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Leaders Should Consider Twitter

Though it's been around for three years, Twitter hit the main stage of American culture when Oprah decided to write her first tweet. Though the site was excelling before the Oprah nod, more people are on Twitter today than ever before. So why should you consider signing up?

1. By Signing Up for Twitter, You Can Avoid the Blank Stares. In our modern age, there are some products, people, and Internet sites that everyone seems to know about. For example, most of us have heard of ShamWow and the Snuggie even if we don't own them. It's hard to check out from the grocery story without learning the latest about Brangelina (Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie) and more recently the sad news of Kate and Jon Gosselin of Jon & Kate Plus 8. There are just some things that everyone knows about, so go ahead and add Twitter to your list. It will take you less than three minutes to open a free account and send your first tweet of 140 characters or fewer. That's right: You only get a sentence or two. Then, when someone asks you if you know about Twitter, you can offer more than a blank stare - you can give them give them a warm smile and an invitation to follow your tweets.

2. Twitter Allows You To Break Down Barriers Between You and Those You Lead. If you're a leader or pastor or business owner, then you've probably felt the pedestal being slipped under your feet when you weren't looking. People to love to build up those they see running an organization, ministry, church, or business. Sometimes in the process of building up, they also create barriers. Twitter is a great way to remind people in your community that you're just like everyone else. Offer a quick tweet of trying to convince your 3-year-old that wearing clothes after a bath is a good idea or going for third-helpings at the buffet is not (after it's too late) can add humor and moments of connection among those you work with and serve.

3. Twitter Is So Young That It Naturally Invites Creativity & Innovation. Twitter is still so new that making companies, churches, and marketers are still trying to wrap their mind around it. Some are using it to tout new ideas, new products, and new discoveries. Some are using it raise money for worthy causes while others are using it to teach valuable life lessons. One church in Dallas, Texas actually taught an entire three-week series on the "Theology of Twitter." You can check out the tweets at www.twitter.com/jallenjr. So have go ahead and have some fun on twitter!

4. Twitter Doesn't Have to Take Up a Lot of Time. Some people have been vacuumed into the Twitteruniverse, but no worries, that doesn't have to be you. Twitter is simply a micro-blogging tool. With only 140 characters, you're forced to keep things concise, which translates to less time consuming. Sure, some people twitter every five minutes, but often those people are commenting on not-so-fascinating topics like what highway they're driving down (do we care?) and the Spaghetti-o's they had for lunch (really, do we care?) A handful of thoughtful tweets is better than a thousand bland, boring ones. Since you can send updates by text message, phone or via Twitter's web page (among other methods), it can be done quickly, conveniently and at your own pace.

So go ahead and give it a try, and while you're there, you can follow my Twitter at www.twitter.com/mafeinberg

Happy Twittering!

June16, 2009 at 9:01 PM

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