Chris Donnelly isn’t just a founder. He’s a force on LinkedIn.
With 1 M+ followers, an average of 4,600 engagements per post, and a daily presence at 5 PM, Chris is living proof that consistency and emotional storytelling can build a global brand on LinkedIn – one viral post at a time.
In this blog, we break down:
- His tone and writing style
- Hook formulas he uses over and over
- Top 5 viral LinkedIn posts
- Posting strategy
- What you can steal from his content playbook
📌 Quick Snapshot
- Name: Chris Donnelly
- Followers: 617K (2024) → 1 M+ (2025)
- Posts/month: 30
- Average engagement: 4,600 per post
- Average brand deal/payout: $10K
- Niche: Entrepreneurial growth, leadership, mindset
- Target audience: English-speaking entrepreneurs and creators, especially in India
- Posting Time: Daily at 5 PM
- Socials: LinkedIn
- Newsletter: Step by Step Newsletter
- Podcast: Wake Up Podcast
Table of Contents
Tone Analysis: Calm, Clear, and Compassionate
Chris’s tone is empathetic and direct. He often blends:
- Leadership insights
- Hard-hitting truths about work culture
- Encouraging, growth-driven advice
- Long-form storytelling with tactical breakdowns
He rarely uses jokes or sarcasm. His tone feels more like a mentor than a marketer.
3 words to describe it: Encouraging, grounded, emotionally intelligent
Hook Formats Chris Uses (That You Should Steal)
Here are the hook types Chris uses repeatedly – and why they work:
| Hook Type | Example |
|---|---|
| 🔥 Hard truth | “People don’t just quit jobs, they quit toxic workplaces.” |
| ✅ Simple contrast | “A good manager can change your life.” |
| 🧠 Underrated advice | “Those that get the 6-figure jobs are not the smartest. They’re the most prepared.” |
| 📃 List promise | “Here are 6 ways to stop your top talent from leaving.” |
| 🧳 Story-driven setup | “The impact of a good manager extends far beyond your day-to-day work.” |
Pro Tip: Most of his posts begin with a single, bold statement. No fluff.
🔥 Top 5 LinkedIn Posts (with 80 K+ likes each)
1. “Uncomfortable Truth for Employers”
“People don’t just quit jobs. They quit toxic workplaces.”
Then he lists 8 direct, practical ways to improve workplace culture — from empathy to feedback to fair pay.
Why it worked:
- Universally relatable
- Short bullets = high readability
- Ends with a call for emotionally intelligent leadership
2. “They’re Not the Smartest. They’re the Most Prepared.”
“Those who land 6-figure jobs aren’t the smartest. They’re simply the most prepared.”
Followed by a tactical, 12-question interview prep sheet — practical gold.
Why it worked:
- Aspirational and tactical = perfect mix
- Shareable format (bookmark-worthy)
- Tap into job-seeker audience + emotions
3. “A Good Manager Can Change Your Life.”
“A good manager creates safety, confidence, and growth.”
A beautifully written reminder that leadership is a responsibility, not just a role.
Why it worked:
- Personal yet professional
- Encourages self-reflection
- Broad resonance across job roles and industries
4. “Stop Trying to Hire the Smartest People”
“Hire people who have these 9 traits instead.”
This post breaks down 9 underrated traits (like empathy, time management, and self-awareness) that define high performers.
Why it worked:
- Contrarian hiring advice
- Very shareable for team leaders and recruiters
- Uses sub-bullets to build credibility and detail
5. “10 Visuals That Will Change the Way You Think”
“Shift how you perceive things.”
Chris curated wisdom from Pejman Milani and added context, covering themes like failure, clarity, storytelling, and leadership.
Why it worked:
- Visual + textual combo
- Multi-lesson format = more saves
- High perceived value (“10 lessons in 1 post”)
📅 Posting Strategy
Chris posts daily at 5 PM (IST), like clockwork.
He doesn’t chase trends. He builds trust through:
- Repeatable themes
- Personal experience
- Actionable frameworks
He also cross-promotes his newsletter (Step by Step) and podcast (Wake Up), building a full content ecosystem beyond just LinkedIn.
🧵 Content Categories Breakdown
| Category | % of Posts |
|---|---|
| Work Culture & Leadership | 40% |
| Career & Hiring Advice | 30% |
| Founder Lessons / Reflections | 20% |
| Mental Health, Balance, Life Lessons | 10% |
His weekly cadence often looks like this:
- Monday: Founder insight or uncomfortable truth
- Wednesday: Career guide or listicle
- Friday: Empathetic reflection or emotional story
- Sunday: Newsletter plug or podcast clip
📈 Follower Growth & Influence
- Grew from 617K to 1 M+ followers in 12 months
- Averaging 4,600+ engagements/post
- Payouts from speaking, brand collabs, and creator programs average $10K/post
- One of the top creators for entrepreneurs in the UK
Chris’s success isn’t from short-term virality but long-term trust.
🛠️ What You Can Steal from Chris Donnelly
✅ Use empathetic leadership as a content angle
✅ Write bullet lists people want to save
✅ Hook with bold truths, then lead with solutions
✅ Post daily, at the same time
✅ Share frameworks + personal reflections
Hook Template You Can Try:
“You don’t need a promotion. You need a manager who believes in you.”
📌 Why Chris Donnelly Stands Out in 2025
In a world full of loud creators, Chris stays quiet – but clear.
He’s consistent, value-driven, and focused on real impact, not just likes.
With 1 M+ followers and a fast-growing ecosystem (podcast, newsletter, education), he’s a creator-operator hybrid who understands content and business.
If you want to build a trusted brand on LinkedIn, follow Chris Donnelly. And take notes.
Want to Write Like Chris?
Try recreating one of these posts using SuperPen:
- Search “empathy,” “leadership,” or “interview”
- Select a high-performing post in the library
- Use SuperPen’s AI to rewrite it in your voice
- Post or schedule directly to LinkedIn
No blank page. Just proven formats and smarter execution.
Want us to break down another creator next?
Drop a name and we’ll decode their entire content playbook.
Or…
👉 Use SuperPen to recreate the exact structure Chris uses:
- Trending post ideas
- Empathetic leadership templates
- Hook generator
- Scheduler
- 8 M+ post library to reverse engineer virality
Try it free.
Post like a pro. Build like Chris.
