Top 5 Benefits of Blended Learning

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Blended learning has fast become a part and parcel of the teaching vocabulary as we move towards using technology in the classroom. If you are still considering if blended learning is suitable for your class, the below benefits might just help you make up your mind.
  
Related: Quick Guide to Blended Learning

Improves efficiency
Blended learning allows teachers to use their time more efficiently by combining digital instruction and one-on-one face time in the classroom. When students use technologies to research new concepts, teachers can use the additional class time to give struggling students the attention that they need. This way, teachers can give attention to struggling students without holding up the rest of the class. The more advanced students are encouraged to learn independently through research as they complete their assignment.  In a traditional classroom, teachers usually have to either ignore the struggling students or slowing down the class for the sake of the struggling ones. With blended learning, teachers can now streamline their instruction to help all students reach their full potential.

Improves Engagement
School lessons that integrate technology into its syllabus will more likely attract and maintain students’ interest. Subjects that can is considered monotonous or intimidating such as math and science will be more engaging when combined with virtual lessons, tutoring, and educational videos. With these resources to attract and retain students’ interest, their engagement will naturally improve.

Personalized Learning
Blended learning enables personalize education in a way that a traditional classroom setup cannot. When teachers conduct a lesson on a new concept, students of varying academic skill levels are not able to take extra time or work ahead as they want to. In other words, struggling students and advanced students are forced to learn at the same rate, and that’s counterproductive for both types of students. Blended learning allows students to work at their own pace, making sure they fully understand new concepts before moving on. On the other spectrum, blended learning also allows advanced students to work ahead, and thus ensuring that every student stays engaged.

Prepares Students for the Future Workforce
Teachers and students will develop skills essential for the 21st century by learning to use technology in the classroom. But more than that, students will learn critical thinking and workplace skills they will need to be successful in the future. Education is no longer just about learning and memorizing facts and figures. It’s about collaborating with others, solving complex problems, developing communication and leadership skills, and improving motivation and productivity. Blended learning can help fill the gap that traditional learning models aren’t able to.

Improves Performance Measurement
Software used with blended learning programs is able to collect student data that measures academic progress more efficiently. Teachers will be able to clearly see the areas in which each student is excelling, and where he or she may need more guidance, and act accordingly.



Sources: www.dreambox.com and www.nms.org 

Top 5 Benefits of Learning to Code

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“Coding is the new literacy. To thrive in tomorrow’s society, young people must learn to design, create and express themselves with digital technologies,” says Mitchel Resnick, a media arts and sciences professor at the MIT Media Lab. Mitchel is essentially saying coding is the new language that young people must learn to succeed in the future.

What is Coding?

Code is a set of instructions that computers can understand. Coding is a means to instruct computers to do certain tasks. Some say learning to code is similar to learning a new language because you are speaking a language that computers understand. For more details on coding, Watch What is Coding? 15 Facts for Beginners here. 

Top 5 Benefits 

Problem-Solving Skills 
“I don’t think everyone will be a coder, but the ability to speak and structure your thinking in a way a computer understands will be one of the core future skills in whatever field,” says Linda Liukas, founder of the Rails Girls coding organization. Ultimately, children can benefit from learning to code because they learn computational thinking. Computational thinking is a valuable problem-solving skill that everyone needs. To know more about computational thinking, read Computational Thinking Decoded here. 

High in Demand 
Coding is one of the most sought after skill in the current and future workforce. Coding is also one of the major components of STEM education. In fact, many countries are considering making coding a subject in the school curriculum. Need more convincing? Check out the top 5 Companies with the Most STEM Job Openings Now. Aside from that, coding can be fun so be sure to pick programming languages and concepts that interest you. What’s better than having a fun job that will pay handsomely right?

Planning Skills
Programming and coding involve analysing your desired outcome and figuring out how to get there. In other words, you need to plan. As you figure out the steps you need to get your desired result, you are primarily using planning skills. You will also develop an analytical approach to your steps to ensure they work.

Learning Complex Concepts
Programming is unique because you can learn new concepts that are rare in other disciplines. One popular concept that’s common in coding is recursion. Recursion is a process that calls itself until it meets a particular condition. You will be exposed to a lot of complex concepts similar to recursion when you learn to code. This exposure will enhance your ability to understand other complex concepts in the future.

Different Perspectives
Coding exposes you to various concepts, and that will affect the way you perceive things. Every programming language has its concepts, and every time you learn one of them your perception changes. Programming is similar to playing music or painting in the way that it leaves an enormous impact in the way you think by opening new possibilities. In other words, programming forces you to act with an open mind.






Source: www.freestylemind.com , www.codeconquest.com, http://dailytekk.com  and www.connectionsacademy.com

Computational Thinking Decoded

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Wikipedia defines computational thinking as a process that generalizes a solution to open-ended problems. Computational thinking is a collection of diverse skills to do with problem solving that result from studying the nature of computation. It includes important skills such as creativity, ability to explain and teamwork. It also consists of specific problem-solving skills such as the ability to think logically, algorithmically and recursively. 

Top 5 Components
Here are the top five components of computational thinking: 

Logical thinking: Logical thinking is about deducing as much new information as possible from the little you have but not by jumping to conclusions. Want an example? Think Spock from Star Trek and you will get a good idea of what a logical thinker is. 

Algorithmic thinking: An algorithm is a precise, step-by-step set of instructions for solving a task. Algorithmic thinking is the ability to think in terms of such algorithms to solve problems. It is a core skill people develop when they learn to write computer programs. Algorithmic thinking is needed when solving similar problems, so you don’t have to come up with a solution every time. To put it simply, you are coming up with a sequence of steps that solve a type of problem, and everyone following those steps will be able to come to the same solution. Want a hands-on experience? Give it a shot @ Nought and Crosses.

Efficiency solutions: This thinking refers to solving a problem with the least amount of time and resources. In other words, what matters is finding ways to complete a task or solve a problem in as few steps as possible. One good example is solving the Rubik’s Cube. What matters is that you come up with a way that takes as few steps as possible to get to the solution however the cube started. Play the Rubik’s Cube here. 

Scientific thinking: Scientific thinking involves applying skepticism to ideas and forming testable hypotheses. A hypothesis is often defined as an educated guess or a prediction based on information collected. This means scientific thinking only takes into account of what is supported by evidence. This thinking also involves coming up with experiments and tests to prove whether a theory or an idea is true or false.  Want a taste of scientific thinking? Try solving the Coal and Carrot Mystery. 

Innovative thinking: Innovative thinking revolves around seeing something that others have missed. It’s also about being able to come up with new ideas and making it practical for the market. People who innovate do more than just generate new ideas as they also push their ideas to get people to use them. 

Drop us a line to share your thoughts on computational thinking. 



Source: www.cs4fn.org and www.wikipedia.com

Do the Arts belong in STEM?

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There’s a hot debate on whether the arts belong in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. Let’s take a look at the two schools of thought. 

STEM education is such a hit because research shows that students need more in-depth knowledge of math and science. Children who study STEM also develop a variety of skills that are essential for the future workforce such as critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation, communication, collaboration and entrepreneurship. 

STEM is a specific program designed for a specific purpose—to integrate and apply knowledge of math and science in order to create technologies and solutions for real-world problems, using an engineering design approach. So, where do the arts fit into the equation?

The arts enthusiasts insist that engineering and technology can certainly serve the artist and help create art. But differing opinion surfaces if we're talking about how one can use art in engineering as an artist. According to arts enthusiasts, then everyone is missing the point and devaluing art’s purpose and importance. In other words, the arts aren’t there to play second leads to math and science.  

STEAM – ‘A’ stands for art – focuses on the critical need for creativity when solving problems, instead of relying solely on memorization and standard formulas. “A rounded education means you have to have some sense of expression. That’s what the STEAM concept is all about,” Lee Baumgarten, a former professor turned full-time artist says. “The arts bring in the creativity. You can’t really redefine anything without some kind of creativity.” Baumgarten is passionate about putting the ‘A’ back to where it belongs – in STEM.  

Harvard University education professor Howard Gardner feels the same way, "I have no hesitation in saying we need to add the letter A. An education devoid of arts…is an empty, half-brain kind of education." 

One thing that both schools of thoughts agree on is that the old education system is lacking. “A hundred years ago we devised a school system where you sit in rows. You don’t ask questions. You listen and learn and memorize,” Baumgarten says. But this system doesn’t cut it anymore. 
What the world needs now is creative problem solvers and Baumgarten thinks adding the arts into the mix will do the trick. “We’re in trouble because we don’t have innovative thinkers,” Baumgarten said. “We’ve got people that have learned how to deal with a template, but to make one themselves, they don’t know how to do that.” 

Artist and educator-turned-STEAM-enthusiast Ruth Catchen is also on team STEAM and believes that in our technically-focused world, we have a responsibility to educate the whole child to become a global citizen in his or her community. 

Brian Andrew Dunning, writer and producer who focuses on skepticism made it clear that the arts do not belong in STEM. In Dunning’s blog, skepticblog.org, he says arts are important, but they are not in STEM for good reasons. Some of the reasons he cited include the fact that US companies are constantly lobbying in Congress to allow more foreign holders of advanced STEM degrees to have permanent resident status, because such experts are in high demand. There is no corresponding demand for students in the arts. STEM is especially important for women, as there are still severe shortages in the number of women who pursue them. Arts suffer no shortage of women. 

Dunning has his points but he is essentially saying that there is a shortage of STEM- qualified employees in the U.S. and around the globe. But his arguments are too focused on the demand and supply of STEM-qualified graduates. Who is to say that STEAM-qualified graduates can’t perform as well or even better than their STEM counterparts? 

Perhaps Anne Jolly, author and content writer for middle school STEM curriculum, sums it up the best – when push comes to shove, it’s not STEM vs. STEAM. It’s about making every student a fully-literate 21st-century citizen.

What are your thoughts? Do share with us whether you think the arts belong in STEM. 

Sources: www.edweek.org and www.charlotteobserver.com. 

Top 5 Companies with the Most STEM Job Openings Now

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If you are a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) graduate seeking a job, the world is your oyster. Getting a job with your dream company may just be within reach. Why?

That’s because there is a serious shortage in supply of employees who are STEM qualified to do the job. “The demand for STEM professionals currently outweighs the supply,” says Mike Steinerd, director of recruiting at Indeed.com, an online job search engine. “There’s a need for STEM professionals to help companies grow their web or mobile applications, as well the need across specific industries such as bio-medical, manufacturing, or even construction. Truth is, there is a dearth of STEM talent despite the considerable buzz in the academic circles around STEM education and constant discussion about increasing quotas for qualified immigrants.” 

Forbes and Indeed have teamed up to compile a list of the 10 companies with the highest number of available STEM positions, which are occupations that require an education in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics disciplines. 

So, let’s get to the list shall we? 

No 5: Apple
Apple is currently looking to fill 1,171 STEM positions. The iPad has proven to be one of the most used devices in the classroom. The company also shares real stories to demonstrate how the iPad is a useful tool for STEM education. Watch how Dr Craig Roble teaches with the iPad here. 

No 4: Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is currently looking to fill 1,350 STEM positions. The company is an American global aerospace, defense, security and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. Lockheed Martin provides generous funding to STEM education outreach activities for students from elementary school through college. Some of their projects include 4-H Robotics, Great Minds in STEM and Girls Inc. 

No 3: SAIC
SAIC is currently looking to fill 1,380 STEM positions. Headquartered in McLean, Va., the defense company with approximately 38,000 employees worldwide provides scientific, engineering, systems integration, and technical services and solutions. SAIC has been increasing its contracts in commercial health IT, environmental and energy projects in the private sector, which has resulted in a demand for STEM employees. 

No 2: Amazon
The Seattle-based e-commerce behemoth currently has 1,493 unique STEM job postings. According to the report, the types of STEM positions Amazon is looking to fill include software developer, systems engineer, research scientist, database administrator, and software engineer.

No 1: Microsoft
The Washington-based software giant is looking to fill 1,553 STEM jobs right now. Microsoft proves that they are indeed walking the talk with the YouthSpark initiative. YouthSpark demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment in STEM by creating opportunities for 300 million youth around the world to access opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship. That you have to admit is pretty decent of Microsoft.

And there you have it. Curious who else made the list? Read the top 10 list here. 

5 Benefits of a Flipped Classroom

By PS Leong

Image by Wikimedia

A flipped classroom is a learning environment where students learn new content on their own by watching video lectures or other online content. This instructional methodology is a type of blended learning and it was thrown into the lime light during a Ted Talk by Khan Academy founder Salman Khan, which has received more than 2.5 million views.

In a flipped classroom, assignments or what’s traditionally known as homework are completed in class with teachers offering personalized guidance. This environment encourages students to collaborate, help each other, and carry our researches either individually or in a team to complete an assignment.

No 1: Self-Paced
A flipped classroom allows students to learn at their own pace and allows teachers to give students more one-on-one instructions. This environment also encourages students to ask questions about the subject matter they find difficult without feeling that they are holding up the class. Sick days will also no longer interrupt a students’ ability to learn. With a flipped classroom, students engage with a lesson on their own time and an absence will not hinder them from learning the material. On the same note, when a teacher is absent from school, students will also not suffer from a substitute’s inability to teach the particular day’s lesson. The substitute only needs to facilitate students working on their assignments and answer questions instead of introducing new content.

No 2: Teamwork 
A flipped classroom allows students to have more time to collaborate and help each other in a lesson or an assignment. Working closely with their peers will help cultivate teamwork abilities and also leadership qualities. This sort of working relationship in a classroom is similar to the industry experience of a job. Working in a team will prove to be a valuable experience for students as it prepares them for the real world.

No 3: Customised Content
A video lecture is free of interruptions and distractions thus a student can concentrate on the lesson. The lesson can also be replayed as often as the student needs without interrupting another student’s pace. This way, the student is kept engaged throughout as the lesson is customised to his or her needs. This feature also extends to when a student is preparing for an exam. A student can go back and forth to review portions of previous lectures as often as he or she needs. In result, time is used more productively as the lesson is now catered to each student’s specific requirements.

No 4: Engagement
After a student watched a digital lesson or video at home, he or she can brainstorm questions to ask the teacher. This will open the floor for a discussion about anything that may be confusing about the lesson. This way, the student is already invested in the lesson and is highly engaged even before attending class. Coming to class prepared with ideas and questions is a great way to help students get excited over the lesson and also a great way to jumpstart the students to share ideas in class.

No 5: Multiple Sources
Very often, a few teachers are teaching the same lesson at about the same time. If the teachers use the flipped classroom methodology, then they can allow students to access to other teachers’ digital content and videos in order to increase the students’ comprehension of the subject. Allowing students to have access to different styles of teaching can help increase their comprehension and engagement of the subject.

Source: www.alchemylearning.com  

Top 10 Skills of a Sucessful 21st Century Employee

by PS Leong


Wondering what are the skills that future employers are looking for? Here’s an infographic giving you the low down on the skill sets you need to acquire to enable you to stand out and be sucessful in the 21st century workforce. The infographic also shows you how you can cultivate those skills while in school. 

Image by University of Phoenix

Technical skills are important but more employers are looking into soft skills as well. University of Phoenix has highlighted 10 skills that are in high demand by future employers:

People Oriented
Communication: You need to communicate well with people from various cultures and backgrounds. 

Collaboration: You are expected to be able to articulate your ideas in a diverse environment effectively and work respectfully towards all colleagues.    

Independent Thinker
Adaptability: The market place needs someone who can adapt to changes, new technologies and concepts quickly. 

Innovation: You are expected to act on creative ideas to make a tangible and useful contribution to your company. 

Critical thinking: This skill set enables you to analyse a problem and find solutions in a creative manner using various sources. The expectation is that you will be able to reflect critically on learning experiences and processes.

Vision Enriched
Leadership: This quality is highly in demand in most industries. Leadership requires people skills, knowledge and confidence. 

Entrepreneuralism: This skill requires you to be visionary and forward thinking. You need to be able to think ahead and anticipate if not start industry trends. You are expected to take some risks and try new ways of doing things. 

Tech Savvy
Global citizenship: You need to be able to express yourself and work effectively with people from diverse background and culture. You need to be able to use technology with ease to communicate worldwide. 

Productivity & accountability: You are expected to have a sense of ownership in all you do. New working conditions can encourage virtual offices around the globe.This means you are expected to manage your time and deadlines effectively. 

Data analysis: Information can be gotten via the Internet fast these days, and you are expected to analyse critically and use the data effectively. 

Are Girls Cut Out for Science?

by PS Leong

Image by Bing Images

“I want to be an engineer,” Mei Ling announced proudly in class for Career Week. But instead of clapping, her classmates simply stared at her. Maybe they didn’t hear me. Fixing her faltered smile, she cleared her throat and repeated her statement with a slight tremor – a little less sure this time. Janet, her classmate, raised her hand and directed the question to their teacher, “Miss Chong, isn’t that for boys?”

There is a mystery that has kept the world intrigued – why are there so few women in STEM-based careers?  Experts explain that if you want more women in STEM-based roles, you must first get more girls to major in science and math in schools and universities.  
Is Janet right? Is math and science for boys because girls are just not cut out for it? Let’s find out. 

Is it in the Genes?

One of the most popular theories that traditionalist buys into is the genes for comprehension of technical subjects are hiding on the Y chromosome. Are boys naturally more equipped for maths and science? 

Time magazine reports that a review of 308 studies involving 30 countries and more than 1.1 million boys and girls who were students from 1914 to 2011 shows that girls have been outperforming boys in all of their classes — reading, language and math and science. In fact, according to the data, girls have been outperforming their male counterparts for a 100 years. The study proves once and for all that in terms of genetics, girls are extremely capable at math and science. 

Nature Trumps Nature

Now that we can rule genes out, let’s take a look at the next theory that is said to be the major contributing factor why girls are seen as less competent in math and science. Culture and stereotypes are said to be the main culprits. The strong stereotype that deems science and math as a “boy’s thing” will eventually affects both genders – in different ways. 

Culture will segregate a boy’s and a girl’s interest in school subjects similar to how blue is preconceived as a boy’s colour. So, it’s not so much the case that girls are scoring lower in math and science but it’s more to do with girls being told boys are better at math and science. And girls are better off sticking to their strength such as social sciences and languages. This means the environment eventually becomes one the major hindrance to girls pursuing their interest in math and science. 

Science is for Boys and Girls

To encourage equality in education, parents and teachers need to play an active role to enforce that math and science are “everyone’s thing” and not gender specific. For a future where there’s equal number of women scientists and engineers, we need to ensure the Mei Lings of the world are given the support to keep their ambitions, and Janets of the world realizes a boy and girl can pursue any career they want as long as they have the passion and skill set for it.  

5 Tips to Deal with Change Effectively

By PS Leong

Image by Microsoft Clipart

Change is inevitable and everyone deals with it differently. Some are more susceptible to change and adopt a positive outlook while there are some who resist and fear change.  Below are five tips in helping you embrace change successfully in your work place. 

Get the Facts

Most people resist change out of fear.  Why? Career coach Phyllis Mufson explains, “We’re creatures of habit and changes at work move us out of our comfort zone.” As they say, no fear is bigger than the fear of the unknown. The best way to battle unknown fears is to get as much information as possible. As you talk to relevant parties about the change and get more clarity, you might realise your fears are unfounded. Save yourself some sleepless nights by speaking to your superior and get accurate information instead of engaging with an overactive imagination and rumours.   

Change Your Perspective

Instead of viewing change as something negative, try looking at it as an opportunity. Stop dreading and thinking of worst case scenarios and start adopting an attitude of anticipation. Change brings growth and allows you new experiences and exposures that will sharpen your skill sets and allow you to explore new areas of interests.

 

Keep Your Focus 

There will be times when information is limited and you won’t know the entire picture if the management decide it isn’t time to make the details public. During these times, it’s important not to become paralyzed by the uncertainty that comes with change. The right approach is to channel your energy into staying focused and performing your best with the work at hand. It is easy to get distracted and discouraged but it is essential you do not neglect your present duties. Showing your resilience and dedication to doing your best always pay off wherever you are.

Stay Connected

Having a strong network internally and externally can help you stay in the loop during times of change. It can also keep you alert to trends and opportunities that may come your way. Having multiple connections allow you to tap into various sources of information, a better support system and an external sounding board when you need a listening ear. 

  

Strong Support System

Get support from an experienced mentor at work during times of uncertainties will help you cope better with change. It’s all too easy to get suck into negativity so steer clear of those who moan and complain. In challenging times, it’s also important to seek support and stability from family and friends. Research has shown that those who have positive stable influence outside of work tend to cope better with changes and challenges at work.  

Quiz: How Well Do You Deal with Change?

Complete this quiz to find out what’s your tolerance for change: Tolerance of Change Scale. 

Connecting The Dots

By PS Leong

Part 1: Connecting the Dots According to David Brier

This is a two-part article.  

Connecting the dots originated from a game of connecting numbered dots to reveal a picture or drawing. Today, connecting the dots has evolved into a colloquialism and Marina Theodotou, business development strategist, defines it as the act of finding a pattern and understanding between different ideas and experiences. 

Although ‘connecting the dots’ is hardly a new concept, the term has made a huge comeback when Steve Jobs prompted Stanford graduates to connect the dots during his inspiring 2005 commencement address. 

Now, let’s look at the concepts that derive from this versatile term. 

Image by fastcompany.com 

David Brier, brand identity expert and Fast Company blogger, thinks that innovation is made up of dots that others missed, ignored or long since forgotten. Brier calls those other dots ‘new dots’. Brier concludes that the single difference between the innovator and the ordinary person is – one saw the dots and connected them while others: didn’t see them or if they did, they didn’t explore, question, or connect them.

He continues to say fire, wheel, smart phones and tablets were once new dots before they become common dots now. What is the source of these new dots? He believes notions, unexpected connections, ideas, possibilities and imagination to be the main sources. And these new dots can ultimately change the world.  Watch David Brier’s video here. This two-minute video is definitely worth your while! 

Stay tuned on next post to find out what Steve Jobs has to say about connecting the dots. 

Three Steps to Becoming a Thought Leader

By PS Leong

Image by Flickr

Three Steps to Becoming a Thought Leader

This is a two-part series on thought leadership. The first article looks into defining thought leadership, what it takes to be one, and the benefits it brings to your business. The second article explores the steps in becoming a thought leader.

Read the first part of the series – What it Takes to be a Thought Leader and Why Should You Care here. 

You decide your company has what it takes to be a thought leader but what’s next? It’s time to strategize and take action. Here are three steps to enable your company to reach thought-leadership status. 

Develop Your Personal Brand and Voice

To enable your company to stand out, you need to develop a consistent brand personality and voice. This is an essential step to becoming a though leader. Brand strategist and author Laura Ries defines a brand as “a name that stands for something in prospects’ minds”. Ries says the best way to start developing your brand is to define who you are and your unique abilities.  Next, you need to understand other people’s perceptions of your company. This exercise requires speaking with different people in your life and industry to understand their perceptions.  

Developing your voice comes next. Kuno Creative, an international leading inbound marketing agency, suggests asking yourself, “What is it that I want to say, and how do I want to sound when saying it?” For example, the voice you adopt for a fashion brand would be different from an academics company.  Discuss the voice of your company carefully with your team and take your subject matter and audience into consideration. 

Image by Flickr

Create and Maintain an Awesome Blog

According to Pamela Vaughan, author and manager of optimization and growth of HubSpot's blog, “Launching a blog that covers important topics relating to the industry in which you’re selling is perhaps the best way to establish and uphold your image as a thought leader.” Aside from getting more credible industry presence, Vaughan believes a well-managed blog will also improve lead generation and boost search engine optimization (SEO).

Before you start writing and posting zealously, it’s important to take the time to build a blogging strategy. The strategy should be based on your brand and the issues that matter most to your audience. Forbes Magazine’s Russ Alan Prince points out that strategizing is a key piece to the challenging thought leadership puzzle. Without a strong plan in place, it’s impossible to build a long-term approach to your blog content. You need to ensure your team understands the importance of enacting the strategy as this will be a major contributing factor to the success of the blog.  

As mentioned by Vaughan, well-maintained blogs will also help boost SEO. This is because Google and other search engines continue to favour websites that produce informative or entertaining content on a regular basis via blogging. When you start blogging, try to post often and be consistent. It’s fine to start small as long as the it’s quality content, and you have the goal to increase the quantity in the near future. As for content, do bear in mind that thought leaders always offer a unique perspective on industry happenings so avoid regurgitating industry facts without providing your take on the situation.

Image by Flickr

Produce Interesting Content

Aside from blogging, do consider creating advanced content such as whitepapers, webinars, infographics and industry cheat sheets. These content demonstrate your knowledge expands beyond short blog posts, and prove you’re capable of thought leadership on an even greater scale. These resources will help other professionals in your industry and in turn help boost your credibility and SEO. 

What other steps do you think would make a successful thought leader? We would love to hear from you. Drop us a comment or feedback. 

What Does It Take to be a Thought Leader and Why Should You Care?

By PS Leong

Image by Flickr

This is a two-part series on thought leadership. The first article looks into defining thought leadership, what it takes to be one, and the benefits it brings to your business. The second article explores the steps in becoming a thought leader. 

Thought leadership is not about being known, it is about being known for making a difference.

The term “thought leadership” is by no means new in any industry. It has produced constant buzz through the years in the business world while trendy new terms come and go. Experts claim this industry term is here to stay. So, why should your company care about an industry coined term? Read on to find out. 

What is a Thought Leader? 

Though the term “thought leader” is commonplace in business, its actual definition is hard to come by. Forbes defined a thought leader as both “a firm or an individual that prospects, clients, referral sources, intermediaries  and even competitors recognize as one of the foremost authorities in selected areas of specialization, resulting in its being the go-to individual or organization for said expertise” and “an individual or firm that significantly profits from being recognized as such.” That’s a whole lot to chew on.   

Thought leadership.com offers something easier to understand and defines it as informed opinion leaders and the go-to people in their field of expertise. They are trusted sources who move and inspire people with innovative ideas. Thought leaders also tend to be the most successful individuals or firms in their respective fields. 

What Does It Take to be One?

Most people think a thought leader needs to be forward thinking but that’s not always true. In an interview with Inc.com, Stern & Associates Vice President Ned Ward says that some thought leaders simply clarify complicated situations and business scenarios. In some industries, thought leaders can merely be observational – to look back and analyse the scenario. 

Ned Ward believes that becoming a thought leader isn't just a process. It requires a passion for and a commitment to spread ideas that can help others. Those that don't have what it takes are perhaps relegated to subject-matter experts who are called on to observe and react, but not often sought after for foresight or vision.

Is a market leader automatically a thought leader? Not necessarily so. Experts agree that thought leaders have earned their title because of their ideas. When an idea has gone viral —with the organisation’s name attached—then leadership becomes thought leadership. It isn’t about how loud you shout. Rather, it’s about how many like what you shout, and spread it on the Internet and media that matters. 

Benefits of Being a Thought Leader

Being a thought leader can open up doors of opportunity and allow you to network and meet potential partners. Your company will also be able to broadcast your unique selling proposition and stand out from competition. This brings you both external and internal benefits. Your clients will associate the company with visionary thinking and leading-edge knowledge while employees see their company as a professionally demanding and rewarding place to work.

In a survey by DesignIntelligence, more than 65 percent of AEC firms with thought leadership programs made a direct or indirect correlation between the program and new work. According to AEC-Business.com, a blog for business owners, thought leaders land more high-quality work than their less prominent competitors. They are also invited to speak more often in seminars and competitions. Need more convincing? Dig deeper here Eight Benefits of Being a Thought Leader. 

Achieving the title of though leader should act as a bonus from creating something innovative or offering a unique service to the industry. When your company is willing to take risks and do things unconventionally, you'll find others looking to follow and learn from you. Eventually, over a period of consistent leadership, you may earn the respect that labels you as a thought leader. Thoughtleadership.com offers a principle that can serve as an effective guide– thought leadership is not about being known, it is about being known for making a difference.