Robert Common of Beekeeper House: Five Things You Should Do To Become a Thought Leader In Your Industry

Use your voice! You have to be willing to put the weekend work in. I have written countless articles, featured in podcasts, written in academic journals,that led to invitations to speak at international forums, boosting my profile and the organization’s (and my) reputation. This takes time, thought, energy, and commitment.

As a part of our series about how to become known as a thought leader in your industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Robert Common. Robert is a globally recognized clinical trauma therapist with a doctorate and a master’s in social work. With decades of experience in mental health and social services, he specializes in gender, sexuality, and diversity. As the CEO and Director of Beekeeper House, a leading mental health and wellness organization in Thailand and Sri Lanka, he oversees a medically licensed treatment center that integrates clinical psychology with Eastern philosophy to address addiction, mental health conditions, and behavioral challenges.

Thank you for taking the time to speak with us! Our readers are eager to learn more about you. Could you provide some background information about yourself?

Of course. I am a slightly strange mix of being a social worker and psychologist by training, and I was brought up living in Norway on a little island! My training has served me well in terms of how I run my companies, in that we are firmly rooted in the ethics and principles that guide the work of psychologists and social workers. I have also found that running a mental health company, and being trained and qualified in the area of focus gives my better insight into management of the different team, especially the clinical work. In my previous work in not the non-profit sector, I travelled a great deal, in some of the poorest war-torn parts of the world, so working in over 20 countries has given me not only some extraordinary experience, it has also given me some very different perspectives on life in general. I have run large multi-million dollar projects in developing countries, and that kind of exposure and management style can give you invaluable experience.

What establishes you as an authority on thought leadership? Could you briefly share your expertise with our readers?

I once hear a great leader say that the biggest threat to leadership is a lack of inquisitiveness, that stuck with me since I was 23 years old. I have been working in my field for over two decades, in over 20 countries and working on both for-profit and non-profit. That has given me diverse experiences and perspectives. Plus, I am curious; I am still researching my subject at university, and I am not far off 50 years old.

Can you recall a funny mistake you made when you were first starting out? What lesson did you learn from it?

We decided to rescue two macaw parrots for our first site, that was a ride. They escaped in our first group staff meeting and all hell let loose. From a business point of view. When we took on our first site, we overlooked access to power as we assumed it had it; we then found out after signing the lease it would often go out for weeks, which is a big problem for medical facilities, and we had to buy a hospital-sized generator. That wasn’t in the budget, and it’s a big budget line item. Do your research in detail.

What are the most significant disruptions you foresee in your industry over the next five years, and how can businesses adapt to these changes?

The industry needs to be regulated more effectively without doubt, private mental health services don’t get the attention they need and deserve. However, we have seen the VC’s move into the sector recently and they pose a risk as their metrics vary, but mostly focus on ROI for investors. We are in danger of becoming over-privatized and over-consolidated.

Can you explain the benefits of becoming a thought leader? Why is it valuable to invest time and resources into this?

Being a thought leader, especially in a smaller sector like mine, allows you to give voice to issues that perhaps don’t receive the oxygen they deserve. It also gives you the latitude to shift the narrative around issues such as accountability, patient rights, ethics and responsible business practices.

Can you share an example of a significant challenge you faced in your career and how you leveraged innovative thinking to overcome it?

The answer to this is sadly profoundly simple. I worked for in the non-profit sector, and my astonishingly wonderful team were involved in an accident that led to the loss of several beautiful lives. I was devastated and utterly broken. My thinking was clear, turn this loss into something beautiful that heals others, which gave birth to my company. Those principles and the memories of those we lost run through the essence of the company to this day.

Now that we have covered that, we’d love to hear your advice on becoming a thought leader. Can you share five strategies that someone should follow to gain recognition as a thought leader in their industry? Please include examples or stories from your own experience for each strategy.

1. Thought leaders are seen as authorities because they deeply understand their field and offer fresh perspectives. Ask yourself if you honestly feel you feel qualified, and if there is some lingering doubt, you’re probably fine. Self-doubt means you’re curious, it can also keep you on your toes and make sure you stay abreast of whats going on in the industry you work in. When I worked on multi-million pound grants for child protection and social services, I frequently collaborated with other organizations to co-author reports and policy briefs, partnering with UN agencies and academic institutions validated our work and broadened its impact.
2. Use your voice! You have to be willing to put the weekend work in. I have written countless articles, featured in podcasts, written in academic journals,that led to invitations to speak at international forums, boosting my profile and the organization’s (and my) reputation. This takes time, thought, energy, and commitment.
3. Demonstrate authenticity and values in all that you do. If you’re going to be an authority, I think you need to also do things differently and disrupt things or shake things up a bit. Every sector needs to modernise and evolve. Don’t be afraid to say what needs to be said, but be respectful and ensure you have consulted and have allies on your side. I once spoke at a conference on a deeply controversial area of mental health and got a lot of flack; I wouldn’t take back a word I said as I was balanced and I was proud to have challenged a prevailing but flawed narrative.
4. Network relentlessly but strategically and with precision. Often, the assumption is that our competitors won’t want to engage with us or have an agenda, but we are all in the same tent and working together on important issues can bring with it much more common ground than one might realise. Plus it’s a flawed assumption. Tribalism never gets you anywhere. I have always networked with the greatest competitors and thankfully enjoy productive relationships with them based on mutual respect.
5. Be kind. It costs nothing and is often overlooked. If you are in a position of being a thought leader, that means lots of people likely look up to you. Be kind to them and respectful, especially the more junior they are. Be an inspiration. They are after all the the thought leaders of tomorrow and you might just learn from them. I have gleaned much from more junior and less experienced individuals that have taught me a great deal.

How do you foster a culture of innovation within your organization, and what practices have you found most effective in encouraging creative thinking among your team?

As a team we are passionate about how we can do things better for our patients. They are at the centre of off all that we do. I encourage the team more broadly to bring ideas to the table for discussion; this fosters innovation. I have found that having a culture where anyone can share an idea without fear is critical. I can be very self-deprecating at times as some of the ideas I have had have fallen flat, but the team see me do this and then feel more comfortable bringing their ideas to the table. This has led to some seriously cutting-edge innovation in terms of technology with the app we have developed, which is now up for various healthcare awards.

Who do you think is an outstanding example of a thought leader? What specific qualities impress you about this person?

Dr Bessel van der Kolk without doubt, he has shifted the paradigm in the world of mental health and whereas there are many others such Gabor Mate, and even Viktor Frankl the work of Bessel in his book the Body Keeps the Score is game-changing. He is a medical doctor, an academic, a visionary and passionate about the science behind what he is saying. He has challenged decades-old held beliefs in mental health in a profound way and very forward-thinking way.

How do you stay informed about the latest trends and developments in your field, and how do you incorporate this knowledge into your strategic planning?

I remain attached to a university as an academic researcher so that helps. In all honestly, I am a voracious reader and deeply curious and I am always looking for what serves my patients or clients better. We are agile planners, we strategically plan the corporate side but services always remain agile to developments and how we can incorporate them into our work.

Some people feel that the term “thought leader” is overused and has lost its impact. What are your thoughts on this?

Many do, and perhaps they have a point. Phrases and words come and go into being in vogue. What matters is the substance of what it means to be one and to a degree the responsibility that brings in today’s world of misinformation, irrespective of the name. Call it what you want. But what matters is who is saying what, and who is listening.

How do you balance short-term business goals with long-term strategic vision, especially in a rapidly changing market?

I anchor decisions to my company’s core values and mission. We never deviate from these. Our ethics are literally our compass. The market is evolving quickly and there are now too many variables to know where it is going exactly. We know we need to embrace technology and evolving practices to remain current, but we won’t sacrifice our ethics.

Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? How has it been relevant in your life?

Make sure you don’t just manage the company’s PR, manage your own PR in the company. People often forget what their image is like in the company amongst peers and counterparts. I have never forgotten that piece of advice.

Many influential figures in business and entertainment follow this column. Is there someone you’d love to have lunch or breakfast with? They might notice if we tag them.

Probably Professor Martin Seligman, his work on Positive Psychology; learned helplessness and toxic positivity is fascinating.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

I mainly post on my company website https://beekeeperhouse.com/articles/ and my IG @robcommon

Thank you so much for your insights. This was very insightful and meaningful.