Liam Darmody
Alignment is the hidden reason most leaders fail. I help them fix it for good, with AI as the multiplier. Built like a product. Delivered like a coach.
Liam Darmody helps leaders improve team alignment using AI. He's distinctive in his ability to translate abstract leadership concepts into concrete, actionable steps, often framed with a relatable story or analogy.
15.4/wk
200 posts in 30d
642
avg per post
24%
comments / total
5.9%
reposts / total
problem-solution
Sun · 7 PM CET
Voice & tone
Liam's voice is insightful and empathetic, like a trusted advisor sharing hard-won wisdom. He avoids jargon and speaks directly, creating a sense of connection with the reader. His tone is consistently optimistic and encouraging, even when addressing challenging topics. Notice the pattern of short, declarative sentences followed by a slightly longer sentence that adds nuance, as in "Skills show up on a CV. Attitude shows up in the room."
Signature phrases
- “I see this pattern in coaching all the time.”
- “The uncomfortable truth:”
- “Most leaders never make that transition.”
- “From solving problems to building people.”
- “If you're leading others, this is worth asking yourself:”
Top 3 posts, dissected
Their highest-engagement posts, broken down line by line. Steal the structure.
Simon Sinek's brutal truth about phone addiction. A visible phone says. You are not my priority. A silent phone still sends a message. On a table it tells people they come second. What to do: 1. Phone off the table. Face down is not polite. 2. Airplane mode. Put it out of sight. 3. Morning rule. Partner before phone. 4. Dinner rule. Only one phone between you. 5. Client rule. Keep it in your bag. 6. Home rule. Do not carry it room to room. 7. Build the habit. Small reps beat willpower. The aim is not to hear the words. It is for people to feel heard. Remove the cue and presence gets easier. ♻ Repost to help others set this norm. ➕ Follow Liam Darmody for more.
The hook uses a well-known figure, Simon Sinek, to immediately establish credibility and tap into a familiar topic: phone addiction. The phrase 'brutal truth' adds urgency and implies a harsh but necessary lesson.
The post is structured as a numbered list, making it easy to scan and digest. Each point offers a specific, actionable tip for reducing phone distractions.
- Rule of 3: 'Partner before phone' is a punchy, memorable phrase.
- Concise advice: Each numbered point is short and to the point.
- Empathy: 'The aim is not to hear the words. It is for people to feel heard.'
The post ends with a call to repost, encouraging readers to share the message and spread the norm. This likely contributes to the high repost rate of 5.9%.
Use a numbered list to present actionable advice in a clear and accessible format.
Steve Jobs paused for 18 seconds before answering. It followed this question: What’s the most important thing that you personally learned at Apple that you’re doing at NeXT? When he finally spoke, the answer wasn’t tactical. It wasn’t about products. It wasn’t about strategy. …
The hook uses a story opening, referencing Steve Jobs and a specific moment (an 18-second pause) to draw the reader in. The pause creates suspense and implies a profound answer.
The post unfolds as a narrative, starting with a question and then revealing Jobs' insightful answer. It transitions from the story to a broader leadership lesson.
- Contrast: 'If you fix it, the problem goes away. If you teach it, the capability stays.'
- Personalization: 'Most leaders never make that transition.' suggests the reader might be in this group.
- Question Prompt: 'Where am I stepping in instea…' creates curiosity and invites reflection.
The post ends with an unfinished question, prompting readers to engage in the comments and share their own experiences.
Use a compelling story to illustrate a broader leadership principle and make it more relatable.
47 years of profit. No layoffs under his leadership. It started with how they hired. Herb Kelleher co-founded Southwest and led it to the longest profitability streak in airline history. His hiring process confused the rest of the industry. He told HR to hire people with a sen…
The hook uses a bold statement, '47 years of profit,' to immediately establish the success and credibility of Herb Kelleher and Southwest Airlines. This piques the reader's interest in learning the secret behind their long-term profitability.
The post follows a problem-solution format. It presents the problem (most companies hire for skills first) and then offers Kelleher's solution (hire for attitude).
- Authority voice: 'His line was simple: "You don't hire for skills, you hire for attitude. You can always teach skills."'
- Relatability: 'I see this pattern in coaching all the time.'
- Concise summary: 'Skills show up on a CV. Attitude shows up in the room.'
The post ends by emphasizing the long-term impact of hiring decisions, highlighting the importance of considering attitude over skills.
Frame your insights as solutions to common problems that your audience faces.
What drives their engagement
Liam's posts often invite comments by posing questions or presenting thought-provoking ideas that challenge conventional wisdom. The 'Steve Jobs paused' post, for example, ends with an unfinished question, encouraging readers to share their thoughts.
Liam's content is highly shareable because it offers practical advice and insightful observations that resonate with a broad audience of leaders and managers. The 'Simon Sinek' post ends with a direct request to repost, which likely contributes to its high repost rate.
High — Liam's posts are often saved because they contain actionable advice and insightful frameworks that readers want to revisit later. The consistent focus on leadership principles and practical tips makes his content valuable for ongoing reference.
Content pillars
Hiring & Culture
25%How to build a high-performing team through intentional hiring and a supportive culture.
Leadership Transitions
20%Navigating the shift from individual contributor to effective leader.
Communication Skills
20%Improving communication for better team alignment and stakeholder management.
Productivity & Focus
20%Strategies for staying focused and productive in a distracting world.
AI in Leadership
15%Using AI to multiply the impact of leadership development efforts.
Hook patterns
The 'Brutal Truth'
'[Authority Figure]'s brutal truth about [common problem]'
“Simon Sinek's brutal truth about phone addiction.”
→ It creates intrigue by suggesting a counterintuitive perspective from a respected source.
The Paused Answer
'[Authority Figure] paused for [time] before answering.'
“Steve Jobs paused for 18 seconds before answering.”
→ It hints at a deeper, more thoughtful response than a typical answer.
The Startling Statistic
'[Number] years of [positive outcome].'
“47 years of profit.”
→ It grabs attention with a quantifiable achievement that implies valuable insights.
The Unexpected Award
'An [Award] for one person.'
“An Oscar for one person.”
→ It sets up a story about individual achievement that reveals a broader principle.
The Rehearsal Paradox
'Most people rehearse [X]. Nobody rehearses [Y].'
“Most people rehearse their pitch. Nobody rehearses their hello.”
→ It highlights a common oversight by contrasting two related activities.
The Contrarian Claim
A statement that goes against conventional wisdom about [topic].
“A visible phone says. You are not my priority.”
→ It challenges assumptions and invites readers to reconsider their beliefs.
Top-performing hooks
“Simon Sinek's brutal truth about phone addiction.”
→ The post presents a relatable problem (phone addiction impacting relationships) and offers actionable solutions in a concise, easy-to-follow format, making it highly shareable and likely to resonate w
“Steve Jobs paused for 18 seconds before answering.”
→ The post uses a compelling anecdote about Steve Jobs to illustrate a valuable leadership lesson. It provides actionable questions, encouraging reflection and engagement from the audience while subtly
“47 years of profit.”
→ The post uses a well-known example (Southwest Airlines) to illustrate a counter-intuitive hiring strategy. It challenges conventional wisdom and offers a practical takeaway, prompting engagement throu
“An Oscar for one person.”
→ The post uses a relatable story about Tom Cruise to illustrate a key leadership principle, making it engaging and memorable. It provides actionable advice on employee recognition and its impact on ret
“Most people rehearse their pitch.”
→ The post highlights a common, often overlooked problem (autopilot communication) and offers a simple, actionable solution. It resonates because it addresses a relatable issue and provides immediate va
“Someone called Steve Jobs an idiot.”
→ The post uses a compelling story about Steve Jobs to illustrate a valuable leadership principle, making it relatable and memorable. The call to action to repost and follow further amplifies its reach.
“Most-watched TED Talk ever.”
→ The post uses a relatable quote and personal anecdote to introduce a thought-provoking idea about fostering creativity in the workplace. It resonates by highlighting the conflict between the desire fo
“In 1997, Apple was 90 days from bankruptcy.”
→ The post uses a compelling historical anecdote about Steve Jobs to illustrate the importance of values-based leadership. It resonates because it connects a well-known success story with actionable ins
“The most important video you'll watch this week.”
→ The post leverages a shocking statistic and expert opinions to highlight a potential problem with AI implementation, sparking concern and encouraging discussion. The solution-oriented approach and cle
“In 1999, Jeff Bezos was mocked for losing money.”
→ The post uses a well-known example (Jeff Bezos/Amazon) to illustrate a key principle of long-term thinking. It resonates with founders facing short-term pressure while building for the future, and the
What works
- Story Openings: Posts that start with a story opening perform exceptionally well, averaging 844 engagements. The 'Steve Jobs paused' post is a prime example.
- Bold Statements: Hooks that make a bold statement are effective at grabbing attention, as seen in the '47 years of profit' post.
- Numbered Lists: Using numbered lists to present actionable advice makes content easy to digest and implement, contributing to higher engagement.
- Problem-Solution Format: Framing content as a solution to a common problem resonates with his audience, as demonstrated by the '47 years of profit' post.
- Consistent Posting: Maintaining a high posting frequency (15.4 posts/week) keeps Liam top-of-mind with his audience.
- Sunday Posting: Posting on Sundays at 6 PM UTC maximizes visibility and engagement.
Steal this for your own LinkedIn
- Open with a story: Start your posts with a relatable anecdote or story to draw readers in.
- Use numbered lists: Present actionable advice in a clear and concise format using numbered lists.
- Ask questions: End your posts with a question to encourage comments and spark conversation.
- Share personal experiences: Weave in your own experiences and observations to add authenticity and relatability.
- Focus on actionable advice: Provide practical tips and strategies that readers can implement immediately.
- Be consistent: Post regularly to stay top-of-mind with your audience and build a loyal following.
Compare Liam with…
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Hana Jacover vs Liam Darmody: Small audience, big impact vs massive reach
vs Emma Weber
Emma Weber vs Liam Darmody: Vulnerability beats authority on LinkedIn
vs Molly Sonsteng
Liam Darmody vs Molly Sonsteng: Scale vs Authenticity on LinkedIn
vs Debajyoti Jena
Debajyoti Jena vs Liam Darmody: Community funnel beats thought leadership
vs Vitalii Dodonov
Liam Darmody vs Vitalii Dodonov: Authority through wisdom versus credibility through hiring
Get the full Liam Darmody playbook
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Posting patterns
Liam posts consistently, averaging 15.4 posts per week, demonstrating a strong commitment to providing value to his audience.
His posts perform best on Sundays around 6 PM UTC, suggesting his audience is reflecting on the week and seeking inspiration for the week ahead.
His very long posts (350+ words) perform best, averaging 679 engagements. This suggests his audience appreciates in-depth analysis and detailed explanations.
Engagement by day
Content mix
avg 558 engagements per post
avg 844 engagements per post
avg 655 engagements per post
avg 480 engagements per post
avg 2.1K engagements per post
Liam's format mix works because it balances engaging storytelling (21% story) with practical advice (60% problem-solution, 14% numbered list). This combination provides both entertainment and value, keeping his audience engaged and informed.
