525: Quantifying the Real Value and Impact of Thought Leadership
Feb 12, 2025
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Cindy Anderson, CMO at the IBM Institute for Business Value, and Anthony Marshall, Senior Research Director of Thought Leadership at IBM, delve into the real value of thought leadership. They discuss its crucial role in client relationships, stressing that independent, data-driven content fosters trust rather than direct sales. They also explore the impact of AI on content creation and outline the characteristics of effective thought leaders. Their insights highlight the need for quality engagement in the evolving thought leadership landscape.
Developing quantifiable metrics for thought leadership helps organizations demonstrate its value in fostering client relationships and driving business strategy.
The integration of AI in thought leadership creation highlights the need for combining technological efficiency with human insights to maintain effectiveness and relevance.
Deep dives
The Importance of Thought Leadership
Thought leadership is essential for organizations as it builds relationships and trust with clients, demonstrating an understanding of their challenges. Both Cindy and Anthony shared pivotal moments in their careers that led them to recognize the necessity of establishing thought leadership within their organizations. They emphasized that having data supporting the value of thought leadership can help persuade stakeholders of its importance in business strategy. The research conducted for their book highlights the ROI associated with investing in thought leadership, substantiating its significance in the current business landscape.
Effective Use of Thought Leadership in Consulting
Consultants are encouraged to leverage thought leadership to understand their clients better and engage in meaningful conversations. Reading and comprehending relevant thought leadership material allows them to identify client concerns and discuss findings rather than immediately selling products. This relational approach fosters trust and positions the consultant as a trusted advisor. Additionally, dedicating time to consuming thought leadership enables consultants to develop their own unique perspectives to share with clients.
Measuring the Impact of Thought Leadership
The podcast underlines the misconception that thought leadership cannot be quantified, highlighting that a structured approach can indeed demonstrate its effectiveness. Cindy and Anthony introduced a methodology to calculate the ROI of thought leadership investments, revealing that organizations can now assess their impact in a rigorous manner. They noted that quality, uniqueness, and reach are essential elements that contribute to the overall success of thought leadership initiatives. This quantifiable evidence serves as a valuable asset for organizations seeking to justify their investments in thought leadership.
Future Trends in Thought Leadership
Emerging technologies, particularly generative AI, are poised to transform both the production and consumption of thought leadership content. While AI can facilitate faster and more personalized content creation, the speakers stressed the importance of human insight when crafting visionary thought leadership. They categorized content into timely, technical, and timeless types, emphasizing that despite technological advancements, substantive research and insights remain critical. As organizations navigate this changing landscape, they must focus on their unique contributions to remain relevant and effective in developing thought leadership.
Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 525, an interview with the authors of The ROI of Thought Leadership: Calculating the Value that Sets Organizations Apart, Cindy Anderson and Anthony Marshall.
In this episode, Cindy and Anthony discuss how their work at IBM shaped their understanding of thought leadership's value in building client relationships and explain the quantifiable benefits of thought leadership. They also address how AI is impacting thought leadership creation and consumption, and the distinction between thought leadership and sales content. They stress the need for independent, data-driven content to build trust and relationships, not for direct sales. Their insights stem from decades of combined experience at organizations like the Project Management Institute and IBM's Institute for Business Value.
Cindy Anderson is the Chief Marketing Officer/Global Lead for Engagement & Eminence at the IBM Institute for Business Value.
Anthony Marshall is the Chair of the Board of Advisors for The Global Thought Leadership Institute at APQC and the Senior Research Director of thought leadership at the IBM Institute for Business Value.