Being Real on LinkedIn

We don't expect people to be 'real' on LinkedIn.

That's because most of us show up at work with the best versions of ourselves, and we also do it on LinkedIn, right?

That's true. But did you know, there are ways to show a more engaging version of you on LinkedIn?

A version that's still professional, but also relatable and more likely to attract attention.

A conversation with a student about one of my posts was a valuable reminder that people appreciate honesty and emotional vulnerability on LinkedIn. This student said, 'I didn’t get on LinkedIn for people to be real.' She didn’t expect people to be honest about career challenges and decisions.

In a sea of generic posts about new jobs, awards, and work anniversaries, sharing that I was feeling overwhelmed and needed a reset, was both validating and comforting for other people.

Vulnerability?

I shared that post because I wanted to acknowledge a trend of overwhelming stress and burnout that I’ve seen among friends and colleagues, and say that it’s okay to ask for help. I had waited too long to say that I wasn’t coping and when I did, help was closer at hand than I thought.

I made myself vulnerable by revealing that I’m not successful all the time. Of course, nobody is successful all the time, but LinkedIn could have you believe that some people are.?

Vulnerability is powerful. Brené Brown said, 'vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.' It leaves us open to possibility and willing to embrace something new. It’s also highly relatable, and so often hidden. When one person sees that another person isn’t perfect, and is inspired to keep reaching for their goals despite the hard days and failures, that’s pretty amazing.

I was honest and vulnerable in that post, but I was also strategic.?

Strategy?

Strategy isn’t evil; it’s simply a conscious decision to share something for a purpose (or in this case, more than one purpose). I wanted to help others, thank many people who have supported me, and signal to potential employers and clients that I was considering changing jobs. And it worked!

The post attracted attention, and started valuable conversations and feedback both on and off LinkedIn.?

I enjoy following others on LinkedIn who do a similar thing - that’s how I learnt to do it myself. People who step outside the automatic prompts that LinkedIn gives them and share things creatively and generously. They make my time on LinkedIn both interesting and valuable.?

If our connections on LinkedIn are only sharing sanitised statements about career achievements, our time on the platform can get pretty dull.

So, how do you figure out which ‘real’ things to share?

Sharing Conversations

Choosing what to share on LinkedIn is tricky and it’s probably the most common question I get asked by students and professionals alike.?

The secret is to think smaller. Weird, right?

By smaller, I mean instead of only sharing big career milestones and awards in a broadcast style (all about you, nothing of value for your audience) think about the conversations you’ve been having lately, at work and with friends.?

1. Are there common themes and/or frustrations in those conversations??
2. What expertise do you have that others ask you about? And if you’re a student, you do have expertise - teach a communications professional about how to get the most out of TikTok for their brand.
3. What are some common challenges at work? For example, balancing client needs and budget, or systems that don’t serve users as well as they could.
4. What do people at your stage in career complain about? And what sort of wisdom can you draw from this?
5. What opportunities do you see in your industry?
6. How do you balance caring and family responsibilities with work??

These are just some of hundreds of potential questions that could prompt your next LinkedIn post. The key is to keep your reflections positive, constructive, and valuable to your audience. An angry rant about your employer or colleagues is unlikely to get the kind of attention you’re hoping for!?

It’s a process of trial and error and as you share a few posts, you’ll start to get a sense of what works, and what doesn’t.

If you keep the focus on sharing valuable insights, rather than just promoting yourself, you’re more likely to connect with your audience.?

And remember, the idea is to show us a little more of the real (professional) you.?

I’d love to know if you have experimented with this and how it went - make a comment below!

Join me at Conscious Human(ity) on Substack - a newsletter for creative and curious humans who want to explore how we can live better, for ourselves and for the planet.

You can also find more practical advice about content creation, careers, and personal branding over at my blog: Brave Little Pig