This is the future, made for the creative leader.

Leaders are creators. Followers are consumers. Which one are you?

Social media demands of us to create valuable, authentic content that will resonate with our followers and make an impact in the world. If, and only if you do this, you will be rewarded greatly in terms of exposure. 

Your message will be heard and seen by people who have been waiting for someone like you, your product or service. Is this not what we all want at the end of the day? For our brand to be out there, so that we can make a bigger impact with our message, product or service and, in turn, increase our revenue. 

So how do we start creating valuable content?

We have become so obsessed with consuming content, trying to fit in and trying to break the social media code that we have lost our authenticity, the one core thing that is needed for humans to connect to each other. We need to start creating from the inside out instead of creating content from what we see outside.

Remember when you were a kid, or just look at your toddlers or pre-teens. They all want to be first in line, everyone wants to be class captain, or the team's captain. They all want to be the leader - even during break time with the games they play. 

However, at around 12 years of age, we undergo this metamorphosis where we start becoming self-aware, scared of what others may think of us and conforming with the people around us. This is when we start fitting into what society wants us to be. We look at what others are doing and start copying their behaviour, the way they dress, talk, act and even create.

Fast forward to today. Now you can at least stop wondering why you struggle to create content that gives value and sparks engagement? Social media rewards authenticity. Social media rewards real connections. Social media does not want people to fit in, but to give every single person the ability to stand out and to lead.

You need to go back to that 10-year-old version of you and rediscover the leader in you. The one that did not care to stand out, the one that was not scared to speak in front of the class, the one that said what she wanted when she wanted. When you have managed to rediscover your inner leader again, you can start to get your message out there to the people who need to hear it without fear of judgment. To help you in your quest, let’s look at the traits of a true leader.

• A leader is bold, courageous and confident
• A leader is not scared of judgment or what others may think of him/her
• A leader does not follow or conform to others
• A leader trusts himself and his vision
• A leader is focussed on the future and does not dwell on the past
• A leader Inspires others
• A leader creates what others consume
• A leader is fearless
• A leader leads his followers responsibly.

So, before you post again on Instagram, go back to the 10 year you and remember the leader inside, then start creating content from that place. Remember, leaders create from a point of being free, being bold, and being fearless. 

You need to know that you can go out there and create your posts with the freedom, boldness and fearlessness of a true leader, because that is indeed who you are.