What Leaders Can Learn from Influencers

Social media stars don’t get enough credit for being effective leaders. They grab attention, build trust, and shape opinions—exactly what great leaders do.

In today’s world, where the way we connect and make decisions has been completely reshaped, the smartest leaders are acting more like influencers.

Here are four things leaders can learn from influencers to better engage their teams, inspire action, and drive results.

1. Engagement is a Two-Way Conversation

The best influencers don't just post content and disappear. They engage. They reply to comments, ask their audience questions, and—most important—listen.

Many influencers get their best content ideas directly from their audience. They pay attention to what people ask, what confuses them, and what sparks debate—then they create content around it.

Leaders should steal this playbook.

Instead of making decisions in a vacuum, they should treat their team like an engaged audience. What are people complaining about? What excites them? Where are they struggling? The best leaders use these insights to shape their messaging, just like great influencers do.

When leaders treat communication as a dialogue, not a broadcast, they gain real insights—and people feel heard. The same way a YouTuber’s audience considers themselves part of the creator’s community, employees should feel that way about their leader.

2. Authenticity is Everything

Today’s audiences are smarter than ever. They can spot a sales pitch instantly—and tune it out just as fast. Think about it: People reflexively scroll past corporate-style content.

Influencers who try to project perfection often get ignored—or worse, called out. The ones who build the deepest connections talk like actual human beings.

The same applies to leaders. The best ones:

? Admit when they don't have the answer.

? Own their mistakes instead of deflecting blame.

? Share stories of challenges, not just successes.

Authenticity isn't about oversharing. It’s about being real enough that people trust you.

3. The “Hook” is Everything

People are ruthless with their attention.

Influencers know they have 3 seconds to grab you before you scroll away. That's why they start with a hook.

• "You're making a huge mistake if you do this…"
• "Here's why most people fail at X…"
• "This simple trick changed my life—let me explain."

Once they have your attention, they earn the right to go deeper.

Leaders should apply this same urgency. Instead of "Let me share a few thoughts on strategy," say "Here’s the one move that will make or break us this quarter." Instead of a long-winded meeting intro, start with the problem your team cares about most.

People don’t owe you their time. You have to earn it.

4. Communicate Frequently (AKA: Post Every Day)

The best influencers post every single day.

Why? Because attention fades fast—and if you’re not visible, you don’t exist. Leaders who disappear for weeks at a time lose influence, whether they realize it or not.

Leaders often underestimate how often they need to communicate. They assume that because they said something once in a meeting, everyone remembers it. But in reality, people are distracted. They’re busy with their own problems.

Frequent communication builds trust, alignment, and momentum. But it shouldn't be time-consuming:

1. Keep a simple list of all the people who report to you (or anyone important to your work).
2. Twice a week, scan that list. Ask yourself: “Who deserves a quick thank you? Who needs encouragement?”
3. Take action.

This doesn’t have to be a grand, dramatic effort. It just has to be consistent. Over time, these small touchpoints build real loyalty.

Final Thought: Influence is Leadership

At the end of the day, leadership is influence. The people who thrive in today’s world—whether they’re CEOs or content creators—are the ones who know how to grab attention, build trust, and create engagement.

Influencers may not have formal authority, but they have something even more powerful: people who choose to listen to them.

If leaders adopted these same principles, they’d be more effective at leading teams, shaping culture, and driving change.

So the question is: Are you leading like an influencer? Or are you just hoping people will listen?

Would love to hear your thoughts—what’s the biggest lesson leaders should steal from influencers? Share in the comments!