The Helm

Thought leadership tips and strategies

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

Your CEO's reputation is a business asset. #ExecutivePositioning drives media coverage, partnerships, investor confidence, and more. If you're not actively positioning your executives, you're leaving money on the table.

Read more: https://t.co/OWf8gByt0U

#ThoughtLeadership

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

What is a strategic narrative, and how do you create one for your own business?

Take Apple for instance, one of the world’s most well-known brands, that built its strategic narrative around co-founder Steve Jobs’ favourite slogan: “It just works.” Like any good book, brands need a strategic narrative to guide the story and connect with their audience — and that starts with the CEO.

Why? Because a strategic narrative is more than just marketing, it’s the vision, values, and purpose of a company distilled into a story. And like all stories, they’re most powerful when told by a human voice.

Whether it’s Mark Benioff, who famously declared “the death of software,” or Patagonia founder and CEO Yvon Chouinard, who became a champion for the brand’s messaging around environment and CSR, a company’s leader is the one with the credibility, visibility, and authenticity to make the narrative resonate.

If you want your company’s story to stick, it starts with your leadership. Learn more: https://t.co/XmCb82mgEQ

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

We recently released our ultimate guide on thought leadership marketing!

When it comes to building authority through thought leadership, think quality over quantity. This isn’t about simply posting more — it’s about posting something no one else can, consistently.

The ROI of getting it right?

✅ 73% of decision-makers find thought leadership more compelling than traditional marketing materials

✅ 70% of C-suite execs have reconsidered current vendor relationships after reading compelling content

✅ 54% of C-level execs spend 1hr+ on average per week reading thought leadership content

There’s no need to boil the ocean here — start small, pick a channel, and build your momentum. If you’d like to learn more, check out our guide here: https://t.co/z9EiYCiQCc

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

In a sea of founders and CEOs, how do you make sure your voice stands above the rest? With 73% of B2B decision-makers trusting thought leadership content more than standard marketing, how will you stand out?

Learn more: https://t.co/Ny7SJ6DzhQ

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

If you’re pitching to investors, chances are the pitch deck you spent months perfecting will only be seen for less than 5 minutes.

According to the 100/10/1 rule, VCs only review just 10 of every 100 startups that come across their desks… and fund only one of those.

Two-thirds of investors say thought leadership heavily influences their decisions. How will you craft a narrative that’s hard to forget? If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, check out our Helm article: https://t.co/74GmougCHC

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

Ah, the dreaded Zoom meeting. With the average U.S. worker spending 7.5 hours each week in meetings, it’s easy to see why they’ve become the bane of so many professionals.

But if you groan at the words “standup meeting,” maybe you’re not scheduling correctly...

- Target 10 AM–12 PM for critical decisions, the “sweet spot” for decision-making

- To maximize attendance, aim between 2:30 – 3 PM — especially on Tuesdays

- Avoid Monday mornings and pre-8 AM slots to respect catch-up and personal routines

- Cap meetings at 30 minutes and share a clear agenda 24 hours ahead

- Rotating meeting owners will keep everyone engaged and accountable

- Encourage people to turn on their cameras to foster engagement and connection

$37 billion (!) is lost each year to unproductive meetings. To make the most of yours (and your team’s) time, read our Helm article: https://t.co/ZJzEinOY5c

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

In a world where everyone suddenly has an opinion on AI, who’s actually worth listening to? The era of AI hot takes is over — people want depth from professionals who’ve spent years in the field, shaped major innovations, and can break down complex topics in ways that make sense.

We pulled together a shortlist of 10 AI experts who are worth following in 2025. Check it out here: https://t.co/GOjMdXZwel

Who have we left out?

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

These days, private equity deals aren’t just won in the boardroom; they’re won in your LinkedIn feed.

There are over 17K PE firms in the US alone, so standing out from the competition is essential. The difference maker? Effective thought leadership.

75% of decision-makers say thought leadership is more trustworthy than marketing materials, while high quality campaigns can drive up to 14x ROI.

When it comes to content, PE execs have plenty of options for speaking to their audience, including: social media, blogs/newsletters, bylined op-eds, and podcasts.

Some great examples from established firms include @Vista_Equity's Insights for Edge newsletter, as well as @thomabravo's Behind the Deal podcast.

Develop a thought leadership presence, and the capital will follow. If you’re a Private Equity leader, learn how to use thought leadership as a competitive advantage in the latest Helm article: https://t.co/Os3lVq2LWs

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

How often should you post on LinkedIn as a thought leader?

Opinions vary, but 3–5x/week is a sweet spot. The real key is consistency, quality, and engagement.

Do the work, and the algorithm will follow.

Learn more: https://t.co/ZYvpHIpsQ1

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

Some of today’s most successful leaders leverage AI for research purposes or to personalize their content.

But here's the catch: while AI makes for a great teammate, it’s not your stand-in. While AI amplifies your genius. It can’t replace it

https://t.co/zYXkyOYoBy

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

How do you measure the effectiveness of a thought leadership campaign?

Having worked with leaders at a range of leading public and private companies, we understand how important this question is.

Read the latest Helm article to find out: https://t.co/Cl8Zmmmg3T

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

Something you can spot a mile away: Leaders who use LinkedIn to sell themselves, instead of giving value to their followers.

So how do you actually do thought leadership right? Find out in the latest Helm article: https://t.co/gWwbnRymkY

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

CEOs out there: your logo isn’t your most valuable brand asset. You are.

According to LinkedIn, CEOs get 4x more engagement than the average user. But so many execs are still hiding behind corporate accounts, missing out on serious visibility and influence.

In the AI age, it’s never been clearer: people trust people. The most impactful thought leadership campaigns aren’t polished PR efforts; they’re personal, authentic and real.

But while 9 in 10 execs feel thought leadership is critical to building authority, only 20% are effective. So if you're a C-suite exec, learn from our latest guide: https://t.co/YlF1MWzYL2

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

While words like “rizz” and “based” might make you roll your eyes, they’re increasingly becoming part of the modern business lexicon. That’s thanks to Gen Z’s overwhelming reach: they make up over one-third of the world’s population and 25% of the global workforce.

If your team includes Gen Z talent — and chances are, they do — understanding their lexicon isn’t about being cool. It’s about being culturally fluent as a leader.

So get your vibe check on and dive into the wide world of Gen Z vocab, and how it affects your workplace. You might just come away with a new favorite word.

https://t.co/z64zDWjgNx

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

Let’s talk LinkedIn ghostwriters. While many CEOs know the value of having a strong LinkedIn presence, few have the time to post consistently on the platform. That’s where LinkedIn ghostwriters come in.

The catch? Not all ghostwriting is created equal…

It's about striking that perfect balance between professional and personal. The best ghostwriters reflect *your* voice, ideas, and expertise. The result is distinctly you, even if you didn’t labor over every word.

More here: https://t.co/kcqkVD4eTY

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

Choosing a brand strategy consulting firm? Read this first.

Branding is a team effort, so it’s important to find a firm that not only understands your market but also gets what your company is all about. When you're picking your perfect partner, these are the boxes worth checking:

☑️Check out their case studies, not just a pitch deck: Look at their past work, whether their style feels like a fit, and the actual results they’ve delivered.

☑️See if they know your space. A partner who already knows your industry can skip the ramp-up stage and start adding value right away.

☑️Heard of vibe coding? Try vibe partnering. Good branding takes trust and open communication. If it doesn’t feel like a natural fit, it probably isn’t.

☑️Don’t get bait-and-switched: Some firms send in the heavy hitters to win the pitch, then pass the work to junior staff — you want the people with real experience in the room from start to finish.

A great strategic partner will feel like an extension of your leadership team, sparking more creative thinking and helping you lead with purpose and clarity.

Is your company asking the right questions before choosing a brand strategy consulting partner? Read our latest article to find out what to look for… and what to avoid: https://t.co/AQD2w4N1Zz

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

What do @Apple, @Airbnb, and @netflix have in common? They’ve all mastered the art of executive-led storytelling — and it’s become one of their most powerful brand assets.

When people think of brand communication, the first thought that comes to mind may be giant billboards and corporate Twitter accounts. What’s often overlooked is how important executive thought leadership plays a part.

When execs talk publicly about their values, origin stories, or industry insights, it makes the brand feel more human. It builds trust faster than a polished ad campaign ever could — because people connect with people, not logos.

If your brand’s communication strategy doesn’t include your leadership voice, it’s missing an opportunity to build credibility, connection, and competitive edge.

Read our latest article to learn how to do it right: https://t.co/0ifl2oO1bJ

[The Helm @TheHelmMagazine]

Is your personal brand working for you… or against you? If you’re not sure, consider this.

Too many professionals leave their personal brand to chance. They post on social media too infrequently, tweak their LinkedIn profile once every now and then, and hope for the best. But real personal branding isn’t merely about being visible, it’s about being intentional.

Behind every successful leader is a powerful personal brand. And behind that? More often than not, you’ll find a brand strategist working behind the scenes, refining their message and ensuring their brand works for them, not against them.

A brand strategist can help grow your social media audience, as well as boost your strategic messaging, media relations, and reputation management.

Want to learn more about the world of personal branding strategists? Read this: https://t.co/FwtmLCK481