The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer suggests how we could navigate the age of insularity
We are shifting from a crisis of grievance into a pervasive trust amid insularity, according [...]
Turning Nostalgia into Narrative Authority
Our obsession with the “new” is relentless. Thought leaders and their marketing partners are constantly [...]
Stay curious for longer: lessons from The Coaching Habit
Most leaders fall into the same trap. They rush to solve. They step in with [...]
What designers wish marketers would respect
Design often arrives last in the process. Slides are “nearly finished”, and social tiles are [...]
Research review: what IBM’s report on six hard truths for CEOs means for thought leaders
IBM’s CEO Study: 6 Hard Truths CEOs Must Face is a roadmap for CEOs—but also [...]
Book review: Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation by Steven Johnson
Innovation rarely happens in isolation; it flourishes in environments that nurture curiosity, collaboration, and connection. [...]
Thought leadership in the age of AI: selling into organisations under transformation
A new study from Microsoft shows that generative AI is most used by people in [...]
From cinephiles to communities: What B2B marketers can learn from Letterboxd
In the sprawling universe of social platforms, Letterboxd occupies a unique orbit. It doesn’t chase [...]
The right kind of wrong: why smart failure should be part of your toolset
Failure. It’s a word most business leaders try to avoid—something to mitigate, manage, or even [...]
Sustainability meets accountability as ESG regulations align profits, purpose, and platforms
Sustainability is becoming essential as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) regulations evolve. These rules now [...]
Takeaways from the 2024 Edelman thought leadership impact report
The 2024 Edelman-LinkedIn B2B Thought Leadership Impact Report highlights the evolving role of thought leadership [...]
Growth, productivity and creativity in marketing – invitation to participate in our survey
As the marketing landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, professionals in the field [...]
How we work with Alison Jean Lester
Alison Jean Lester is a British-based writer and coach—but that statement doesn’t really give any [...]
How will generative AI is affect public relations processes?
There is a lot of hype about generative artificial intelligence (AI) and its capabilities. Not [...]
Survey on Medicine Management for Patient Safety Day
updated on 23 September 2024 As we approach Patient Safety Day, the focus on improving [...]
How we work with Isabelle Desjeux
Umea, Sweden-based Isabelle Desjeux both defies labels and is prepared to use them to make [...]
Time management techniques: a primer
Are you one of those people who is always running to keep up? Or are [...]
What is drown proofing, and how can it help on your thought leadership journey?
Do you ever get that feeling of panic before a webinar, often centred on the [...]
Managing thought leadership stress
It won’t exactly be a surprise to anyone that stress is bad for you. This [...]
Attribution measurement – the AppsFlyer way
Measuring attribution of marketing spend and activity has always been a challenge. A huge number [...]
Why thought leaders might want to consider the OODA loop
Business is not the same as war, despite some of the clichés and military language [...]
Learning cards in the continuous learning solution mix
One of the regular discussions about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) is about changes [...]
The Ben Franklin effect—or why interviews are a great way to build meaningful connections
Seasoned marketers will probably already know that interviews or discussions are a great marketing tool. [...]
So you want to publish a book: Working with an agent
Many of our clients and spearheads are interested in publishing a book—and why not? A [...]
So you want to publish a book: Understanding self-publishing
There are over 200,000 new books published in the UK alone every year—that’s roughly 500 [...]
So you want to publish a book: Assessing your ideas
Some of our subject-matter expert clients and spearheads have already published books showcasing their expertise. [...]
The art and science of analyst relations – an intro for marketers
Industry analysts are influential. They sway buying decisions, and affect investment decisions. This means [...]
Analyst relations insights for subject matter experts
We are often asked for help by subject matter experts who are being expected to [...]
Analysts on Analyst Relations is essential reading for scale-up CMOs
Industry analysts can make or break tech companies. They are huge influencers of buying decisions, [...]
What title should subject matter experts use?
What’s in a name? Shakespeare’s Juliet mused that a rose would still smell as sweet [...]
The Confidence Paradox
by Alison Jean Lester When my grandmother was suffering with dementia, her go-to question was, [...]
Thought leadership and marketing lessons from advent calendars
You know that advent calendars are big when most news media websites are running ‘Best [...]
From snow ploughs to showstoppers: the power of giving personality to the mundane
TL;DR – By infusing mundane elements with creativity, marketers can inject personality into their brand, [...]
Learning in an era of lifelong learning, agile and digital transformation
If there is one constant in our current world, it is the speed of change. [...]
Skills, talent and shortages: what the data from Europe can tell us about women’s role in closing the IT skills gap
There is a huge skills shortage in IT. Tech companies and others are scrabbling to [...]
Using HeyGen to create explainer videos
Is it possible to create great explainer videos without any editing experience or recording equipment? [...]
Revisiting the scene of the crime: Alison Jean Lester’s experience of self-publishing and promotion
Alison Jean Lester’s most recent book, Return to the Scene of the Climb, is her [...]
The routine blueprint for thought leaders – insights from Atomic Habits
James Clear’s Atomic Habits is widely regarded for its actionable and science-backed strategies for building [...]
Lessons from a Himalayan Journal, and Others
By Alison Jean Lester When my late father, James T. Lester, joined the first American [...]
Timing is everything – Meet Chris Newson
Guest post by Alison Jean Lester There’s a joke about comedy that goes like [...]
Personal vs. intimate: achieving authenticity without baring your soul
“Let me tell you about something that happened to me the other day…” How much [...]
Using generative AI to support thought leadership
ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) have now been around for a little while. [...]
Approaching reputation management when working with partners
Corporate reputations take time to build up, but can be lost very fast in a [...]
Thought leadership in the sales enablement mix
Sales enablement is an often-overlooked part of the sales and marketing spectrum. However, it is [...]
Getting the most out of staging a LinkedIn Live event
So you want to stage a LinkedIn Live event but you’re not sure where to [...]
How vocal improv promotes collaboration
Vocal improv, short for vocal improvisation, is the act of creating music or soundscapes spontaneously, [...]
Reputation management in the partnering landscape
We know that there are many factors that can affect corporate reputation. We also know [...]
Navigating proximity bias in thought leadership
Proximity bias is the tendency to favour people, objects or ideas that are closest to [...]
Why thought leaders need to understand (and avoid) proximity bias
As we start to move more confidently through the world of remote and hybrid working, [...]
Applying the say/do ratio in thought leadership
The say/do ratio is a term used to describe the extent to which someone’s actions [...]
Why thought leaders may need to consider ‘nunchi’
In an increasingly global world, far more of us now have to communicate and build [...]
How has the thought leadership skills portfolio evolved?
Your domain expertise continues to grow as you work with clients to solve problems. Getting [...]
How has the marketing skills portfolio evolved?
What are the most crucial skills for marketers to develop? There are many possible answers [...]
Influencers in the reputation landscape
Influencers are people who influence the decisions of others. It sounds simple—but in marketing, the [...]
The value of customer success in reputation build
Personal reputation is everything that is known about you: the value you have created, what [...]
Anxiety and thought leadership – ‘feeling the fear and do it anyway’
We are often asked by subject matter experts about anxiety, and how they can eliminate [...]
Carving out dedicated time and space for creativity in hybrid work
Creativity in hybrid workplaces requires trust. Trust is important for supporting team members to contribute ideas. [...]
Jobs to be done – sharing experience versus thought leadership
If you are a BBC fan, you have almost certainly come across the Great British [...]
How the Marketing Society is driving excellence
The UK-based Marketing Society was founded in 1959, and has grown since then to become [...]
Moving from anxiety to action: how the Earthshot prize is mobilising clean tech innovators
Around three-quarters of people in the UK and two-thirds of Americans consistently say that they [...]
‘Tis the season to….make resolutions?
At this time of year, as holidays loom closer, it is traditional to consider your [...]
Studying corporate reputation: an invitation
Corporate reputation has been important for a long time. The need to protect his company’s [...]
Further reflections on nurturing trust
A while back, we looked at Andrea Howe’s work on how to rebuild customer relationships [...]
Marius Hauken’s amazing technicolour AI tool set
Do you remember the joy of receiving a new set of coloured pencils as a [...]
Getting creative: is LinkedIn Creator mode right for you?
If you are looking for tools that could help you to grow your thought leadership [...]
Flexibility on a global scale: how medium-sized global companies are embracing hybrid working
Since the pandemic, attitudes to flexible and hybrid working have changed among both employers and [...]
Finding the balance: corporate vs. personal reputation
What is the difference between corporate and individual reputation? Or perhaps a more appropriate question [...]
Celebrating the value shared by Richard van der Blom
A podcast in March 2021 described Richard van der Blom as the Bob Dylan of [...]
When trust is key: supporting creativity in hybrid workplaces
More and more companies are now moving towards hybrid workplaces. Under this model, some people [...]
Personality types, job compatibilities and lessons from the horticultural world
Overheard: a conversation between two gardeners working in a local community. One weeds the flower [...]
The power of a personal editorial calendar—and how to get started
Inertia is a powerful thing. It is what prevents us from getting started on anything. [...]
Crafting an effective LinkedIn headline
What is the first thing that anyone looks at on your LinkedIn account (apart from [...]
Assessing the value of B Corp certification
In May 2022, a non-profit network called B Lab announced that there were now 5,000 [...]
Lessons for thought leaders from from power tools users
Power tools take time to master and are usually handled by specialists. In each household, [...]
More lessons from the garden: seeding, feeding and weeding your network
At this time of year, the thoughts of many gardeners—especially those who grow vegetables—turn to [...]
Does your Linkedin bio resonate with your target audience?
As a thought leader, your LinkedIn bio isn’t just a digital business card—it’s a powerful [...]
Mind the gap: five lessons from reputational disasters from around the world
If you search for ‘reputational disaster’, you will find plenty of stories. Some companies have [...]
Flexing the hybrid workplace model: how Sodexo has continued to deliver frontline services during the pandemic
We have heard a lot about how the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in companies moving to [...]
The flexibility to choose: how Novo Nordisk is approaching hybrid working
We have heard a lot about how different companies are embracing the opportunities and challenges [...]
How the ‘call for papers’ ritual performs like Swiss Army knives for event management
We have probably all seen Swiss Army knives: multi-purpose pocketknives with fold-out blades, scissors, nail [...]
Marie Kondo’s six rules for content managers
Few of us can be entirely unaware of Marie Kondo, and her KonMari method of [...]
Will hybrid workplace success depend on growth mindset-oriented cultures?
You may already have heard of mindset, and the work of Professor Carol Dweck, at [...]
The power of serialisation
The human brain tends to prefer serialisation, or the presentation of information in a structured, [...]
Thought leadership for retention marketing
It is generally accepted that it costs around five times more to attract a new [...]
How Linkedin groups help subject matter experts
LinkedIn groups are online communities where professionals can connect with each other, share ideas, and [...]
Six essays from Karen Pierce that are relevant for thought leaders
Karen Pierce is an experienced executive coach based in Arizona, US. Her company’s focus is [...]
Jobs to be done: influencers versus thought leaders
Should your marketing plan involve influencers, thought leaders or both—or are they actually one and [...]
Five takeaways from Andrea Howe’s trust work
Trust is the foundation of almost every good relationship. Whether business or personal, a solid, [...]
Redefining work and recreating value: addressing post-pandemic challenges
It has become something of a cliché to say that the way that we [...]
NEOM’s ambition to be a cognitive city
Joseph Bradley describes himself as an applied futurist, author and cognitive city developer—not necessarily three [...]
In praise of UN Gapminder
Most of us have probably heard of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. They are [...]
Do your partnering efforts need the Channel Institute?
The technology partner landscape is changing fast, including the incoming wave of marketplaces. As a [...]
Measuring happiness—and why it matters
If you search ‘how to be happier’ on Google, you will be presented with well [...]
How subject matter experts could benefits from the jab, jab, jab, right hook technique
Social media is increasingly seen as the place to be, especially for businesses. Most people [...]
How Green Mountain is contributing to the world’s most sustainable data centre nation
Norway’s government has an ambitious target: to become the world’s most sustainable data centre nation.[1] [...]
The knowledge management paradox – wildflower meadow or designed landscape?
Wildflower meadows and verges were everywhere in 2021. Many councils are chosing to seed verges [...]
Are you getting the most out of LinkedIn recommendations ?
One of Linkedin’s most significant, and yet under-used features is the ability to receive and [...]
Taking cloud commerce to the next level: introducing interworks.cloud
interworks.cloud describes itself as a cloud brokerage platform. It is, effectively, an intermediary, helping traditional IT [...]
How Everflow supports partner marketing with laser-sharp focus on performance tracking
Everflow is a partner marketing platform with a difference. It has a focus on tracking [...]
Managing the challenges of hybrid workplaces
At the beginning of the pandemic, there were predictions that this was the end of [...]