Instagram as a Management Tool: My Journey to Connecting with My Team

When was the last time you used a reel in your team meetings?

Everyone in my team knows that I’m pretty passionate about personal growth. We’ve got a system where everyone has their own personal growth plan, and every couple of weeks, we sit down to chat about how things are going. It’s a chance for them to step back, celebrate what’s working, figure out what could be better, and brainstorm solutions to any problems they're facing.

However, as much as this approach is beneficial, there’s a catch: repetition can sometimes dull the sharpest of tools. As a manager, a professional, and frankly, as a human being, I’ve learned the importance of periodically refreshing our methods.

So, in the summer of 2023, I ended up trying something new and a bit out of the ordinary in terms of team coaching.

I wouldn’t say I’m out of sync with technology and trends — I could cite every new low- or no-code out there and how they can benefit your work and life. But when it comes to social media, I feel like a fish out of water. For instance, it took me a while to get the hang of things like saying ‘reel’ properly or figuring out how to post on Instagram from a computer 🤦🏽‍♀️

Despite this, by the end of 2022, I had started a side hustle and began sharing my thoughts on Medium for fun. Then, in mid-2023, I ventured into publishing on Instagram, aiming to build an audience. What I didn’t expect was how this would start playing a role in my team communication strategy.

I found myself bringing up my Instagram posts and reels during our sessions. After a while, I noticed that my whole team was keeping tabs on my Instagram feed.

This led me to rethink my strategy a bit.

Initially, I saw Instagram mainly as a way to get my name out there, but I was still figuring out how to really grow my following. What I did find, though, was a new way to engage and inspire my team. My team, in turn, is the one that inspires me about the messages to share to them, and to the wider audience. It turned into a tool for firing up their curiosity, sharing important messages, and ensuring they’re learning something new regularly. My team turned into my muse.

Situation 1: From my Muses to Instagram

Take this one time, for instance, when I had to help a team member provide feedback to a peer. She was nervous and unsure about the best way to go about it. We talked it through and I shared a typical management framework with four clear steps: 1) Expressing the issue in her own words; 2) Listening to the other person’s perspective; 3) Confirming understanding by paraphrasing; 4) Collaboratively finding a solution.

It was such a neat, practical example of handling a delicate situation that I decided to turn it into an Instagram post. I created a simple, catchy graphic laying out these four steps. It was a direct lift from our one-on-one, but polished for a wider audience. A week later, my team member used the model and left the meeting with her peer with a huge smile — the message was well shared and the alignment — achieved. What fascinated me most was that she proudly shared the post with the rest of the team as it was born during our discussion. Now each single person in the team is following this structured approach for peer feedback.

Situation 2: from Instagram to my Muses

Then there was this other time with the ‘Getting Things Done’ principle. I’d been working on some Instagram posts and included one about completing tasks that take less than two minutes. It’s a simple idea but very catchy and effective.

Later that week, in a one-on-one, another team member and I were brainstorming about the Help Center. She mentioned needing to follow up with a product manager and said she’d get to it later in the week. The task she described sounded like it would take just a minute, so I shared the Instagram post link with her and talked a bit more about the principle. I suggested she tackle it right then.

Since then, she’s been using this principle a lot, even bringing it up in team meetings. It’s become a bit of a team joke, but in a good way. Everyone knows now: if it takes less than two minutes, just get it done. Definitely counts as a win in my book.

The Takeaway: Meeting Them Where They Are

Reflecting on these situations, the core takeaway is clear: communication is not just about the message; it’s about the medium too. By diversifying the channels — from formal 1:1s to Instagram posts, I could connect with my team in a more dynamic, responsive, and personal way. It broke the monotony, made learning more relatable, and most importantly, it bridged the gap between me, as a manager, and my team.

The Unexpected Benefits of Social Media in Management

Yes, Instagram started as a tool to grow my audience, but it ended up growing my team’s engagement and learning. It’s like finding a treasure in your backyard when you were just trying to plant a tree. The team loves that they are my muses and I know that they will read what I post. Today, more than 50% of my posts are oriented towards their growth rather than my side business.

Conclusion: Embracing Versatility in Communication

In the end, it’s not about abandoning traditional methods but augmenting them with the unexpected. It’s about being where your people are, whether it’s in a boardroom, on a Zoom call, or scrolling through Instagram. It’s about realising that as a manager, your role is not just to direct but to connect, inspire, and sometimes, to be inspired.

So, how will you surprise your team to get their attention and stir their brains?

Curious to hear your experience with innovative team communication methods — please feel free to share in the comments.

P.S. If you are actually curious to see what I share on Instagram, you can of course follow me @ manager.hacks. Who knows, maybe you can find some messages to share with YOUR team.