Here's how you can gauge the ROI of learning new skills for Thought Leadership.

If your first thought at the prospect of learning something new in your field is "what is my return on this investment?" then first consider if you're in the wrong field. It's the sameas choosing a degree at university. Unless you genuinely are interested, you're not likely to see it through all the way.

In my opinion, ROI should be categorized into long-term and short-term. Short-term ROI can be easily measured as it may impact our daily activities. For example, when I learn about a new collaborative tool and incorporate it into my team, the results are reflected in our efficiency KPIs. On the other hand, long-term ROI cannot be easily measured but is appreciated over time. For example, when I learned chemistry, I couldn't have imagined how the analytical way of thinking would help me as a marketer.

Understanding ROI is crucial. It's about knowing if your investment in new skills is paying off. For thought leaders, it's not just about personal growth. It's about boosting your influence and reach. Calculating ROI means figuring out the costs of learning: ✳️ Time ✳️ Money ✳️ Resources Then, compare these to the benefits. ✳️ Are you more productive? ✳️ Making better decisions? ✳️ Gaining new opportunities? This is about real, tangible returns on your efforts. Investing in yourself should make a noticeable difference in your expertise and impact. Keep it simple. Weigh the costs against the gains and see how your investment stacks up.

Here's how you calculate the return on investment for acquiring new Thought Leadership skills: Identify particular talents that are relevant to your goals and market trends. Establish quantifiable targets for skill use and effect. Track your success with key performance measures such as increased engagement, recognition, and impact. To determine value, monitor input from peers and your target audience. Compare the time and cost spent to the advantages achieved. Examine advances in career prospects, network expansion, and personal brand development. Utilise data to fine-tune your learning plan and maximise ROI.

ROI is important, but it is also important to ask yourself “am I really interested in this?” The individuals that become masters in their craft are interested in it. They have to be, as without interest, drive and passion you are likely to not commit to the time, effort, and drudgery required. Find your strengths interests and passions - mine are business, health & wellness, healing, psychology, metaphysics, martial arts, leadership, discovery, innovation, and adventure. What are your interests and strengths, expand on those.

Learning new skills can transform your professional game. Think about it: are these skills making you solve problems faster? Are you creating more engaging content? The skills you pick should match your goals and be useful enough to make a real impact. For instance, mastering a new programming language? You should be able to craft new products or enhance what you already have, pushing the envelope in your industry. Focus on skills that directly boost your efficiency and creativity, and you'll see measurable success. It's about smart learning for tangible results.

In my opinion, to gauge the ROI of learning new skills for thought leadership, prioritize those that directly enhance problem-solving and content creation aligned with the career goals, measuring success by tangible outcomes like improved efficiency.

The DK effect basically shows that initially we are unconscious of our incompetence, the next phase is hard… we become conscious of it and most quit here. Don’t, now is the time to practice and develop your skills and choose to become better. Soon you will become consciously competent, and eventually it will become automatic!

Está claro que as nova habilidades que deseja aprender devem, de alguma maneira, estar conectadas ao seu plano de médio ou longo alcance e que no seu caso seja empreender, deve sempre se lembrar que o retorno não virá da noite para o dia!

Networking is a key part of ROI that we often ignore. As you gain new skills, you’ll meet mentors, peers, and professionals who share your interests. These connections can lead to collaborations, job offers, and speaking gigs. A strong professional network is priceless and should be part of your ROI calculation. It’s not just about your knowledge, but who you know and who knows you as a thought leader.

Growing your network is important to expand your reach, however, the quality of your network is key. Is your network engaged and contributing to your content? Are you making it easy for your network to connect and create discussions and community? These will help amplify your reach and knowledge transfer.

Esse ponto deve ser bem destacado, ao mudar de ramo de atividade na área comercial, meu aprendizado foram com 2 mentores fantásticos, me despertaram a paixão pelos meios de pagamento, mostrando a sua importância para qualquer tipo de comércio e como ele pode fazer a diferença em um negócio e com isso a minha rede (network) se ampliou de uma forma fantástica, gratidão a Karlla Jacques e Anclizio Marcos.

Let's talk about influence. When new skills boost your ability to sway others, it's gold. You see it in more likes, shares, and comments on your posts. Or maybe you’re getting asked to speak at big events. Even better, you notice your follower count climbing with people hungry for your insights. If picking up a new skill makes your voice louder and your reach wider, that's a win. Your influence is your superpower. Is there anything that sharpens it? Totally worth it. So, invest in yourself, and watch your impact grow.

I believe there is an art to influencing others. I am also reminded of the Seinfeld episode where George states “It’s not a lie if you believe it!” Now I don’t advocate lying but the example shows the power of belief. So if you are not 100% certain, and if you state this for a future event you are lying (case in point Covid), so knowing that you don’t know, why not assume to believe the best for yourself. It is far better than believing the worst.

Um dos maiores temas para se levar em consideração em um projeto ou operação em andamento é a autoridade sobre o tema, um ROI que somente suas habilidades podem trazer para você, logo quando investe seu tempo em uma nova área de conhecimento, não só amplia sua mente e horizontes como também o seu valor no mercado e agora é a hora de aprender mais sobre IA's. Quem possuir esse conhecimento em pouco tempo fará a diferença no mercado de trabalho e na vida das pessoas, direta ou indiretamente.

1 - Increased Engagement A) Monitor engagement with your content. B) Look for more comments, likes, and shares. C) Measure the growth in your audience interaction. 2 - More Speaking Invitations A) Track the number of industry event invitations. B) Note any increase in requests for your insights. C) Assess the reach and impact of your presentations. 3 - Growing Followers A) Observe the growth in your follower count. B) Identify how many new followers seek your expertise. C) Measure the influence of your new skills on audience expansion.

Learning new skills isn't just about career perks; it's also a goldmine for personal growth. Trust me, investing in yourself boosts confidence, nurtures a growth mindset, and builds resilience. These traits are crucial for becoming a thought leader. Even if a skill doesn’t seem professionally relevant right away, its impact on your well-being and ability to inspire is priceless. Personal growth fuels your journey. It’s not just about getting ahead at work; it’s about thriving in life. So, don't just aim for professional wins — embrace the whole package and watch yourself flourish.

When I was a child I remember going on family trips. During the car ride we basically had three options for entertainment: CBC radio, my parent’s music, and my dad’s self improvement tapes. The concept stuck and soon I began doing the same, less CBC radio for the most part. One of the motivational speakers was a guy named Zig Ziglar and he preached about the concept of audio university, and that you could learn the equivalent of a year and a half of post secondary, listening to audiobooks in the car. I started this practice fairly consistently around the age of 19 and it has stuck. One of the most valuable things I learned at a young age during family vacations and long car rides.

1 - Boosted Confidence A) Recognize the increase in your self-assurance. B) Note how new skills enhance your leadership presence. C) Reflect on how confidence impacts your thought leadership. 2 - Promoting a Growth Mindset A) Embrace challenges as opportunities for learning. B) Foster a mindset that values continuous improvement. C) See how new skills contribute to your adaptability. 3 - Increased Resilience A) Identify how new skills help you handle setbacks. B) Measure improvements in your problem-solving abilities. C) Assess how resilience strengthens your thought leadership.

The art of monetizing ideas, side gigs, and personal interest passions is immensely rewarding. You also do not have to be an expert in the skill/field you are monetizing. Example: say you can play the piano and an intermediate/advanced level - you can teach piano to beginners. Viola! Welcome to entrepreneurship!

1 - Branching into New Areas A) Explore new areas of expertise. B) Track the opportunities that arise from your expanded skill set. C) Measure the impact of these new ventures on your career. 2 - Starting Business Ventures A) Identify how new skills support entrepreneurial efforts. B) Track the success of new business initiatives. C) Assess the role of your skills in driving business growth. 3 - Leading Innovation A) Observe how new skills enable you to pioneer new ideas. B) Measure the influence of your innovations within your industry. C) Track the recognition and accolades received for your contributions.

Be sure to keep continual connections with those key individuals that are your raving fans and your top supporters. Those individuals in your circle will help you share your story with others. Industry & trade associations and chambers of commerce affiliation will help too, but you need to become involved!