Thought leadership involves not only honing the skills to become proficient at what you do, but also taking the time to refine, package, and present what you’ve learned for the benefit of others. It’s a way to contribute to the extant body of knowledge, to leave a legacy, to mentor others, and to expand your reach.
While “thought leadership” has been lumped in with new-fangled jargon like crowdsourcing, workshopping, or the new normal, there’s no denying how useful it can be in sharing information and building networks – especially during the recent challenges with the COVID pandemic.
Authentic thought leaders are those who are identified by their peers as experts in their fields; they emerge as thought leaders and earn the honor of being labeled as such. Although some may be motivated to share their expertise for the purposes of earning status as thought leaders, most healthcare executives want to contribute ideas and learn from others in similar positions to improve their organization and the field.
The Move to Virtual: Online Thought Leadership Venues
Historically, in-person gatherings have been a haven for the exchange of ideas and information. Meetings, conferences, seminars, trade shows, executive retreats, and the like have proven fruitful for both teaching and learning on the executive level.
With recent developments and social distancing, organizations and individuals have turned to virtual venues, however. And even as we return to more in-person events, it’s likely virtual platforms will continue to be utilized moving forward as well.
So, what are the best methods for conveying ideas and contributing valuable content? How can busy healthcare executives add to the field? How can C-level leaders deliver thought leadership in a virtual world?
Online Opportunities for Thought Leadership
From writing blog articles to hosting virtual town hall meetings, here are possibilities for sharing ideas with others along with various links to begin.
Contribute to healthcare leadership blogs.
MHAprograms.org has a list of 100 Important Sites for Healthcare Leaders and Executives that can serve as a starting point for submitting articles to organizations. The list includes “organizations for seasoned professionals, recent graduates, and current students hoping to commit themselves to healthcare leadership. It is … a diversified compilation of sites to meet needs at every point on the education and experience spectrum.”
Consider writing articles summarizing and linking to more long-form content like white papers or case studies or including visuals and infographics to accompany the article. If short on time to fine tune or polish the blog post, consider outsourcing to a freelance professional or agency. Authenticity is key, however, so try to provide as much original content as possible.
How
Speak on a podcast.
Feedspot.com has published their Top 60 Healthcare Leadership Podcasts to Follow in 2021, which could offer leads for sharing information over a podcast. The list has links to podcasts like Radio Advisory, Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, Healthcare Executive Podcast, The Lens, Nurse Leader Network, and more. Consider reaching out to the podcast hosts if you have engaging content to offer such as a recent success story, new best practices, fresh perspective, innovative solutions, or an employee spotlight.
Present at a webinar.
Organizations and businesses like Modern Healthcare, Healthcare Executive Group, Becker’s Hospital Review, American College of Healthcare Executives, and many more offer webinars on an array of thought leadership topics. Rather than watching, why not contribute? Generate a list of ideas and propose them to the organizations. Perhaps discuss recent trends in the field, overcoming challenges of the pandemic, strategic approaches to specific problems, or adaptations to change.
Host a town hall meeting.
There’s no better way to bring people together to exchange ideas than through a good old-fashioned town hall. Recent developments have led organizations to hold virtual town hall events. This is an excellent way to forge connections among leaders, providers, staff, patients, families, and the community. Virtual town halls expand accessibility and ensure people are informed. Keep sessions short, feature representatives from each facet of attendees, don’t forget the feel-good stories, and leave time for open comments from the community.
While the opportunities for delivering innovative ideas and creative solutions virtually are endless, this list can provide a starting point. Think about how valuable some of the content you’ve come across has been to you in generating solutions for your own facility, and remember that you have plenty to offer in return to help improve the field of healthcare.
Let us help you find the thought leaders you need to propel your organization into the future. Connect with an executive search expert at Cejka Search.
