Twitter continues to be one of the strongest social media platforms around. Even as they have evolved, they have stayed true to their vision and gathered other people and apps that think like they do to help continue their mission.
#CuePeriscope. (Read here “Why I think Periscope Is Worth Watching”)
Micro + Mobile + Mission = Twitter
Twitter has done a masterful job guarding the mobile mission of being micro. Instant news. Thoughts from the top of the head to the depths of the heart, all in 140 simple characters. Leaders should engage the same way, and to do so, I think we have to follow other people to keep us on track and in tune with what’s going on. Here’s a quick list of people that I follow on Twitter that I learn from and enjoy daily.
1. Dan Rockwell – @Leadershipfreak 
I haven’t gotten the privilege to meet Dan personally yet, however, I love how he has been able to connect his authentic voice into bite size tweets. He’s the guy I always find myself saying, “Oh! I knew that, but he said it soo much better… ” Smart people have people in their life. Wise people have smarter people in their life. Dan has a true passion for the topic of leadership and it’s obvious he continues to be a student of the subject. His book recommendations are always on point and his blog, though short in length, leave you with mental meat to chew on for days. Give him a follow and watch your leadership move a few notches up.
[clickToTweet tweet= “Smart people have people in their life. Wise people have smarter people in their life. – @a_burchfield” quote=”Smart people have people in their life. Wise people have smarter people in their life. – Andrew Burchfield”]
2. Jude Fouquier – @Judefouquier 
Jude is the kind of guy that everyone wants to be like, be with, and just hang out with on the beaches of California. Like myself, Jude is in ministry with his father and mother at the The City Church in Ventura, CA. I’ve known Jude for a few years now and have since had the privilege to watch him from a distance and up close. Jude is the real deal and a phenomenal leader. I enjoy his HILARIOUS tweets and am constantly reminded to just chill out and enjoy life! He is a sharp guy who knows the power of creating momentum (He must have read my book. ;)) and making every moment count. He’s a powerhouse of a preacher and his faithfulness to his family and His Church is inspiring. Warning: If you follow him you will laugh a lot and be exposed to incredible flashbacks of what it was like to grow up in church in the 90’s. Keep doing you, Jude!
3. Disney Institute – @DisneyInstitute 
Most of the leaders who read my blog posts are connected to an organization of some kind. Part of our leadership roles requires us to stand and move a vision forward. Walt Disney has been said by many to be one of the greatest leaders of all time and the Disney Institute continues his vision of excellence in training daily. I haven’t experienced this in person yet, but I look forward to the day of being a part of the whole process. Until that day, I’m thankful that this social team does such a great job with their Twitter Chats and Q&As that help leaders like me peek behind the culture curtain of such a well-oiled machine. On this Twitter page you’ll find everything from Creating Culture, Team Building, Customer Service, and more! These guys give me the daily reminder that it’s more than just how “I’m feeling” for the day. There’s always a bigger picture and always a bigger purpose, behind every moment.
[clickToTweet tweet=”There’s always a bigger picture and always a bigger purpose, behind every moment. – @a_burchfield” quote=”There’s always a bigger picture and always a bigger purpose, behind every moment. – Andrew Burchfield”]
4. Steve Dotto – @DottoTech
You can’t be an effective leader today and not leverage the power of technology!
From phones to tablets and third-party services, the digital world is alive and thriving and as leaders, I believe we need to be right in the SMACK DAB MIDDLE of it. When I do consultations for churches and ministries I constantly get asked, “Andrew, how do you keep up with all of this technology as it changes so rapidly?” Cue @Dottotech!! This crazy Canadian produces high-quality videos, webinars, and online courses merely for the purpose of helping people utilize the power of technology. His videos on Youtube are quick and to the point, and I promise if there is a new service that comes out, Steve will be all over it. Thanks for all you do to help leaders like me! It’s your insight and technical wisdom that helps me to daily keep “storming the castle”.
[clickToTweet tweet=”You can’t be an effective leader today and not leverage the power of technology! – @a_burchfield” quote=”You can’t be an effective leader today and not leverage the power of technology! – Andrew Burchfield”]
5. Phil Cooke- @PhilCooke
Over a decade ago, I jumped into the wild world called Christian media with no compass of how to navigate my digital direction as a producer. I knew what I wanted. I knew what I felt. I knew what we needed, but didn’t know how to obtain it. Thankfully, I was introduced to Phil Cooke and the rest is history. I’m pretty sure Phil is the only producer in Hollywood with a PhD in Theology. His pulse on the culture and how christians need to engage into the conversation always comes from a place that honors the Word and pushes us past religious divides. His tweets will meet you where you are while demanding you to go farther too. His retweet game goes pretty hard as well! From the crazy to the conservative, your timeline will scream with info you would have never found on your own. Give him a follow and watch your world and awareness get bigger!
Twitter is more than a platform- It’s a collection of creativity, wisdom, life experience, and spiritual revelation. It’s all about who you follow.
