If you’re thinking about publishing thought leadership, what you shouldn’t think: “What am I going to say that hasn’t already been said?”
People work with people they like. People like to work with those who ‘get them.’ I might have a Korean American, Indian American and Caucasian woman in front of me. Each will have a different technique for elevating mid level managers to senior level managers.
But guess what? She never gets around to doing the knowledge transfer.
But here’s what does happen:
• She leaves the workforce for whatever reason (Menopause, sabbatical, childcare)
• All that knowledge goes with her
• Her male counterparts not only wrote it down, but published a book, went on a 50 city book tour, did a Tedtalk and garnered credit for years to come. Emblazoned in history.
• History only remembers his way
I made this very same mistake.
My general manager at my first TV station said to me, Stop being what you think a news anchor should be, and just be yourself, You are the most unique thing you bring to the table. So I started sharing. I started a women’a leadership platform. I hosted events. I got booked to give a TedTalk. I thought I was just doing a talk. instead, it became the first thing that came up when people Googled “Joya Dass” People felt the knew me. I got hired to tell that story 50 more times. Paid.
Which is why I want to share this with you.
Set aside time. Hire someone. Get how you promote and support women in leadership down on paper.
A literary agent was in the audience. She handed me her card. “You should write a book.” I reached out to her 8 years later, and it was too late. Write it down. So history can remember what women’s leadership looked like. And what women, women of color, women with disabilities who have leadership aspirations need to succeed.
You’re already quietly doing it. Your’e just not prioritizing it.
Life could look like this as a result of this decision.
• You’re booked to host workshops to share your knowledge
• You’re paid to speak on stages to share at scale
• You have clients you love
• You leave a legacy for your daughter.
At the 10 year mark of my career, I had a come-to-Jesus moment: Would I be proud of my body of work on my death bed? The answer was ‘no’. So I got busy writing it down. I’m crunching 30 years of experience into these posts.
Part of becoming a thought leader is recognizing that all your previous experiences—your professional training, your innate skills, your upbringing, your hobbies—factor into how you see the world.
Share that.
I’m currently enrolling 7 women in my Mastermind for 2024. If you need strategy, systems, processes on how to make sharing easier, apply here.
