564 - Your Employees Are Your First Audience

CEOs who aren’t seen as thought leaders lose trust, visibility, and growth. This episode explores why thought leadership drives credibility and revenue, and how to position yourself as the expert your market needs.

 
 
 

Want to build your Personal Brand?

Join the free Rising Stars Community

Join now
 

If Your Team Doesn’t Follow You, They Don’t Believe in You

When your own employees don’t follow you on social media, it’s not a digital issue. It’s a leadership issue. The best leaders don’t just lead in meetings. They lead in public. Their people follow them because their message connects.

Here’s why it matters and how to make a change.

1. Internal attention is the first form of influence
Before the world listens, your team should.
If your employees don’t find your message worth following, why should anyone else?
Visibility starts with trust, and trust begins inside your own organization.

2. Your team amplifies your reach
Every employee follower multiplies your voice.
They share, comment, and engage.
That momentum builds visibility faster than any ad spend ever could.
Leadership content spreads further when your people believe in it.

3. Teach through your content
Employees follow leaders who give value.
Share lessons, reflections, and insights they can learn from.
Make your posts a place of growth, not just announcements.
When they gain from what you share, they’ll want more.

4. Turn employees into ambassadors
When your team understands your message, they can effectively convey to the world who you are and what your company stands for.
They become your best storytellers.
And your brand becomes stronger because of it.

Final Thought

If your people don’t follow you, don’t blame the algorithm.
Ask what you’re sharing that’s worth following.
Leadership visibility starts from within.
When your team believes, the world follows.


Highlights:

00:00 The Importance of Employee Engagement on Social Media

00:13 Setting High Expectations for CEO Social Media Presence

00:26 Benefits of Employee Engagement on Social Media

00:49 Empowering Employees as Brand Ambassadors

00:59 Conclusion: Reflect on the Impact

Links:

===========================

Equipment and Software I Use for My Videos and Podcasts   

Jens Equipment and Software overview: https://www.jensheitland.com/equipment

===========================

Books that I read and recommend.

My Book Recommendations: https://www.jensheitland.com/books

===========================

Here are the ways to work with me:

Speaking: https://www.jensheitland.com/speaking

Leadership Skills Assessment: https://www.wearesucceed.com/

===========================

Connect with me!   

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jensheitland/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JensHeitlandofficial/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jensheitland/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jensheitland

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/jensheitland

Newsletter: https://www.jensheitland.com/newsletter

===========================

Subscribe and Listen to The Jens Heitland Show Podcast HERE: 

YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjuSGi1feauCNSER3IKuGWg

Web: https://www.jensheitland.com/podcasthome

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jens-heitland-show-human-innovation/id1545043872?uo=4

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7H0GWMGVALyXnnmstYA1NL

===========================

Subscribe and Listen to The Daily Hint with Jens Heitland Podcast HERE: 

YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2tLdutVh6b6nCBgWQ817eQ

Web: https://www.jensheitland.com/the-daily-hint

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily-hint-with-jens-heitland/id1722930497

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4T02uYPvcOrajPC6FgH64r?si=8aab1e7683204160&nd=1&dlsi=0f69c72af017454a


Transcript:

If your own employees don't follow you on social media as the CEO of a business, you have a huge problem because they don't care about what you have to say. Let's rewind and step back. I believe every CEO should be followed by every single employee in the organization, and I know that's a high bar to reach.

But I believe that's going to make a huge difference. Two things to that. Number one is you have something interesting to say that they can learn from and they're engaging with. Number two is they will help you to get more visibility and drive you forward with social media. And it's, it's kind of two stones with one bird because if you create something that is interesting to your team, members of the whole organization, they will.

Be able to explain what you do and who you are and what you are about to other people too, which means you enable them to be better salespeople of your organization. Think about that.

Next
Next

563 - If You’re Not Seen, You’re Not Trusted