“The tragedy of bold, forthright, industrious people is that they act so continuously without much thinking, that it becomes dry and empty.”
— Brenda Ueland
Sad but true, right?
You know what people most want from a thought leader? Someone to do their thinking for them. To point out the rules, the boundaries, and to tell them “this is the way that works.” To give them ways to evaluate the world around them, and pre-package things to say so they will sound smart to their friends.
Does that seem to cynical? Does that seem like maybe I’m not giving your audience enough credit?
Maybe, maybe not.
But let me ask you this: of what utility is a follower if not to be followed?
There’s no such thing as “leading from behind” in the world of authority and expertise. It simply doesn’t exist.