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Ready to Be a Thought Leader?: How to Increase Your Influence, Impact, and Success Hardcover – January 7, 2014
Denise Brosseau
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Print length272 pages
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LanguageEnglish
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PublisherJossey-Bass
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Publication dateJanuary 7, 2014
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Dimensions6.2 x 0.9 x 9.1 inches
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ISBN-109781118647615
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ISBN-13978-1118647615
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review

Q&A with Denise Brosseau, author of Ready to Be a Thought Leader?
What is a thought leader?
Thought leaders are change makers who move and inspire others with their innovative ideas, turn those ideas into reality, and then create a dedicated group of friends, fans, and followers to help them replicate and scale those ideas into sustainable change. They spread their ideas, programs, or initiatives far beyond one company, organization, or community to make a broader impact in their industry or in the world. The definition of thought leadership doesn’t change based on which arena you are playing in. The key is whether someone is focused on change that is incremental or truly revolutionary. Thought leaders focus on the latter. For me, thought leadership is not about being known, it is about being known for making a difference. To be a true thought leader, focus on adding real value to the world. It is not about building followers just for the ego value. It is about building visibility, credibility, and a platform in order to have a meaningful impact.
How can Ready to Be a Thought Leader? help us drive change?
I will show you how to start thinking about the change that you are implementing, or want to implement, in a new way. Is it a change that has broader applicability beyond your company, community, or organization? Do you have a point of view on what needs to change on a far bigger scale? Do you want to see your ideas, programs, or initiatives adopted far more widely in order to bring about a better future? If so, my book will help you reach out to others to test your ideas, gain buy-in, and get them on board to help scale the efforts you have underway.
Why is thought leadership the best career insurance policy?
It is no longer enough to put your head down, do your job, and hope you get noticed for the skills and expertise you bring to the table. If you are a well-known thought leader in your niche—someone who has a large network of followers, someone who is sought out for your ideas and known for adding significant value to any organization—then you no longer look for jobs (or clients or board seats). They look for you. People seek you out and you begin to gain a seat at the table where important decisions are being made, rather than being left on the sidelines when change is underway.
Can readers benefit from your book no matter where they are in their careers?
Yes. If they are fairly senior and have already implemented significant changes in their company or their industry, it might be time to codify their expertise into a framework or roadmap for others to follow, and I show how to do that. If readers are just getting started, I will help them begin by thinking about the “What If? Future” they’d like to create, and what role will they play in it.
From Booklist
Review
“Denise Brosseau is a champion of entrepreneurs and corporate executives alike, and she lays out a step-by-step process for all who want to achieve status as a thought leader. I highly recommend her book for every motivated individual.”
―Kay Koplovitz, founder, USA Networks; chairman, Springboard Enterprises; and author, Bold Women, Big Ideas
“Denise Brosseau has done a great service by making thought leadership accessible to all of us. Her case studies and practical resources make this book approachable and a must-read. I'm going to recommend this book to my start-up CEO friends, as it will help them to get their ideas heard in an increasingly noisy market.”
―Aneel Bhusri, cofounder and co-CEO, Workday
“Are you tired of the status quo? Ready to Be a Thought Leader? will give you practical guidance and inspire you with real-life examples. I've known Denise for 11 years, and she's passionate about helping people make a difference. Put her expertise to work for you.”
―Susan Doherty, CMO, Hipmunk
“Thought leadership can be a significant competitive advantage for independent consultants. People want to hire the best, and thought leadership validates your reputation, credibility, and expert knowledge. If you want to know what it takes to become a respected thought leader in your arena, buy Ready to Be a Thought Leader? today.”
―Gene Zaino, CEO and president, MBO Partners
“Denise Brosseau will give you the GPS to find and achieve the designation of thought leader. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, or nonprofit leader, you won't want to go to work without it.”
―Peggy Klaus, executive coach, and author, BRAG! and The Hard Truth About Soft Skills
“If you want to build community, advance ideas, and effect lasting change, read Denise Brosseau's Ready to Be a Thought Leader?. You'll find all the inspiration and know-how you need to enhance your impact and improve lives, starting today.”
―Jane Wales, president and CEO, The World Affairs Council, and vice president, Aspen Institute
“Denise Brosseau’s ground-breaking book teaches us how to make our careers matter, changing ourselves and others for the better. If you are ready to live your life to its full potential, I highly recommend Ready to Be a Thought Leader?.”
―Sheryle Bolton, CEO, Sally Ride Science, Inc.
“At 85 Broads, we help smart women develop the leadership skills they need to dramatically increase the lifetime return on the investment they make in their careers. To do that, they need to know how to build a network of dedicated followers around their game-changing ideas. Ready to Be a Thought Leader? Is just the kind of savvy, inspirational, and engaging guide to help anyone break out of the pack and stand out for all the right reasons.”
―Janet Hanson, founder, 85 Broads
“As a long-time technology executive who has experienced several career transitions, I have learned the importance of thought leadership to raise my own profile within the industry and open the door to new opportunities for myself and others. Ready to Be a Thought Leader? offers just the sort of practical advice that I could have used along the way. I highly recommend this book for every executive.”
―Beth Devin, chief information officer, Silicon Valley Bank
“To climb the corporate ladder, you not only have to know where you are going, but you have to bring people along with you. Denise Brosseau teaches you how to enhance your credibility and find encouragement from a broad constituency supporting you.”
―Lydia I. Beebe, corporate secretary and chief governance officer, Chevron Corporation
“Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an executive, or running a nonprofit, Ready to Be a Thought Leader? will help you establish your credibility within and outside your organization and create a tribe of dedicated followers.”
―Sheryl O’Loughlin, executive director, Center of Entrepreneurial Studies, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University; cofounder and former CEO, Plum, Inc.; and former CEO, Clif Bar and Company
“As the CEO of a large nonprofit, I know the importance of finding and engaging with a passionate set of people who believe in and will engage with our work, and one way for me to do that is by establishing myself as a thought leader. Ready to Be a Thought Leader? provides the strategies and resources entrepreneurs need to have their ideas not only heard, but acted on. I recommend it as a must-read.”
―Telle Whitney, president and CEO, Anita Borg Institute
“Ready to Be a Thought Leader? provides tips, tools, and resources that will help you articulate your passion, demonstrate your leadership, and engage others in accelerating new and creative initiatives. Denise provides a step-by-step process to gain strategic visibility for your ideas and your work and in turn the vital contribution you make to improving the world. A must-read for anyone who wants to be more strategic and systematic in their work as a change agent.”
―Ellen Snee, EdD, vice president, leadership programs, VMware
“Is it time to stand out from the crowd and gainmore recognition for your achievements? Ready to Be a Thought Leader? will open your eyes to new possibilities for increasing your visibility and credibility within any organization―just what every savvy executive needs to get ahead.”
―Miranda Lin, senior vice president, Bank of America
“To rise above the noise, you need to stand out as a trusted and reliable resource for your customers. Denise Brosseau’s timely and engaging new book, Ready to Be a Thought Leader?, shows just what it takes for executives and CEOs to become that go-to guru. Her strategies will ensure that customers flock to your door.”
―Mike Gill, vice president, US Sales and Customer Care, Medtronic Diabetes
“As a Silicon Valley executive talent agent, Denise Brosseau has a front-row seat on what it really takes to stand out from the crowd. In Ready to Be a Thought Leader?, she shares that know-how in an easy-to-read, down-to-earth, and approachable style.”
―Kit Yarrow, consumer psychologist; coauthor, Gen BuY; and professor, Golden Gate University
“Whether you’re an up-and-coming entrepreneur or an established executive, Denise Brosseau will provide you specific guidance and invaluable insights to help you take control of your business and career. Denise’s stories, examples, templates, and tools have―to quote one of her case studies―the ‘strong smell of reality.’ She’s been there, done that, and helped hundreds of clients get to where you want to go.”
―David Newman, author, Do It! Marketing
“If you’re ready to break out as the ‘go-to’ person in your niche, Ready to Be a Thought Leader? will cut ten years off your learning curve. With actionable advice, a step-by-step execution plan, and inspirational stories of leaders, this book will help you put your career on overdrive!”
―Dan Schawbel, author, Me 2.0 and Promote Yourself
From the Inside Flap
"Achieving the status of thought leader--while it will not happen overnight--is absolutely worth the effort. You'll gain a seat at the table and the credibility you need to build a more successful company or catapult your career to the next level. If you want to know how to become this kind of go-to guy or gal in your industry, community, or profession, I suggest that you read this book."
--From the Foreword by Guy Kawasaki
Ready to Be a Thought Leader? is about how to build a following for your ideas and maximize your impact in the world. Denise Brosseau maps out a specific, time-tested action plan that will help you galvanize others to rally around your ideas. She shows you, step by step, how to hone your insights, win supporters, amplify your influence, and even create a real movement based around whatever is most important to you. Her integrated process encompasses seven principles, including:
- Find your driving passion: Identify the one arena where your interests, expertise, credibility, and commitment align
- Build your ripples of influence: Engage your first followers by leveraging your message to tell a bigger story
- Activate your advocates: Find the supporters who will champion your product, program, or initiative
Brosseau illustrates this proven framework with lessons from the personal stories of successful thought leaders, including Robin Chase, founder of Zipcar, and Chip Conley, founder and former CEO of Joie de Vivre Hospitality.
If you're ready to increase your professional success, make an impact far beyond your current organization and industry, and ultimately leave a legacy that matters, Ready to Be a Thought Leader? is for you.
From the Back Cover
Praise for Ready to Be a Thought Leader?
"Denise Brosseau is a champion of entrepreneurs and corporate executives alike, and she lays out a step-by-step process for all who want to achieve status as a thought leader. I highly recommend her book for every motivated individual."
―Kay Koplovitz, founder, USA Networks; chairman, Springboard Enterprises; and author, Bold Women, Big Ideas
"Denise Brosseau has done a great service by making thought leadership accessible to all of us. Her case studies and practical resources make this book approachable and a must-read. I'm going to recommend this book to my start-up CEO friends, as it will help them to get their ideas heard in an increasingly noisy market."
―Aneel Bhusri, cofounder and co-CEO, Workday
"Are you tired of the status quo? Ready to Be a Thought Leader? will give you practical guidance and inspire you with real-life examples. I've known Denise for 11 years, and she's passionate about helping people make a difference. Put her expertise to work for you."
―Susan Doherty, CMO, Hipmunk
"Thought leadership can be a significant competitive advantage for independent consultants. People want to hire the best, and thought leadership validates your reputation, credibility, and expert knowledge. If you want to know what it takes to become a respected thought leader in your arena, buy Ready to Be a Thought Leader? today."
―Gene Zaino, CEO and president, MBO Partners
"Denise Brosseau will give you the GPS to find and achieve the designation of thought leader. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, or nonprofit leader, you won't want to go to work without it."
―Peggy Klaus, executive coach, and author, BRAG! and The Hard Truth About Soft Skills
"If you want to build community, advance ideas, and effect lasting change, read Denise Brosseau's Ready to Be a Thought Leader?. You'll find all the inspiration and know-how you need to enhance your impact and improve lives, starting today."
―Jane Wales, president and CEO, The World Affairs Council, and vice president, Aspen Institute
About the Author
For more information, please visit thoughtleadershiplab.com
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Product details
- ASIN : 1118647610
- Publisher : Jossey-Bass; 1st edition (January 7, 2014)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 272 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9781118647615
- ISBN-13 : 978-1118647615
- Item Weight : 1.1 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.2 x 0.9 x 9.1 inches
-
Best Sellers Rank:
#99,512 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,753 in Leadership & Motivation
- #2,185 in Personal Finance (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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For Brosseau, Thought Leadership is about delivering change around innovative new ideas. In her author's interview on the book's Amazon page, she writes:
"Thought leaders are change makers who move and inspire others with their innovative ideas, turn those ideas into reality, and then create a dedicated group of friends, fans, and followers to help them replicate and scale those ideas into sustainable change. They spread their ideas, programs, or initiatives far beyond one company, organization, or community to make a broader impact in their industry or in the world. "
Correspondingly, Brosseau's book is particularly strong around leading change and embedding the impact of your ideas into business or society. She encourages readers to identify the stakeholders, advocates, and champions that need to be engaged to deliver and embed the change.
Similarly, Thought Leadership is a LEADERSHIP activity. Brosseau makes this clear by discussing building and engaging a community around your Thought Leadership work.
I also like that, like Cal Newport in Be So Good They Can't Ignore You, she draws on Steven Johnson's idea of the "adjacent possible" that highlights that as we take steps, take actions, then new possibilities open up. There are many ways to get to where we need to be - and these opportunities open up as we get started.
The book covers everything from finding your passion and activating your advocates to codifying your lessons learned and intellectual property. If you want to step up to a larger role and impact, this is a great place to start.
Denise teaches us about:
• The impact that we could make
• The importance of being first followers
• But most importantly, CAREER INSURANCE!
Denise can turn anyone into the person:
• Whom everyone wants to hire
• Who makes things happen
• Who has a great reputation
• Who makes others more effective
She is fabulous!!
Top reviews from other countries



