Many people still view their connections on LinkedIn as a numbers game: The more connections they have, the more influence they think THINK have.
But they’re wrong.
Effective social networking isn’t about HOW MANY PEOPLE you connect with: It’s about HOW WELL CONNECTED with each individual you are that matters. That is why LinkedIn’s core networking philosophy is that users should send connection invitations only to people with whom they have a prior relationship.
LinkedIn requires users to know someone’s email address to invite them to become part of your network — but LinkedIn users users who play the numbers game (LinkedIn Open Networkers, or LIONs) circumvent the requirement by publicly posting their email addresses in their profiles, and letting others know that they openly accept invitations from ANYONE.
Linkedin actively discourages these activities in a number of ways. For example, they added “I don’t know this person” as standard response to connection invites. And, LinkedIn users that get flagged by five of these are automatically restricted.
A more-effective way of “playing by the numbers” is to identify four to six of the most beneficial connections your have on LinkedIn and to foster deeper relationships with these key individuals — as your personal Board of Directors. Just as a company’s board of directors offers their experience to guide decision making, your personal board of directors can do the same in your personal and professional life.
“Your Board is a small group of people who know your strengths and weaknesses, but are not necessarily tied to the emotional outcome of your decisions,” said Amy Dorn Kopelan of Guru Nation. ” The commonality is people who are able to help you think, and can be objective.” The board should not include only friends and family members. It should be a diverse group that can pose the big questions that need to be asked. Although you can communicate frequently with board members by phone, email and social networks, try to meet with board members face-to-face occasionally — over coffee, breakfast or lunch — and ALWAYS pick up the tab: It demonstrates the value you place on your board members’ relationship, advice, and time.
Use your board regularly, but without overtaxing them. Like muscles, social networks grow stronger every time you exercise them properly — but they can also be easily strained.
Credits: Cartoon is courtesy of Rob Cottingham.
Chairman of the Board
Chairman of the Board was one of many heroic epithets used to describe Frank Sinatra. He was also known as ‘The Voice’, ‘The King of Crooners’, and ‘Old Blue Eyes’. Enjoy this video tribute to “That’s Life.”
About Troy Janisch