LinkedIn – I Love You but Let’s Try Connecting as Humans

Call me old-fashioned (it’s OK - people do it all the time), but what would happen if we flipped the script and made genuine, human connections here instead of always focusing on ‘building our brand’?

LINKEDINLIFETHOUGHTS ABOUT STUFF

Susan League

5/7/20242 min read

hands formed together with red heart paint
hands formed together with red heart paint

Have you noticed lately that SO many LinkedIn members are pushing their personal brands, offering advice on how to build your personal brand, and even selling services to build your personal brand? I get it – everyone wants to be an influencer these days and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with building a strong professional presence and making money off that, but sometimes those posts feel robotic and sometimes even disingenuous.

Like me! Follow me! Sign up for my newsletters! Browse my website! Buy my class!

Oy.

Call me old-fashioned (it’s OK - people do it all the time), but what would happen if we flipped the script and made genuine, human connections here instead of ‘building our brand’?

Would it be radical if we made LinkedIn more like real life by:

  • Engaging in conversation, not just self-promotion. Comment on interesting posts. Ask thoughtful questions. Spark discussion. You know – things you’d do with your friends gathered around a fire pit while drinking an icy cold Shiner or something.

  • Connecting with people, not just profiles. Shared skillsets and company sandboxes are great. But there's a lot more to see beyond the titles and companies. Find common interests and build relationships based on shared experiences.

  • Sharing your wins – AND your losses. I genuinely love it when someone in my network who’s been looking for a long time finally makes that I GOT THE JOB! post. But we all have setbacks too. Like friends, we should celebrate successes and offer support when things get tough. Vulnerability is a strength we don’t utilize often enough.

  • Offering help without expectations. Everybody needs a hand sometimes. Helping can be as simple as sharing your expertise, answering a question or making an introduction to someone in your network.

LinkedIn is a platform where we showcase our perfectly curated professional personas. But wouldn’t it be cooler - and maybe even more impactful - if it became a space for genuine human connection?

Absolutely nothing against those who have created personal brands, but I am a real person first. Everything else is just sprinkles on the sundae.

#humanconnection #realpeople #justspitballinghere

Enquiring minds - What are you passionate about BESIDES work? Share your hobbies and interests in the comments. I'd love to get to know YOU!