How to Become One of the World's Most Influential Management Thinkers

Think you're one of the most influential management thinkers? Odds are you aren't (no offense) -- at least not according to Sun Media's 2007 Global Ranking. At the top of the list is CK Prahalad, who developed the concept of core competencies and wrote several groundbreaking books on corporate strategy. Prahalad is the first Indian-born thinker to claim the title. Bill Gates, Alan Greenspan, Michael Porter, and Gary Hamel complete the top five.

Thinkers 50 authors Des Dearlove and Stuart Crainer say the list's compilation "is not an exact science." They received over 3,500 votes through their website and narrowed the list down to 100 contenders looking for the following: originality of ideas, practicality of ideas, presentation style, written communication, loyalty of followers, business sense, international outlook, rigor of research, access to ideas and a "guru factor."

Perhaps you were number 51 and just missed it by a hair. The voting's already begun for 2009, so what are you waiting for? If you're not sure where to begin, perhaps these twelve steps will help you pave a path.

(The Thinker image courtesy of Manufacturer, cc 2.0)