I’ve often heard people speaking exasperatedly about how LinkedIn seems to be full of inauthentic people. I blame this on the idea that people often think they need to act like a know-it-all to prove themselves. As we all know, there is nothing more annoying than a know-it-all. It’s time we ditch the guru tactics and build authenticity on LinkedIn. Being human is far better for your LinkedIn presence than trying to flaunt or fake it every day. You simply don’t need to.
Who is the LinkedIn guru?
If you’re feeling the fatigue from constant motivational quotes, their over-the-top success stories, and the relentless self-promotion…you’ve found a LinkedIn guru. While the guru approach may garner attention initially, it’s not a sustainable LinkedIn strategy. For your sanity, feel free to mute or unfollow them. No real human is consistently smelling the roses and succeeding at everything they do. You don’t need to read that constant babble of useless information. Mute or unfollow the disingenuous people on LinkedIn and focus on your own efforts towards embedding true authenticity into your online presence.
Why doesn’t the guru approach work?
Building a sustainable, authentic LinkedIn presence is important. Moreover, the guru approach doesn’t work, because:
- Inauthenticity breeds disengagement: Just as you’re finding yourself rolling your eyes at the guru’s tactics, others are too. People can smell inauthenticity from a mile away. Guru tactics soon lead to losing audience trust and this affects engagement.
- It builds shallow connections: Guru tactics may get people a few likes and follows, but it’s not the way to build meaningful relationships on LinkedIn.
- It’s exaggerated and underwhelming: The reality doesn’t match the hype. Exaggerated claims and overly simplistic solutions simply don’t make sense. This damages the guru’s reputation, and that is a death knell for building credibility through LinkedIn.
Active authenticity is the answer
When you focus on genuine connection and value creation, you build trust and establish yourself as a thought leader in your field. With authenticity at your core, you can build a far more credible presence online. Here’s how:
- Be human: There is nothing more authentic than being simply human. Express compassion when someone in your network is facing a challenge. Share stories about your mistakes. Mistakes are how you learn, and when you’re continually learning, you’re building the type of expertise your potential clients will need to rely on. People connect with authenticity, not perfection. Celebrate being wrong, because it means you’ve learnt something new. Similarly, celebrate being right when you get something right, because it means you’ve learnt something new. All of this combined imbues true humanity into your online presence. And, don’t forget to infuse a little humour into your interactions. A good chuckle could lead to an interesting conversation.
- Showcase your motivation: Share stories about what inspires you, drives you, and guides you. If you have a professional mentor, share some insights from the journey of this relationship. Be upfront about what keeps you motivated in your work, or what makes you excited about your industry.
- Offer value, not hype: Focus on creating content that genuinely helps your audience. Share industry insights, offer practical tips, and answer their questions.
- Actively engage with your audience: Don’t use LinkedIn as a broadcast platform. Actively participate in discussions, answer comments, and connect with people on a personal level.
- Find your voice and use it well: You’re a unique human being, which means you have a unique voice, perspective, and expertise. Focus on what sets you apart from other professionals in your field. Work to define and develop your distinctive voice that reflects your personality and expertise.
- Celebrate your community: Showcase the amazing people you work with, the clients you serve, and the colleagues who inspire you. Building a strong community online strengthens your brand and demonstrates your collaborative spirit.
Networking isn’t just a numbers game
It’s better to have two good friends, than two hundred people who only vaguely know you. Many LinkedIn gurus approach networking like a numbers game, but that’s the wrong way to build an authentic presence online. Focus on building quality connections and treat that as your priority. Seek out and connect with people you genuinely want to build relationships with.
Slowly does it
Building an authentic LinkedIn presence takes time and effort. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results overnight. Stay consistent with your content creation, actively engage with your network, and focus on building genuine connections.
LinkedIn has the potential to be an incredible platform for professional growth and meaningful connections. Ditch the guru approach and build a credible presence by imbuing your activities with authenticity. By sharing your story, offering genuine value, and engaging with your audience in a human way, you will build a powerful LinkedIn presence that attracts the right kind of attention.
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