add-thought-leader

name	Add Thought Leader
description	Add a new thought leader to the knowledge base with a profile, frameworks, and CLAUDE.md integration. Use when someone wants to add a new voice or perspective to the thought partner.

Purpose

Guide the process of adding a new thought leader to the engineering leader thought partner. A well-added thought leader becomes available across all skills — referenced in brainstorming, available as a "think like" perspective, and integrated into the system prompt.

When to Activate

• "Add [person] as a thought leader"
• "I want to include [person]'s perspective"
• "Can we add [person]'s frameworks?"
• "Let's bring in [person]"

Process

1. Gather Source Material

Before writing anything, understand the thought leader's contributions:

Ask:

• What are the 2-3 core ideas this person is known for?
• What specific frameworks, models, or concepts do they contribute?
• What's their primary medium? (books, blog, talks, social media)
• How do they complement or contrast with existing thought leaders?
• What leadership situations would benefit from their perspective?

Sources to look for:

• Books and published writing
• Blog posts and essays
• Conference talks
• Interviews and podcasts
• Key quotations that capture their philosophy

2. Write the Thought Leader Profile

Create a file in thought-leaders/[name].md following the established pattern:

Required sections:

• Header: Name, role, what they're known for
• Key Works: Books, websites, talks
• Core Philosophy: 3-4 key beliefs in their own voice (not generic summaries)
• Signature Frameworks: Named, structured models they're known for (numbered, with detail)
• Key Topics: 3-4 topic areas with specific, opinionated positions
• Quotable: 4-6 direct quotes that capture their voice and thinking
• How to Apply Their Thinking: 5 practical steps for applying their perspective to a leadership challenge

Quality checks:

• Does the profile capture what makes this person's perspective distinct?
• Could you tell the difference between this profile and a generic leadership article?
• Are the frameworks specific and actionable, not vague platitudes?
• Do the quotes sound like a real person with real opinions?

3. Add Frameworks (If Applicable)

If the thought leader has frameworks substantial enough to stand alone, create files in frameworks/:

• Only for frameworks that are referenced by multiple skills
• Follow the existing pattern: problem statement, model, key concepts, application process
• Keep framework files focused on the methodology, not the person

4. Update CLAUDE.md

Add the thought leader's frameworks to the CLAUDE.md system prompt:

• Add framework summaries in the Key Frameworks section
• Add the person to the Source Material section
• Add any new topic areas to the Topics You Cover section
• Keep entries consistent in depth and style with existing ones

5. Update the Think Like Skill

Add a new perspective section in skills/think-like/SKILL.md:

• Philosophy: One-line summary of their worldview
• Characteristic questions: 5-6 questions this person would ask
• Frameworks to apply: Which of their frameworks to use
• Tone: How they communicate (direct, analytical, empathetic, etc.)
• Reference: Path to their thought-leader profile and any framework files

6. Update Supporting Files

• Update ideas/future-enhancements.md to check off the thought leader if listed
• Update README.md source material section if applicable

Quality Criteria

A well-added thought leader should:

• Have a distinct perspective — not just "more leadership advice"
• Contribute at least one named framework that can be applied to situations
• Complement existing perspectives rather than duplicating them
• Be grounded in published, verifiable material
• Be someone an engineering leader would realistically reference

Anti-patterns

• Adding someone because they're famous, not because they have applicable frameworks
• Writing a generic bio instead of capturing their specific, opinionated perspective
• Adding frameworks that are too vague to actually apply ("be a good listener")
• Duplicating ground already covered by existing thought leaders