The AIT Competency Model™ defines the distinct competencies necessary for influential thought leaders in this emerging and complex profession. This career path demands diverse expertise and the willingness to wear many hats.
Successful influencers and thought leaders strive to master four roles with 15 capabilities in their journey. Click on a role to see the core competencies you want to grow.
This competency model was developed through surveying and researching influencers and thought leaders globally.
Why a Global AIT Competency Model™?
The model serves multiple purposes for influential thought leaders.
Career Development. The model can help you define a clear set of knowledge, skills and behaviors to determine your current proficiency, and this data provides a platform to create an individual development plan.
Professional Standards. The model provides a set of standards for Influencers and Thought Leaders as an emerging profession and can clarify expectations for impactful results.
The Association of Influencers and Thought Leaders aims to help likeminded people to set attainable goals, develop a plan of action, and to have the support of a community of fellow creatives.
The following 3 competencies encompass the capabilities to grow your reach, thus influencing at scale.
Creating Short Form Content
The skills to write, design, and/or produce compelling media appropriate for your chosen social media channel(s), at a consistent, meaningful frequency in ways that speak to your audience.
Examples: being able to create videos, podcasts, or social media posts that get engagement
Mastering Social Media Platforms
The knowledge of how your chosen social media platform(s) work behind the scenes and the technical skills for how to stand out
Examples: SEO, tagging, referral relationships, etc.
Managing Community
The skills to build a strategy with intentional focus on growing followership and their interaction with you.
The following 3 competencies encompass the capabilities to grow your authority via unique thought leadership.
Engaging Speaking & Publishing Opportunities
The knowledge and skills to navigate the systems behind paid speaking opportunities and publishing processes.
Developing Your Unique POV
Reflecting on and articulating expertise in an area into a clear, definite, original, unique point of view, that people want and need to hear, but may not be common.
Includes the readiness to share potentially controversial ideas.
Researching & Producing Complex Content
Developing books, training, speeches, in-depth podcasts, movies or other longer form content using researching, storytelling, logical organization, complex idea simplification, synthesis, and intellectual property development skills.
The following 4 competencies encompass the capabilities to execute and operate your work as a business.
Sales & Marketing Expertise
The skills and techniques to convert your community into clients through building a brand and sales funnels.
Business Model & Strategy Expertise
The ability to envision, develop and make decisions aligned to a strong business model including a value proposition, target audience descriptions, revenue streams, consumer channels, and mission/vision.
Business Systems & Management Expertise
The technical skills for basic business operating tools such as accounting, web conferencing, relationship management, and project management.
Scaling & Automation Expertise
The skills to manage your business at scale via automation of tasks/processes, recruiting freelancer or full time team members, and/or leveraging strategic partnerships.
The following 5 competencies encompass the capabilities that especially support the well-being of solopreneurs.
Sustaining Motivation
Creating resilient avenues that leverage your grit and passion while maintaining consistent accountability, discipline, and patience in execution.
Finding and Sharing Authenticity
Tapping into your vulnerability to uncover your purpose and align your inner and outer stories. Courageously sharing with others, despite how controversial or risky it may feel.
Connecting Heart to Heart
The ability to move and connect deeply with others through displaying strong emotional intelligence, empathy, compassion, psychological understanding, communication and people skills.
Fostering Learning & Change Mindsets
Actively engaging your drive to learn, experiment, and be curious so you stay on the leading edge of your purpose.
Navigating Anxiety
The skills to effectively cope and navigate the range of anxieties solopreneurs face, including uncertainty, ambiguity, faith, trust, loneliness, indecisiveness, imposter syndrome, among many others.
Follow These Steps
Action is easy when you have the right framework. Discover the knowledge and skills that will empower the growth and development of professional influencers and thought leaders.
Take the self-assessment to measure your skills and knowledge in influence, thought leadership, business owner, and thriving individual.
Review your results to determine where you may want to focus your growth. Keep the results for your records so you can track your progress.
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