Social Media and the New Culture of Sharing
This morning as I was running, I listened to Episode 99 of the Catalyst Podcast. It was an interview that Brad Lomenick did with Charlene Li, author of the new book, Open Leadership.
One thing in particular grabbed my attention. Brad asked her what has changed in the last two to three years in terms of social media. She said,
What has happened over the last three years is that we now have a culture of sharing that didn’t exist three years ago … Now we think and act very differently because of these technologies. The societal change that has happened is that we share more.”
I think this is exactly right. I have watched the shift in myself, my family, and my friends. Contrary to popular opinion, I don’t believe that social media promotes narcissism. It certainly doesn’t reward it.
I am sure there are exceptions, but people who are “takers” are not successful at attracting followers, fans, or readers. Instead, Twitter, Facebook, and blogs reward “givers”—people who are generous and share.
The implication of this cultural shift is that the more generous you are, the more you will succeed online. In other words, the more you share:
- the more followers you will attract
- the more people you will influence
- and the more conversations you will lead
Here are four quick ways you can share more meaningfully with others in your social media channels:
- Share recommendations. Provide links to the things you find most insightful or meaningful. This can include blogs, news articles, books, music, and movies. Increasingly, “search” is becoming personalized. People are letting their social media networks do the filtering.
- Share your expertise. Whether you realize it or not, you are an expert in some field. You have knowledge and experience that you likely take for granted. But your expertise could be a big help to others. Your followers will appreciate it.
- Share your contacts. The days of holding these close to your vest are gone. If you don’t know the answer or don’t feel like you can help someone, try to connect them to someone who can. This makes the concept of “six steps of separation” practical and more useful than ever.
- Share your empathy. Sometimes people just need your empathy. You can remind people that they are not alone. All by itself, this is an act of generosity. My brother-in-law recently found himself in Intensive Care. Gail and I shared it with our social networks. We experienced an amazing outpouring of love and prayer.
This is just the tip of the iceberg I am sure. Other people willingly share their resources, encouragement, and even humor. What about you?


In:

MICHELE CUSHATT is a communicator and storyteller whose speaking experience includes Women of Faith, Focus on the Family, and Compassion International. As emcee and communication coach, Michele is in her sixth year on staff at
BARRY HILL, JR. is a storyteller, blogger, speaker, barista, and is in his fifteenth year of full-time ministry to teens and their families. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, Rachel, and their six children—“the circus.” You can usually find Barry where fresh coffee and good ideas are brewing. To join in the conversation, drop by his blog,
JOE LALONDE is a husband, explorer, challenger, and an adrenaline junkie. He has served as a youth leader for E3 Ministries for over 10 years. He is usually found wandering the woods, enjoying the company of his wife, or running the trails. Joe enjoys helping others expand their influence and leadership skills. You can connect with Joe at his
RACHEL LANCE is originally from Alaska but now lives in a Chicago suburb with her husband and daughter. She works in technology and communications for the
JIM MARTIN is the minister of Crestview Church of Christ in Waco, Texas, where he has served since 1994. He also leads a mentoring group, primarily composed of younger Christian leaders, and serves as a Mentoring Partner for
TIM PETERS is the Co-Founder of
JASON STAMBAUGH is a husband, father, former fat kid, accidental techie, and founder of
JEREMY STATTON is an orthopedic surgeon in Louisville, KY. Although he enjoys writing, reading, and running, his first love is his wife and four kids. His family is currently in the process of adopting a son from China. He is also the author of
JOHN TILLER is an inspirational speaker and writer. He travels with his family to churches, conferences, and other events sharing
JUSTIN WISE is the social strategist for 

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