no one size fits all solution. One can use different strategies: Deliver Results: Focus on measurable outcomes with clear benefits. Share Success Stories: Regularly share how your ideas led to positive results. Leverage Your Knowledge: Back your recommendations with data and evidence. Communicate Consistently: Keep everyone informed about progress and successes. Seek Input: Value others' perspectives and involve them in your initiatives. Work Collaboratively: Highlight how your leadership benefits the team and organization. Be Patient: Changing minds takes time, be persistent in demonstrating value. Be Resilient: Keep pushing forward despite setbacks, focus on long-term goals.

When it comes to winning over colleagues or superiors who are skeptical of your thought leadership efforts, it's important to start by understanding their perspective. Take the time to listen to their concerns and be open to feedback. Building trust through open communication and demonstrating the value of your ideas through concrete examples can help change their perspective. Additionally, seeking opportunities to collaborate and involving them in the process can show that you value their input and are committed to working together towards a common goal.

Resonating with your audience goes beyond just explaining the 'what' and 'how' of your ideas; it involves articulating the 'why'. By passionately expressing your belief in your ideas, you create an infectious enthusiasm that captivates others. When your audience understands the purpose and conviction behind your message, they are more likely to connect emotionally and intellectually. This authenticity fosters trust and inspires action, as they see the genuine commitment driving your efforts. Ultimately, letting your passion and beliefs shine through strengthens your message's impact and fosters deeper engagement with your audience.

Creating a shared vision is crucial to inspire others. Being able to demonstrate how an individual’s role contributes to the vision is key. It gives them a clear understanding of what they are doing and crucially, why. It also helps to build consensus and enable individuals to challenge and question the status quo as they have a clear understanding of the impact of any suggestions on the overall vision.

Leading by example allows others to experience and observe great leadership in action. Treat others how you expect to be treated, don’t ask others to do tasks you wouldn’t do yourself, and always lead with integrity, living and acting through a range of shared values.

It's very natural that your colleagues or superiors,will not appreciate your thought leadership efforts. Reason being, they don't see any tangible outcome here. Each company works for getting deals from customer, doing that work & sharing that money as salary to employees. Now work on these 2 points. 1. Any customer, who takes product from a company, also looks for that whether this company is looking for future trends, whether they have their own POV on various issues related to that industry. 2. Employees looks someone, who can be approached for various topics related to industry, for topics, which are not just related to day to day functioning of the project. As thought leaders, you have help other understand these 2 points.