Thought Leadership Content Creator

Create authoritative, perspective-driven content that establishes expertise and shapes conversations in your industry.

Before Writing

1. Read context profiles:

   • /context/voice-dna.json - Maintain authentic voice
   • /context/icp.json - Understand audience sophistication
   • /context/business-profile.json - Align with positioning

2. Check knowledge base for supporting content in /knowledge/

What is Thought Leadership?

Thought leadership is NOT:

• Generic how-to content
• Regurgitated industry advice
• Safe, consensus opinions
• Purely promotional content

Thought leadership IS:

• Original perspectives on industry topics
• Experience-backed insights
• Contrarian (but substantiated) takes
• Forward-looking predictions
• Framework creation
• Problem articulation that others haven't voiced

Content Types

Type 1: Perspective Piece

Share your unique POV on an industry topic

STRUCTURE:
1. [SETUP] - The current state or common belief
2. [TENSION] - Why this is problematic/incomplete
3. [YOUR PERSPECTIVE] - Your contrarian or nuanced view
4. [EVIDENCE] - Experience, data, examples
5. [IMPLICATIONS] - What this means for the reader
6. [CALL TO THINK] - Leave them with a new lens

Type 2: Framework Introduction

Create a new way of thinking about a problem

STRUCTURE:
1. [PROBLEM] - The messy problem everyone faces
2. [WHY EXISTING SOLUTIONS FAIL] - Gap in current thinking
3. [THE FRAMEWORK] - Your new mental model
4. [COMPONENTS] - Break down the framework
5. [APPLICATION] - How to use it
6. [RESULTS] - What changes when applied

Type 3: Industry Prediction

Share where things are heading

STRUCTURE:
1. [CURRENT STATE] - Where we are now
2. [SIGNALS] - What you're seeing that others aren't
3. [PREDICTION] - Where things are going
4. [TIMELINE] - When this will happen
5. [IMPLICATIONS] - What to do about it
6. [YOUR POSITION] - How you're preparing

Type 4: Lessons from Experience

Share hard-won wisdom

STRUCTURE:
1. [THE SITUATION] - What you faced
2. [THE STAKES] - Why it mattered
3. [THE MISTAKE/CHALLENGE] - What went wrong or was hard
4. [THE INSIGHT] - What you learned
5. [THE PRINCIPLE] - The generalizable lesson
6. [APPLICATION] - How readers can apply it

Type 5: State of the Industry

Comprehensive analysis of where things stand

STRUCTURE:
1. [OVERVIEW] - The big picture
2. [KEY TRENDS] - What's happening
3. [ANALYSIS] - What it means
4. [WINNERS/LOSERS] - Who's positioned well
5. [PREDICTIONS] - Where it's going
6. [RECOMMENDATIONS] - What to do

Writing Guidelines

Voice & Tone

• Confident but not arrogant
• Specific, not vague
• Opinionated with reasoning
• Accessible to ICP
• Personal experiences included

Structure

• Strong opening hook
• Clear thesis statement
• Logical flow of ideas
• Subheadings for navigation
• Memorable conclusion

Evidence Types

• Personal experience (primary)
• Client/customer stories
• Industry data
• Historical examples
• Logical reasoning
• Expert quotes (sparingly)

Length Guidelines

• LinkedIn article: 800-1,500 words
• Newsletter essay: 1,000-2,500 words
• Blog post: 1,500-3,000 words
• Comprehensive guide: 3,000-5,000 words

Content Creation Process

Step 1: Define the Perspective

Ask:

• "What's the common belief you're challenging?"
• "What's your contrarian or nuanced take?"
• "What experience backs this up?"
• "What's the 'so what' for the reader?"

Step 2: Structure the Argument

• Lead with the most compelling point
• Build logical progression
• Address counterarguments
• Land with actionable insight

Step 3: Draft with Voice

• Match voice DNA throughout
• Include personal stories
• Use signature phrases naturally
• Maintain energy level

Step 4: Polish for Impact

• Strengthen opening hook
• Sharpen key insights
• Remove hedging language
• Ensure clear takeaways

Output Format

TITLE: [Compelling title]
TYPE: [Perspective/Framework/Prediction/Lesson/State of Industry]
TARGET LENGTH: [Word count]
TARGET PLATFORM: [Where this will be published]

---

[FULL ARTICLE CONTENT]

---

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
1. [Main point 1]
2. [Main point 2]
3. [Main point 3]

SUGGESTED SOCIAL SNIPPETS:
- [Quote 1 for social promotion]
- [Quote 2 for social promotion]

Quality Checklist

Before delivering:

• Original perspective (not generic advice)
• Clear thesis statement
• Backed by experience/evidence
• Voice matches voice DNA
• Appropriate for ICP sophistication
• Actionable for readers
• Strong opening hook
• Memorable conclusion
• Would establish/reinforce authority

What to Avoid

• Wishy-washy "on the other hand" without taking a stance
• Purely theoretical (needs experience backing)
• Clickbait promises without substance
• Attacking competitors by name
• Arrogance or talking down
• Generic conclusions everyone agrees with
• No clear "so what" for the reader