welcome to own your impact. The podcast designed to help you transform your expertise into a platform of purpose and influence. I'm your host, Macy Robison, and I'm here to help you uncover your authentic voice, create actionable frameworks and build a scalable platform that turns your ideas into meaningful impact. 0:20 Welcome back. I am thrilled to continue our exploration of thought leadership archetypes. Now, if you've been following along over the past several episodes, we have been diving into these distinct patterns of expression that shape how successful thought leaders naturally communicate their expertise and how that extends into the rest of their thought leadership platform. So far, we've talked about the resident orator, the wisdom writer, the Digital Learning architect, the experience facilitator, the transformational guide and the strategic advisor. And you can check in the show notes. Go back a couple episodes. Listen to the rest of these if you are interested in diving a little bit deeper. Today, that deep dive is going to continue by exploring two more archetypes, the visual thought architect and the research innovator. These two thought leadership archetypes represent completely different approaches to creating clarity and impact, one through visual frameworks that they create that make complex ideas instantly understandable, and the other through translating evidence into practical applications. If you've ever found yourself naturally drawing out concepts in order to explain them. Or if you love diving into research and making it accessible and practical for other people to use this episode might help you discover where your authentic genius lies. Let's start by talking about the visual thought architect. This archetypes primary expression comes through the visual representation of ideas. They're able to translate complex concepts into frameworks and models that create immediate comprehension. What I think about the core resonance of a visual thought architect. A couple of things stand out. They have the natural ability to think visually, spatially organize things. They can literally see how ideas connect and relate in space. And then they have talent for translating those concepts into clear visuals, whether they draw them out, whether they use a computer to do it, they know what it needs to look like, and they're able to integrate this esthetic sensibility with their analytical thinking abilities in a really unique way and the way they communicate that their whole communication style is about visuals and visual processing strengths. So here's what I mean. I have a friend and a colleague. His name, we're gonna call him Jeff. He ran a traditional agency for many years, and I remember being on a call with him one day and having this realization that completely changed how I saw this expression mode, idea of core resonance. I just figured it was speaking and writing. But man, when I was talking with him about a challenge that he was facing in his business, and how he was thinking about how thought leadership was going to be a part of growing his business, I noticed that his favorite part of working with clients was when they hit an inflection point or needed to navigate a change, because that meant he got to draw something. He did a lot of it on computer, but still, it was like, I get to make a visual. And that was so exciting for him. And during our call, he started sharing his screen, and he was showing me visual after visual he had created to help illustrate these complex concepts for his clients, to help them understand what strategy he was laying out for them. Every time he walked through one of these visuals, his energy shifted. He was so excited about creating them. He was so excited about explaining them. And his ideas became crystal clear in a way that regular conversations didn't quite capture it. It almost took things to a brand new level, and it just became obvious to me he wasn't primarily a writer, necessarily, even though he's a great writer, wasn't necessarily a resonant orator, even though he's done some keynote speaking, his primary thought leadership archetype was visual thought architect, through and through, because that natural genius came from creating visual frameworks that made complex ideas instantly understandable. He's since embraced this archetype, and it's taken him in a completely different direction with his business. It's so exciting to see what's going on, but visuals and strategy are really at the core of all of it, and from my observation, I'm seeing that clients are hiring specifically for this unique ability to translate complexity into clarity through his visuals. Now if you're wondering if you might be a visual thought architect, a couple of questions to ask yourself. Do you naturally just sketch out ideas when explaining concepts? Is that the way that you have to help people understand what's going on? Do you think in terms of spatial relationships between ideas? Do you feel most confident communicating with visual support? Do you gravitate toward mind maps, diagrams, visual models? If you're nodding along, you might be a visual thought architect. Now here's how they develop their content, their transformational IP. For this archetype, their intellectual property centers on distinct visual models that organize complex ideas so they'll have principles. 5:00 Have practices, but the core thing that they want to create and share are probably visual processes or proprietary frameworks that are visual principles are often even visual metaphors that capture those core concepts really. They they excel, though, in capturing and displaying visual processes. So back to Visual thought architects. Think about David sibitt with his visual facilitation methodologies and visual tools, or Dan Rome with his back of the napkin approach to visual thinking, or one of my favorites, and I got to see him present. It was so fascinating to watch him share some of his visuals. Alex Osterwalder from strategyizer, with his business model canvas and value proposition canvas. What makes their examples and these visuals so powerful is they it isn't just that they use visuals. Is that the visual representation is central to how they think and communicate. So when I saw Alex present, I got to go to thinkers 50 with one of my clients in London. He was presenting as part of the day of education before they had their big award ceremony at night, and he was walking the whole room through how to create a business model canvas. And it wasn't just a nice diagram that we had in front of us on the table. It was a visual thinking tool that we could interact with and and it fundamentally changed how the folks at our table were able to conceptualize and develop business models from scratch. We were able to work on it in real time. Instead of just talking through what we want the business model to be, we were able to see it in this visual form. It was printed out on a piece of paper in front of us. We were able to interact with it because of the visual that Alex had created, and that was so much more powerful than talking about an abstract concept of how a business model works for their central platform, visual thought, architects really need a visually rich platform that showcases their framework portfolio. It might include interactive examples that demonstrate their visual methodologies, definitely a lot of pictures, case studies showing application of a visual approach, resource libraries of visual thinking tools, maybe even a visual blog or content stream. Having those visuals front and center is critical for the central platform and connection strategies, as well ways to leverage visual content by sharing ideas on design friendly platforms, doing live visual facilitation at high visibility events. I've seen folks like taki Moore, who's a coach from Australia. He very much has this as part of how he teaches. He's always drawing visuals as he's teaching in real time. It's very much a part of how he facilitates a session with his clients, or how he teaches his live workshops, and that's a great way to connect, because you're drawn in with the visuals that he is creating, and you're able to instantly see how the concepts that he's teaching matter to you growing a million dollar practice as a coach, which is what he talks about. So that's a great way to connect. I've seen folks who create, like visual notes at conferences, do time lapse or process videos of their creation. Anything that demonstrates that you're taking thought or words or ideas and translating them into visuals is going to be a great connection strategy, either on social media or borrowing someone else's platform. And as for commercialization, visual thought, architects typically build their business model around things like that, visually facilitating strategic events, developing frameworks for other people, walking them through processes where visual frameworks are the centerpiece of all of it. You could license visual tools or publish books on visual approaches. That's what strategyizer has done. If you look at their website, they have workshops walking you through their tools that they've created. Their books are beautiful and very visually appealing. It really aligns with that thought leadership archetype. But the main thing that distinguishes a visual thought architect from other archetypes is that the creation of those visual frameworks and systems isn't just one aspect of what they do. It's their primary mode of expression, and it's the core of their thought leadership contribution. It's the thing that you think about when you think of them. Let's shift to something completely different, the research innovator. This archetypes primary expression comes through investigating and translating evidence into accessible ideas frameworks for practical application. A research innovator really is naturally curious and has an investigative approach to the ideas that they want to explore and then share. They have a really remarkable ability to take complex data and translate it into practical insights. They maintain a balanced credibility between academic and practical worlds. I mentioned thinkers 50 earlier. A lot of the thought leaders that get recognized as management thinkers and leaders by that organization are in this research in a. 10:00 Later category, because they're at universities, they're publishing papers, they're doing research, and then they often have books that are commercially available, that make those ideas more accessible to the general public, and that's how they're able to maintain that credibility between academic and practical worlds. They have a very clear explanatory style that maintains accuracy, and they make research accessible. I'm working with a client right now who is through and through a research innovator. She is brilliant, she has a PhD. She's had some really prestigious positions where she's had to do white papers and research, and is currently developing, taking her research, taking her consulting that she's done on product development and is launching, as an entrepreneur her own company, following her frameworks while documenting what's happening. So all of that can go in this book that is going to be amazing about how to create products that people want to buy, and how, like a foolproof way to do it, and her frameworks are spot on. I'm so excited for her to get this book out into the world, because it's so aligned with the research she's been able to do, and her really unique ability to take that, all that data that nobody wants to read, and make it accessible, make it easy to understand, so that it can be used by other folks. So if you're wondering if you might be a research innovator, things you want to think about are, do you naturally seek out evidence before forming your opinion? Do you love translating complex findings into practical applications for other people so they can understand it? Are you energized by investigating topics really deeply and sharing what you uncover, what you discover, do you try to maintain credibility with academic and practical audiences? Now, if these questions resonate, you might be a research innovator. Primarily, you're going to have to lean into writing. You're going to have to lean into presenting. But as far as your core, how you seek out, organize, develop your thought leadership has to do with the research and then turning it into practical application. So when it comes to that, when it comes to that transformational IP, research innovators develop content that is centered on research backed fundamentals that also have practical relevance. They're not just doing research for research sake. They're really looking for ideas that can be practical and helpful. So then their principles are evidence based, foundations that can guide thinking and action. Practices are research validated approaches to common challenges, processes are often implementation methodologies that are supported by research, and frameworks are models that organize research into applicable systems. So some thought leaders, you might have heard of Angela Duckworth, her book on grit, ton of research assessment tools, practical applications for that concept, and she's gone on and is continuing to write and continuing to research. Carol Dweck is known for her mindset research, and her research from that book has gone far and wide. Daniel Pink is another research as motivation, and is able to take several of the things that he's researched in depth. I believe his background was as a reporter, but he really takes this research innovator approach to creating books that can be helpful and content can be helpful to folks who don't want to read the research and do all of that. And what makes these examples so powerful is, like I said, they don't just reference research. They create their own studies. They translate research into practical, real world application, and maintain the integrity of the evidence while making it accessible. They really are able to straddle both of those worlds for the essential platforms research innovators need credibility focused platforms that have a strong research foundation to them. You should be able to look at their website and tell that they come from both of these worlds. It might include interactive tools demonstrating research applications. One I really love is the authors of Blue Ocean Strategy. They have a lot of interactive tools on their site. We can make sure we link that in the show notes, so you can take a look at that. A resource library organized by practical application is another thing you could have on your site, or a knowledge base if you're supporting evidence a white paper. There's a lot of options there, but it really needs to focus on your credibility, the data that you've mined or brought together or created or studied, and how that applies. So that's the central platform now for connection strategies. Usually that connection comes from leveraging academic partnerships and research, researching with other people going on mainstream media shows and publications to talk about complex. 15:00 Findings, a lot of industry. Speaking opportunities are ways that people connect who have this archetype, creating practitioner workshops on implementation, giving expert commentary on development. You'll see people who are research innovators quite often on shows where they're commenting on their area of expertise, whether they're guesting on a podcast, or whether they're being invited on a television show or something like that. And for commercialization, research innovators typically build their business model around publishing their research based books. So again, there's an aspect of writing that needs to be present, but writing isn't how they think. Research is how they think. Having those resources, assessment tools, diagnostic systems, you can they can build training based on their research implementation. They consult, all of them. Consult using evidence based approaches. Often they are corporate executive coaches or develop some sort of corporate program to apply their research findings. But again, it's, it's not the one aspect of their work or one thing they do, it's their primary expression. And the essence of their thought leadership contribution is their ability to take research, do research, translate it into practical application. So when I look at these two archetypes side by side, what's really fascinating is they have different approaches to creating clarity. But the underlying pattern is similar in that both of these archetypes make complex ideas accessible just through different means. The visual thought architect creates clarity through spatial organization, through visual representation, through taking those complicated concepts and making them instantly understandable through the models and the frameworks and the visual things that they create, and then the research innovator creates clarity through translating evidence and turning into practical application, taking that complex research, making it accessible, making it actionable in real world contexts, trying to force a visual thought architect to express themselves through written content would be like asking a painter to express their ideas by playing the piano. It's not that they can't do it. It's just not where their natural genius lies. Same thing, pushing a research innovator to focus primarily on telling inspirational stories or or facilitation first, rather than sharing their evidence based findings, would really diminish their unique contribution to the world. That's why understanding your archetype is so powerful. It gives you permission to embrace your natural strengths and use them, instead of fighting against them or copying and pasting someone else's approach to what you think you should be doing. It helps you align all five components of the resident thought leadership system and give you a place to start so your core residence is able to come into play. You can have a place to start with content. You can have a place to begin with your central platform, your connection strategies and your commercialization model. And when everything in your thought leadership business flows from your natural strength, you're able to create magnetizing impact that feels effortless instead of exhausting. You just attract the right people. They show up, and it's easy, and it should be easy. 18:04 It's not simple, but it's easy because you're creating the right content, building models for your business that feel energizing instead of draining, and that makes all the difference. So let's wrap up here. But I want to call this out again. I've said this in every episode, understanding your archetype for this is not about putting you in a box. It's about finding a place to begin. It's your home base from which you can strategically expand. So a visual thought architect could obviously certainly write articles or deliver speeches. A research innovator can share personal stories. They can even create beautiful visuals. But it's starting with the natural strengths and then expanding thoughtfully from there. So if you've been stuck in your thought leadership journey, or you've been pushing yourself into models that leave you feeling drained instead of energized, I've been teasing this for a while, but I'm really excited to share I've just launched the thought leadership archetype assessment. It's a free assessment that will help you discover and uncover your natural archetype. This isn't just a personality test, it's a diagnostic tool, and you walk through questions to help uncover which of the 10 thought leadership archetypes aligns best with your authentic style, your authentic strengths. Takes about seven minutes, and you'll receive a personalized report that walks through your primary archetype and lists how you scored with all 10 so you can see your secondary archetype and see what might be the next place where you can start to express your strengths when you understand and embrace your natural thought leadership style. You can save years of frustration trying approaches that don't match how you naturally communicate. You can create content with greater ease and flow. You can build a platform that feels energizing instead of draining, and you can stand out in your field with a distinctive voice instead of blending in. The assessment is totally free. It's available at Macy robison.com, forward slash quiz. That's Macy M, A, C, y, r, O, B, i, s, l. 20:00 O n.com 20:01 forward slash quiz. I've also put the link in the show notes if you're driving right now and can't write that down, and I would love for you to check it out and let me know what you think. 20:11 In our next episode, we're going to explore the final two archetypes in my system, the category creator and the principal practitioner. If you're someone who challenges conventional wisdom. If you've listened to all these episodes and thought not me, you're gonna wanna listen to the next episode, because you're probably someone who really loves paradigm shifting perspectives, or if you teach through the lived demonstration of principles from your personal experimentation, you're gonna wanna make sure you are there for this one. But in the meantime, we'd love to have you take the quiz and we'll see you here on the next episode. 20:46 Thank you for joining me on own. Your impact. Remember, there are people out there right now who need exactly what you know, exactly how you'll say it. Your voice matters, your expertise matters, and most importantly, the transformation you can help others create matters. If today's episode resonated with you, I'd love for you to become part of our growing community of thought leaders who are committed to creating meaningful impact. Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review and share this episode with someone you know who is ready to amplify their voice. And if you're ready to dive deeper, visit Macy robison.com for additional resources, frameworks and tools to help you build your thought leadership platform with intention and purpose, and remember, your ideas don't need more luck. Your ideas don't need more volume. Your ideas need a system, and I'm here every week to help you build it. I'm Macy Robison, and this is own. Your impact.