When it comes to thought leadership, are you ”sitting in the catbird seat”? The question you might ask is, ”Would you want to be sitting there?”

The answer should be yes, but I’ve found that Americans are more familiar with that English phrase than Brits or others as it was the title of a popular short story by U.S. humorist James Thurber called ”The Catbird Seat.”

You can read more about Thurber’s short story and other uses of the term on Wikipedia. But here I’m using ”sitting in the catbird seat” in its original meaning of ”being in an enviable position.”

What puts a thought leader into the catbird seat in the first place? It’s all about visibility. To be seen as sitting in a catbird seat, you must, first of all, be seen. When your expertise as a thought leader on a particular topic is noticed, your reputation grows and so does your influence.

Do you have a plan for improving your IQ (your Influence Quotient) for 2013, a plan that includes increasing your visibility at trade conferences or in major publications? How will you ensure you spend 2013 sitting in the catbird seat? Ask, assess, then act. We’re here to help!