537 - What Are The Risks of Putting Myself Out There (Criticism, Backlash, Controversy)?
Criticism and backlash are real risks for CEOs putting their voice out there. But staying silent is riskier. Learn how to share your opinions strategically, align them with your business, and build trust while protecting your reputation.
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What Are The Risks of Putting Myself Out There (Criticism, Backlash, Controversy)?
For many CEOs, the idea of sharing opinions publicly comes with hesitation. Criticism, backlash, or controversy can feel like threats to reputation and stability. But in today’s landscape, the bigger risk is staying silent. Thought leadership is no longer optional; it is the foundation of visibility, credibility, and growth.
1. Silence limits your business.
Without the CEO’s voice in the market, your company remains locked in its current position. You can hire more salespeople, invest in marketing funnels, or expand campaigns, but none of these replace the unique trust that comes when the leader speaks with authority.
2. Visibility builds trust.
When you share your views, you do more than broadcast an opinion. You position yourself and your company as credible authorities in the industry. Customers, partners, and investors want to know the person behind the business. They want to hear from the leader who carries the vision.
3. Control the narrative.
You don’t need to share every controversial thought. Thought leadership is about intentional alignment. Focus on opinions that reflect your business values, align with industry trends, and address real-world challenges. If a perspective feels unnecessarily polarising or off-message, you can choose to withhold it. Authority comes from clarity, not chaos.
4. Pushback signals relevance.
No leader builds influence without facing criticism. Backlash often means your message is cutting through the noise. The key is balance: be bold enough to stand for something, while ensuring your opinions are consistent with your strategy and your company’s mission.
Final Thought
The risks of putting yourself out there are real, but the risk of hiding is far greater. By showing up consistently, framing your message with purpose, and aligning it with your business strategy, you not only protect your reputation but also expand your influence. Visibility is not a gamble. It’s a leadership responsibility.
Highlights:
00:00 The Risks and Rewards of Sharing Opinions as a CEO
00:34 Balancing Opinions with Business Context
01:01 When to Hold Back on Sharing Opinion
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Transcript:
There are a lot of risk when I put my opinion out there as the CEO of a business and thought leader. Yes, but there is more risk of you not showing up because if you're not showing up, you're limiting the business where it is right now. Yes, you can hire more salespeople, you can build out more marketing funnels and strategies, but the trust that you build as CEO of a company is tremendous as an opportunity.
So the risk that you put your opinion out there, I think is negated by the upside that you have. And the critical thing is you can always decide what opinion you put out there. It don't need to be a hundred percent the most crazy opinion that you have. It need to fit to your business. It need to fit to the context of what's going on in the world right now. And yes, if it is maybe a little bit on the pushy side, it's okay because we as individuals have opinions and we should share them. And if it's a little bit on the edge, your opinion, it's maybe good not to share it or consider yourself. Is that.