We all know a lot about the digital world – we live and work in it every day. Although we all follow and support the brands we like, there is another side of this digital world that we don’t explore much: Leadership. What does it mean to be a leader in today’s digital age? How can brand owners and managers use their leadership position to improve their brand’s reach and impact? This week on the chat, we invited leadership coach Nathalie Gregg to talk about digital leadership. Here is a summary of our conversation.
Invited: Natalie Gregg
Subject: Harnessing the power of digital leadership
Format: Eight questions to the guests. All are welcome to share.
Q1. How do you define digital leadership?
Digital leadership is about being an effective leader in today’s highly volatile digital age. The one thing we can all agree on about living a digital life is that no two days are the same. There are new technologies emerging every day, while older technology is constantly being updated and refreshed. There is so much to see and learn, making it important—more than ever—to have effective leaders.
Providing the best services and products to our stakeholders by anticipating and adapting in a dynamic environment. In this new climate, leadership will play a bigger role than ever in successfully facilitating these disruptions! #TwitterSmarter pic.twitter.com/BNs0OOwyhb
— Nathalie Gregg #LeadLoudly (@NathalieGregg) August 11, 2022
like Laura added, a digital leader is someone who can be a great example to their audience across the social channels of their choice. They demonstrate their expertise by providing value to their community.
A1: Digital Leadership is leading by example on online platforms. Demonstrate expertise and value in helping others achieve their goals.#TwitterSmarter https://t.co/4sRr9kcmcB
— Laura Denny (@ldcreativemedia) August 11, 2022
Q2. Why is digital leadership important to your brand?
It’s important because effective digital leaders can adapt to changing environments, overcome disruptions, and steer their brand toward greater opportunity. Every digital brand needs leaders who can bring out the best in that brand.
Leaders will have to create and show the way forward in the midst of disruption, chaos and extreme uncertainty. This is why digital leadership aims to be actualized. #TwitterSmarter pic.twitter.com/PqRJynQ7AD
— Nathalie Gregg #LeadLoudly (@NathalieGregg) August 11, 2022
like Jim pointed out, digital leaders can naturally build authority around their topics of interest. This helps the brand build an engaged community that wants to rally behind the brand.
A2: Becoming an authority people can trust on a topic is critical to building relationships with your community.
And best of all, you don’t have to be an expert – you can just share your own learning journey to take the lead and gain confidence! #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/1e8nVBWOPy
— JonWess.eth (@JonWesselink) August 11, 2022
Q3. Why should you develop a digital strategy for your leadership brand?
You need to develop a digital strategy for your leadership brand because it will help you build awareness, likes and trust factors. Consider it a list of things you need to do in order to be recognized, appreciated and supported. Being a trusted source will automatically increase your brand’s reach. Twitter, as our guest explained, is a great place to start building your digital strategy.
It’s a phenomenal place for breaking news, researching competitors in your industry, and adding your own unique voice to the conversation. #TwitterSmarter pic.twitter.com/Gt8irN8hB7
— Nathalie Gregg #LeadLoudly (@NathalieGregg) August 11, 2022
Like Julia from NOW Marketing Group Simply put, having a strategy means being intentional about how, when and where you engage with your audience digitally.
A3: You want to be intentional about how, where and when you’re showing up to lead online. 🙌 Having a strategy is essential because it serves as your guide and sets you up for success. – JJS #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/jOmjrmOPIn
— NOW Marketing Group #SMWL22 (@NOWMG) August 11, 2022
Q4. What roles do clarity and purpose play in digital leadership?
Having a clear understanding of your brand’s purpose helps you face the new challenges posed by changing customer behaviors. You will also be able to use behavioral and preference data to make customer-centric decisions in the future.
It also gives us tremendous insight into a more customer-centric view and greater confidence in which direction to drive new experiences. #TwitterSmarter pic.twitter.com/jTld2j9w6Y
— Nathalie Gregg #LeadLoudly (@NathalieGregg) August 11, 2022
like Madalyn reminded us, knowing your purpose and brand purpose will help you become a successful digital leader. Being clear about what you need to do will help you do what you need to do more effectively.
A4: Knowing your purpose will make it easier for you to step into that leadership role when you know who you are and what you stand for. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/pfWCibK7WX
— Madalyn Sklar Digital Marketing Since 1996 (@MadalynSklar) August 11, 2022
P5. How can leaders navigate the emotional side of digital transformation?
An emotionally intelligent leader can lead a brand to a successful digital transformation. To achieve this, however, a leader must also be aware of their own emotional state – only then can they manage and channel it effectively.
Leaders need to become aware of their own emotional state so they can stay grounded so they can provide support while reducing team agitation. #TwitterSmarter pic.twitter.com/9fTnRPVVkm
— Nathalie Gregg #LeadLoudly (@NathalieGregg) August 11, 2022
like Lance pointed out, online spaces can become very emotional very quickly. Be careful not to let your emotions get in the way of clear thinking and decision making. Sometimes, you have to let go of your emotions for the greater good. Knowing when to stop spamming or replying to a troll is essential to being a good leader.
#TwitterSmarter A5: Be careful about adding too much emotion to your branding and content. Know when it’s right and when to walk away. Don’t get caught up in an online fight with a troll who is begging to troll you and make you look bad! #Leadership pic.twitter.com/0Fd5eQKbKZ
— Lance A Schart 🇺🇦 (@LanceASchart) August 11, 2022
P6. How can storytelling be a catalyst to improve your digital leadership?
Digital spaces thrive on storytelling. With good storytelling tactics, you will not only attract new audiences, but you can also build a strong communication strategy. Great stories persuade while driving positive change for your audience.
A6. Crossing of #storytelling AND #technology it offers us a unique opportunity to create strategic communication.
Storytelling inspires action and change by influencing decision making from the inside out! #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/0eco7LY8YC pic.twitter.com/RpNm1S7kzh
— Nathalie Gregg #LeadLoudly (@NathalieGregg) August 11, 2022
like Tiam suggested, storytelling helps establish your authenticity and build credibility for your brand. Personal and relatable stories will resonate deeply with your followers, making them like and trust you more.
A6
Storytelling helps leaders create credibility and authenticity by telling the stories they are living. When they believe deeply in them, their stories resonate, generating creativity, interaction and transformation.#TwitterSmarter https://t.co/TkqQITPxcS— THIAM MEKÀ de GOGUENHEIM (@ThiamMeka2Gogue) August 11, 2022
P7. Why should digital leaders mine data and insights to drive results?
Analyzing data and insights is important because it helps you continually improve your messages and strategies. It provides an opportunity to collect feedback from your audience and act on that feedback, showing them how much you value their engagement. This is how you make your brand more customer-centric.
So keep building an environment for people who believe what we believe. #TwitterSmarter
— Nathalie Gregg #LeadLoudly (@NathalieGregg) August 11, 2022
Data can also serve to confirm your ideas and hypotheses, such as Massoma directed. When you have data to back it up, you can confidently create content that will bring value to your audience.
A7. Because data helps leaders confirm their hypothesis. It tells them if what they have noticed is real or just their subjective opinion.
In turn, this helps them become more credible and provide more valuable content to their audience #twitter Smarter
— Masoma | Content Writer (@inkandcopy) August 11, 2022
P8. How does digital leadership position you for strategic collaborations?
A successful digital transformation is driven by collaboration. For example, providing customers with a good digital experience requires you to engage and collaborate with multiple stakeholders, both internally and externally.
As a result, making digital leadership a process of empowering others to lead while creating self-organized teams that optimize their daily operations and experiences. This move creates a strong environment for collaboration because leadership is no longer hierarchical.
— Nathalie Gregg #LeadLoudly (@NathalieGregg) August 11, 2022
Leadership has become less hierarchical, allowing teams to self-manage and operate autonomously. So now, to achieve a common goal, all teams must work together as one, and no one is better than the others. As our guest said, everyone should row the boat in the same direction at the same time.
It requires involvement and contributions from everyone! All stakeholders must row the boat in the same direction at the same time. #TwitterSmarter pic.twitter.com/CzSmE2ilGR
— Nathalie Gregg #LeadLoudly (@NathalieGregg) August 11, 2022
Well folks, that’s all from me this week. Thanks for reading and for more great insights from our chat with Nathalie, take a look this moment on Twitter that Joana put together for us. If you like this review, you’ll love the real-time chat. Join us next Thursday at 1pm ET for #TwitterSmarter. We also have a post-chat on Twitter Spaces at 5pm ET. See you there!
About me, Narmadhaa:
I write all the stuff – marketing stuff to pay the bills; haiku and short stories so I feel healthy. A social media enthusiast, I hang out with the #TwitterSmarter chat crew and am always happy to take writing gigs.
Say hello: Copywriter Opinionated | LinkedIn | I tweet
