Culture in a Text Thread 

A different take on leadership, relationships, and the little things that build a culture

There’s a family group text that stays pretty active in my world. Someone’s always sharing a funny picture they came across, sharing photos of themselves or my beautiful grandchildren, dropping a screenshot of a receipt we need to settle up, or planning who’s going where for the next visit. Sometimes it’s a celebration like someone getting recognized at work and sometimes it’s just someone venting about a long day. The tone swings from hilarious to heartfelt, and somehow, it always brings us back to each other.

Then there’s the team group text. It’s where we share reminders, shout out small wins, and drop in a “Happy Birthday!” or “Happy Anniversary!” when someone hits a milestone. Prayer requests get lifted up, and every now and then someone shares a success or a strategy that worked like a charm. It’s a blend of encouragement, celebration, and support. And over time, it becomes more than just a thread. It becomes a thread that weaves our lives together. 

Years ago, when I was a principal, we used a Facebook Messenger group for our school staff. It wasn’t fancy. But it was real. We celebrated birthdays, shared reminders, connected during storms, grumbled a little, and honestly, that string of messages held us together more than a lot of formal meetings ever did.

So late-Lee, as I reflect on ways to bring people together and create a space of belonging. I’ve come to believe that group chats, when used with purpose and care, are one of the most underestimated tools in a leader’s toolbox.

Not because they’re professional. They aren’t.  Not because they replace protocols or agendas. They don’t. But because they offer something most leadership manuals forget to mention. It can be a way to create a sense of belonging. As school leaders welcome new staff members, be mindful of the fact that often they are joining your school family with some angst. They are going to have to learn how to navigate your school expectations (written and unwritten), make new friends, and familiarize themselves with a new community. They don’t quite feel like they belong. Help give them that sense of belonging. No meeting will ever do that, but a genuine connection will. 

They say culture is built in the small moments, and a group chat is full of small moments. It’s a place where encouragement is shared in real time. Questions can be asked without a formal meeting. Wins get recognized quickly. And people start to feel like a team, not just a staff.

As a leader, you set the tone. You don’t have to be the one sending a meme or message every day, but your willingness to show up as a human not just a boss opens the door for others to do the same.

So the next time someone says, “Hey y’all, should we start a group text?” Don’t dismiss it as fluff. It might just be the best leadership move you make all year.