How to become a thought leader in any business

When asked to name a few leaders in business, come immediately to mind such names as Elon Musk, Founder of Tesla Motors, Sheryl Sandberg, a well-known business lady, a member of Facebook's board of directors, or Larry Page of Google.

Why them? Partly because of their intelligence and creativity, but not only. They are ahead of other more because the scope of their activities succulent, innovative and dramatic in nature and discontinuous innovations they make leadership more likely.

Similarly, he became the ideological leader Eric Ryan, co-founder Method.

Ryan and other members of the team took such a banal everyday items like soap, and wrapped it in a cool idea.

It would seem that everything in this niche has long been occupied and simply can not come up with something new and interesting. But co-founder of Method Ryan and Lori did. But not at the expense of new technology, but due to the very idea of ​​a safe, clean and pleasant house cleaning.

The company's products focus on stylish packaging and ecological purity of products - what makes cleaning the house safe and enjoyable experience.

But in the company built a culture based on imagination and creativity and far from official and admiration. This atmosphere allows entrepreneurs to put their hearts into the work, and to express themselves through their activities. And that brings excellent financial results.

Here are four rules for Ryan, observing that you can quite become the ideological leader in any field, even the most banal and completely occupied by other well-known brands.

Use the goal is to build a solid foundation

The most important advice Ryan - to connect people to their goal to make the co-founders, employees and users to share the basic idea.

No need to sell the product. It is necessary to establish the movement.

Eric Ryan

What would you do, you need to create a solid platform for his leadership - to give people a clear understanding of why you are doing all this.

For example, in the company Ryan emphasized the creation of the movement "people against the dirt." Sale of cleaning products was not just a domestic action, as a means of solving the major social and environmental problems.

Method The Company wants to prove that the business as a whole can be not only a means of earning, but also the engine for social change for the better. And the company's chosen strategy brings high profits and growing popularity.

Do not underestimate the passion, love and enthusiasm that may arise from the high end.

Eric Ryan

Become part of a community with similar ideas

Instead of developing a global idea for his business from scratch, you can join existing communities near carrying you an idea.

Method The Company has chosen as such members of the community B Corp (From the Benefit Corporation, a public good companies).

To obtain a certificate Benefit Corporation, need to be tested, how the company affects the local community, its employees, customers, different sectors of society and, finally, the environment.

Currently, more than 1000 companies in the world have earned this status (and not only in the US). It can be said, a global movement of business using the power of their business to do good.

The fact that we are part of Community Benefit Corporation, charges us with energy and inspires us to make this world a little better every day.

Eric Ryan

Joining the B Corp is not only well-motivated staff, but also provides the confidence of the consumers, enhances the company's credibility and puts it apart from competitors in the crowded modern market.

Thanks to B Corp certification company Method associated with the most socially and environmentally oriented companies on the planet.

Arrange public appearances

The bestselling Canadian journalist Malcolm Gladwell, "The Tipping Point" tells us that the success of any social epidemics, mass insanity on the idea depends on a small number of people whose opinion has a lot of weight.

When you are putting on public performances, not necessarily communicate their ideas to each person in the crowd. The main thing - to convince a few people who have an impact on the general public and will spread the word about your service.

Eric Ryan

These may be people who write about your product on your resource, and then the idea picked up by other people, and the media will talk about your ideas and products.

"With this strategy, we have quite successfully attracted the attention of media and increased the value of its brand, "- says Ryan.

Free sharing of ideas

On the one hand, it even sounds scary. How can you give your ideas just like that, without gaining anything in return? But there is another side.

Spreading a message, you strengthen in the leading position.

Eric Ryan told me how upset CEO Method Adam Laurie, when I saw the final version of the book The Method Method. In this book, published in 2011, reveals all the secrets of the companies that make up its competitive advantage.

However, it is not too worried about Ryan. He knew that Laurie's frustrating, but I think that from the competition distinguishes them is the embodiment of Method of ideas, not the ideas themselves.

So do not be afraid to share their ideas. Your main feature is their implementation, and dissemination will help to gain and consolidate its leading position in its field.