Table of Contents
by Mindy Gibbins-Klein
Summary:
Thought leadership exhibits exceptional thinking as well as consideration for others. This book inspires, encourages, and teaches REAL thought leaders a new way of thinking and behaving. Reach beyond content marketing and thought leadership. Achieve greater levels of thinking. Discover hidden depths within yourself. Become a true Thoughtful Leader.
Is it time for leaders to think more deeply and more effectively?
Tired of people throwing the term ‘thought leadership’ around and using it to label unexceptional people and mediocre content, Mindy Gibbins-Klein sets out to define and introduce a new paradigm and a new standard of idea generation and sharing.
Thoughtful leaders exhibit exceptional thinking as well as consideration for others. It is the thoughtful leader who will introduce a new era – a more thoughtful era.
This brave book inspires, encourages, and teaches REAL thought leaders a new way of thinking and behaving.
– Reach beyond content marketing and thought leadership
– Achieve greater levels of thinking
– Discover hidden depths within yourself
– Become a true Thoughtful Leader
Taken from the book
Leaders have to deal with a multitude of challenges: maintaining a vision that others can follow, setting the pace and tone for the business or business unit, and in many cases managing people, budgets, and conflicting agendas and priorities. Inspiring others is usually found at the bottom of the list, in the “nice to have” category, as long as everything else is handled. However, deep down, most leaders would like to be more inspirational.
Perhaps to be what is called a “thought leader”, if
that is not too lofty a goal.
Thought leadership has become part of the business vernacular, but it is such an overused term that it really has begun to lose its meaning. Most of what is published or presented as thought leadership is nothing of the kind. In my book 24 Carat BOLD, I presented a model whereby aspiring thought leaders could create a strategy, measure their effectiveness and do specific things to share their best ideas and become recognized for them. Since then, I have shared that model in presentations, training, and coaching, with thousands of business owners, executives, and aspiring thought leaders. It still works as a framework for assessing and developing your own thought leadership.
When Seth Godin called 24 Carat BOLD “the first thoughtful book I’ve seen on what it means to become a thought leader” it did not occur to me that the word “thoughtful” was, in fact, the key to the entire concept. Six years later, I have found myself coming back over and over again to the idea of “thoughtfulness”, and recently realized this completely encapsulates my current thinking. It is what I care about most (and as you will learn in this book, caring counts for a lot!), it is what I do and what I am really interested in doing for the rest of my life: encouraging thoughtful leadership.
Being bold and exhibiting the attributes of REAL thought leadership is certainly important, and working with the REAL model can give you clarity and raise your profile. Practicing thoughtful leadership goes much further and allows really special people with really special ideas to be seen and appreciated.
Before we begin, let me be very clear about what I mean by thoughtful, since there are several meanings. Here are some dictionary definitions of the word thoughtful:
- showing consideration for others; considerate.
2. characterized by or manifesting careful thought:
a thoughtful essay.
3. occupied with or given to thought;
contemplative; meditative; reflective: in a
thoughtful mood.
4. careful, heedful, or mindful: to be thoughtful of
one’s safety.
Book Conclusion:
I hope I have inspired you to think about your own leadership and if or how it could be more thoughtful. In both senses of the word.
There is no right or wrong here. Although I have noticed my most successful clients operating from a positive state, making time to think and be creative, and generally thinking of others as well as themselves.
Even if you feel you have a long way to go with this stuff, simply being aware of it and interested in improving yourself as a person and a leader is already a huge step. The intention is more valuable than people normally give it credit for. If you have a positive intention for your life, your work, and your thought leadership, that is a very good start! Reflection is not something we are used to doing anymore. Carve out time to reflect on the important issues and opportunities in your life and business, and you will soon see that you are striding ahead
of the pack. Not with the goal of being the top dog, remember, but being the top leader of your people.
Caring is optional, but hopefully, by now you have seen it doesn’t require much more effort to approach life from a caring and sharing perspective. When you get feedback from your actions, you will be inclined to do more of it. And it helps people see the best in you, which will encourage them to follow you and believe in you.
As I mentioned at the beginning, I purposely kept this book as short as possible, while still covering all the key points. If you are seeking more in-depth information and discussion on any of these points, simply get in touch with me. I’m very easy to find
online, and happy to speak with people offline – by phone or in-person – as I travel around the world sharing these ideas. I look forward to hearing from you and helping you in whatever way I can. Go out there, be bold, be brave, and most of all – be thoughtful!
Connect with the author:
My websites:
www.thethoughtfulleader.com
www.mindygk.com
www.bookmidwife.com
www.panomapress.com
LinkedIn: www.uk.linkedin.com/in/mindy.gibbinsklein
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/bookmidwife
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bookmidwife
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mindy.gibbinsklein
Phone numbers (what a novel idea!):
UK +44 (0) 8345 003 8848 or USA +1 (855) 883-1202
Product details:
ASIN : B00X6JKN2M
Publisher : Panoma Press Ltd (June 1, 2015)
Publication date : June 1, 2015
Best Sellers Rank: #1,438,278 in Kindle Store
#779 in Business Technology Innovation
#5,892 in Entrepreneurship (Kindle Store)
#6,418 in Business Leadership
AMAZON CATEGORY: Books › Business & Money › Management & Leadership