Now that I have given my opinion on the difference between Opinion Leaders and Thought Leaders, the next question posed to me asked:
How are Opinion Leaders different than everyone else in the community?
I don’t like to think of Opinion Leaders as “different” than anyone else. The truth is that different groups of individuals are Opinion Leaders for different topics/issues; and, based on the topic/issue, their characteristics vary by community. Our work across a variety of industries has provided insight in that we find that the characteristic which cuts across these diverse groups is a willingness to share knowledge and a certain intangible quality that speaks to trustworthiness and integrity.
Do you view yourself as an Opinion Leader?
