Posting on Social Media

In the private discussion forum for my new online course SHINE (which launched today, woo hoo!!!), I was asked a question about using social media. In the spirit of my theme for 2020, Leak the Content, here is my answer.

For me there are two reasons to post something on social media:

1) To crowdsource information (usually that information comes from people who are generous)

2) To offer something generous and generative

Generous is the key word here.

When I am dealing with #2, my guidelines for myself are:

  1. Create shareable content. (If someone else finds the content valuable enough to share it with someone they care about, I have done my job.)

  2. Start with WHY. (Make sure the post has a very clear intention and reason for existing. Then structure it WHY-HOW-WHAT)

  3. Practice empathy. (In other words, imagine what it might be like to be the person reading the post. How might I reach them in a way that is of service?)

  4. Imagine the “post” button says “Post for all eternity.” (Will my future self be proud of the way I am showing up in this moment?)

I don't always get it right. And when I feel a little weird about something I posted, it is almost always because I have violated one of these rules.

Recently, someone I really respect (let’s call him John) started following me on Instagram. When I saw that he started “liking” a bunch of my posts, I panicked. I quickly started re-reading every single thing I had ever posted on IG. It was a bit ridiculous, and it offered me a moment to step back and ask myself, “Whoa, Jen. What is all of this panic about?”

Unsurprisingly, the panic was set off by the fact that I hadn’t always followed my own rules. I hated the thought that John, someone I respect so deeply, might see me showing up with something other than a generous posture. It was a great litmus test. So now, in addition to the rules above, before I hit “post”, I ask myself, “If John sees this, will I feel proud?”

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