This week, I’m breaking down the top thought leadership myths, two minutes at a time, so you can get over the ‘ick’ and start sharing your expertise. Check out the intro and Myths #1 and #2 and #3 if you missed them.

The Final Myth

Let’s recap the thought leadership myths we debunked so far, this time translated into the underlying “I” statements:

• Myth #1 = “I don’t want to be a cringy LinkedInfluencer”
• Myth #2 = “I don’t have the time for it”
• Myth #3 = “I don’t think there’s room for my voice”

All of these may be valid in their own right, but they’re often obfuscating the most common fear keeping folks out of the thought leadership game:

“I don’t have anything to say.”

This is the biggest myth of all, and imposter syndrome at its finest. It should be comforting to know you’re not the only one who feels this way. On LinkedIn, for example, out of 260 million monthly users, only 1% actually post anything.

So yes, the fear is genuine and common, but this also reveals a huge opportunity: it takes very little effort to be part of that very visible 1%.

While I can’t dispel imposter syndrome in a 2-minute read, here are some tips to get your feet wet sharing your thoughts publicly. Confidence will build with time and repetition.

Where to share:

• LinkedIn is the easiest and most accessible platform to get your thought leadership train moving
  • Write a short post (max 250 words) and just hit ‘Post’. Very few people will see it, but you’re in the game. Enjoy the rush!
• You can expand into more involved formats later (podcasts, webinars, etc.)

What to share about:

• Anything related to your expertise, but through your unique lens​
• Some simple starts:
  • A common question you get about your domain
  • A reaction to a podcast episode you just listened to
  • A recent challenge in your work
  • A hot take you find yourself repeating frequently (or one you’ve kept to yourself!)
  • A question you have for others in your field (great for engagement!)
• None of these need to be profound - it’s simply sharing your POV or curiosity
• And remember - don't let it drag. One point, one post.

What’s next:

• Set a date for your next share - perhaps another post, two days later?
  • With a goal in mind, your brain will be on alert about what to write next
• Keep a running list of ideas you’d like to share someday - this can be in Trello, Notes app, Notion, post-its
• As you continue to accumulate ideas and put out micro-content, you’ll start to see threads and themes that could lead to larger pieces and thought leadership opportunities, but there’s no rush. You’re already on your way.

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That wraps up the 'The Big Ick: Debunking Thought Leadership Myths' mini-series! I hope you've found this helpful to reframe how you think about sharing your expertise more broadly.

Hit ‘reply’ and drop me a sentence or two on how you liked this week’s series. All feedback is welcome and appreciated.

And shoutout to reader Craig, who wrote me yesterday and correctly guessed the final myth! 🙌

💡

-Wes