Social Media and Leadership

Social media isn’t just for scrolling and sharing—it’s a leadership platform whether we realize it or not. Every post, comment, and like tells a story about who we are and what we value. In a digital age, leaders don’t just shape culture in boardrooms or pulpits—they influence people from their phones.

Influence in the Open
One of the unique realities of leadership in a digital world is visibility. Social media puts leadership on display 24/7. That doesn’t mean we need to perform or pretend—it means we have an opportunity to model integrity, compassion, clarity, and consistency in real time.

Paul told the Corinthian church, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1, NIV). If people were to follow our online example, would it lead them toward Christ or just more noise?

Your Feed, Your Voice
Jesus said in Luke 6:45, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (NIV) In today's context, that applies just as much to our keyboards. What we post reveals what we treasure. Whether you lead a church, a team, a classroom, or just your family, your feed is an extension of your voice. What you share, celebrate, or amplify tells people what matters to you. As leaders, we should:

• Use our platforms to encourage, not tear down
• Share hope, not just hot takes
• Reflect our real lives, not a filtered version of perfection
• Be as thoughtful with our comments as we are with our conversations

Leading in the Tension
We all wrestle with the balance of authenticity and discretion. Should we be transparent? Should we stay neutral? Should we engage at all? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here are a few guiding principles:

• Ask before you post – Is this helpful? Is this true? Will this reflect Jesus well?
• Don’t substitute posting for pastoring – Relationships still matter more than reach
• Be aware of your audience – Your post might hit different than you intend
• Let grace lead – You don’t have to comment on everything, but when you do, do it in love

What Would Jesus Post?
Imagine Jesus with a smartphone. He wouldn’t be afraid to speak truth, but He’d do it with love. He’d probably share stories of redemption, snapshots of grace, and real moments that reflect the heart of the Father. That’s our aim, too—not just using social media, but redeeming it as a tool for encouragement, truth, and connection.

Whether you have 50 followers or 50,000, someone is watching. Your leadership influence extends further than you think. Social media isn’t the end-all-be-all, but it is a tool—and like any tool, it can build or break, uplift or undo. Let’s use it wisely.