I’ve been playing holiday instrumental music while writing.
I’ve watched 2 Christmas movies.
What I really love about the holidays though
is that they are all about giving.
Even on LinkedIn™.
If it’s true that it’s better to give than receive, why do so many leaders avoid giving?
I admit it, I was a lurker on LinkedIn™ for a long time.
I was an active user as part of my job, but I didn’t post.
EVER.
Of the over 1 billion (yes, billion!) people on LinkedIn, only a small percentage post (a recent report puts the number at 4% of members).
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional social network.
It’s reach is worldwide.
There is no bigger social network that focuses specifically on the professional market and it’s growing rapidly at a rate of 3 new members every second. (statistic from LinkedIn Pulse, May 2023)
And, there’s great news for those in a career transition.
As LinkedIn continues to grow, so does the number of users who rely on it to find new jobs.
Many job seekers are successful. Confirmed hires have increased by 88% year-over-year in 2022 (LinkedIn, August 2022).
If networking is when you make an ask then thought leadership is when you give away your good stuff. (Susan Gygax, 2023)
With all of these positive things happening on LinkedIn, why don’t leaders post?
This isn’t an exhaustive list; however, you may find yourself in it.
- Fear of Judgement: You may hesitate to post on LinkedIn because you don’t want to be judged by your professional network. You may worry about how your posts may be perceived or fear negative comments.
- Maintaining Privacy: You want to maintain your privacy (i.e. keep your lurker status). This was my favorite excuse. LinkedIn™ is a professional networking platform, and you may prefer to keep you professional life simple and separate from your personal life.
- Lack of Confidence: You worry about not being knowledgeable or educated enough to post. Posting requires putting yourself “out there” and sharing insights, ideas, or opinions with a professional audience.
Not convinced it’s time to be a good giver?
As any marketer will tell you, the Know, Like, Trust (KLT) strategy of marketing remains as true today as they did when Bob Burg first wrote about it in 1994.
One of the most successful ways you can build your KLT strategy on LinkedIn™ is to be a good giver.
How Do You Get Started?
I heard this statement recently and I think it drives the point home:
Your common knowledge isn’t common.
The knowledge, skills, and abilities you have earned and learned over decades in your field is your thought leadership anchor.
Like an anchor, it will keep you in one place and combat the winds that may steer you off course.
So, let’s get started…
This is going to be fun…really it is.
Your 31 Things List is your Thought Leadership Anchor
Take out a piece of paper or your phone or tablet or laptop and write down your 31 Things List
Thirty-one things that you do well and enjoy doing.
Why 31? Because even if you posted every day for a month, you would have something new to post about and the next month, you can start at number 1.
You may not post for 31 days in a month.
I am; however, eliminating the idea that you have nothing to say.
This will take you about 15 minutes.
A fifteen-minute investment and you have 31 ideas for posts that matter to you.
Here’s a few prompts to get you started:
I know how to…
I enjoy…
I’m good at…
I can show others how to…
I understand that…
I’m a good…
Got your list? You are now ready to be ahead of 96% of LinkedIn™ members – good on you!
Final Thoughts
Take advantage of being one of the few of your peers who is leveraging this worldwide platform to grow your network and your career.
LinkedIn™ will prioritize your content to your first connections (another great reason to expand your network).
And, the platform rewards educational content. The LinkedIn™ algorithm does not want your content to be viral (another great reason to avoid focusing on vanity metrics).
You’ve got what you need to be a good giver on LinkedIn™.
Get out there.
You’ve got this.