Stop using the term “thought leader”

If there’s one phrase that has lost its appeal — even worse than “synergy” and “easy-to-achieve goals” — it’s “thought leadership.” What may once have been a badge of distinction has morphed into a hollow badge worn by people more concerned with clicks than intellectual building blocks. Like floppy disks, it’s time to think about retirement.

Do I consider myself a thought leader? Yes, of course.

But we are all leaders of our own thoughts. You too are a “thought leader”.

Each of us moves in our own head and develops ideas and opinions. According to this logic, everyone is a thought leader.

Establish yourself as a thought leader

When someone lists “thought leader” in their bio or LinkedIn profile, what are they really trying to say? That they are the sole owner of valuable ideas? Are their thoughts so groundbreaking and revolutionary that the rest of us should sit up and take notice?

Last year, at a conference in San Diego, I was approached by someone who introduced himself as a “digital transformation thought leader.” My first reaction was to wonder if I should be impressed or concerned.

As we got talking, it became clear that this person was more interested in the title than the actual substance of our conversation. The more they talked, the more I realized that this so-called “thought leader” was actually a collection of buzzwords and recycled ideas. It was a classic case of someone trying to validate their expertise with a label rather than real insights. (And they were also trying to sign up for my podcast, so their “thought leader” peacock feathers were fully spread.)

The truth is that calling yourself an opinion leader often says more about your insecurities than your insights. It smacks of complacency and desperation – a need to be seen as relevant in a sea of ​​voices. The louder someone calls themselves an opinion leader, the more it suggests they are compensating for something they lack in their work and career.

The excessive use of the term “thought leader”

The term has been so overused that it has become meaningless. There’s even an entire company that raves about its thought leaders. Perhaps it all started in 2012, when Forbes defined the term as a cross between “making money and making history.”

What was once the preserve of those who were truly leaders in their innovative thinking – such as the Greeks of the Agora or Ada Lovelace – has now become a buzzword, thrown around without much regard for its original intention.

So why this obsession with this label? What makes people call themselves thought leaders? And, as I’ve written before, could we perhaps just start by striving to be human first and foremost as leaders?

Thought leaders seek validation

For me it is simple: Validation.

In today’s hyper-competitive, Tik-Tok-fueled environment, everyone is vying for attention and the marketplace of ideas is crowded. In fact, it’s overflowing. Imagine being in the markets of Istanbul or the subway in Tokyo. That’s how crowded they are.

But profiling yourself as an opinion leader is not the solution – it is a shortcut that rarely leads to lasting impact.

Consider the endless stream of articles and social media posts from “thought leaders” that flood the internet. Many of these are little more than rehashed ideas peppered with buzzwords to appear innovative. The irony is that originality is often lost in the race to be recognized as a thought leader. Instead of making a difference, many repeat the same hackneyed concepts, adding to the noise rather than cutting through it.

The self-aggrandizing use of the term “thought leader” implies a sense of authority – the belief that the person has a monopoly on valuable ideas. But true influence is not about standing on a pedestal and dispensing wisdom to the masses. (The Greeks had their heyday on those soapboxes.)

What should it be about?

It’s about having meaningful dialogue, being open to criticism, and allowing ideas to emerge through collaboration. When someone poses as an opinion leader, there’s a risk that this collaborative process will be shut down in favor of a one-way street of self-aggrandizement.

I find that the fixation on being called an opinion leader has more to do with personal branding than actual leadership or innovation. It’s about carving out a niche for yourself in a crowded field by claiming an impressive title that says little about the substance of your ideas.

The next time you want to use the term “thought leader” in your LinkedIn bio, stop and ask yourself: does this add value or hurt you? Are you more concerned about the label or the quality of your work?

And aren’t you afraid of being laughed at or mocked?

Real thought leaders don’t have to announce it – they show it.

They engage in meaningful conversations, challenge their assumptions, and embrace other people’s ideas. In a world where everything and everyone is screaming for attention—think pumpkin spice latte—it’s best to let your work speak for itself.

Ultimately, thought leadership is about more than just thinking – it’s about reflection and action, about remaining open to change.

The real impact lies not in the title but in the content.

For a laugh, check out Pat Kelly’s wonderful parody of the “Thought Leader” in this Thought Leader parody on CBC Comedy.