Cultivate Your LinkedIn Network through Upstream Reciprocity
Shelly Elsliger, PPCC
Inclusion Strategist & Social Connector | Globally Recognized LinkedIn Trainer & Speaker | Career & Leadership Coach | Top Career Advisor: HireDiverse | 35K+ Followers | Anti-LinkedIn Bullying Advocate #decidetobekind
If you did not have a network on LinkedIn, what would LinkedIn be to you?
It is an important question to ask!
We are on LinkedIn to grow, advance, and thrive professionally and personally, but we can't do that ourselves. The real power lies in the network we build, nurture, and cultivate and in our behavior; what we do to prioritize, care, and support those important people in our LinkedIn network.
There is still the tendency for many people to think about themselves first which often turns out to be a huge mistake. Most people, who think about themselves first on LinkedIn, come off as self-serving sellers.. and... that just doesn't work on LinkedIn.
I learned a long time ago that investing in Upstream Reciprocity would not only help my network, but in the end, it would help me to flourish on LinkedIn. Once I went from WIIFM and changed it up to be, WIIFT, life on LinkedIn changed...for the better!
Basically, "Somebody who has just received help is elevated, happy and grateful and thus more likely to help someone else. This idea is called ‘upstream reciprocity’. Upstream reciprocity leads to random walks of altruism. One player initiates the chain, and then each recipient passes on with probability." ?
We all generally know the benefits of gratitude; a more positive outlook on life, a feeling of connectedness and value, a reduction in the symptoms of stress, a stronger feeling of happiness, and a desire to show up and be present. In other words, investing in upstream reciprocity will make LinkedIn a more advantageous, worthwhile, and even more prosperous place to be.
“Upstream reciprocity”—basically is a fancier way of saying, pay it forward."
When LinkedIn is viewed as a place for business transactions first, the human element dissolves and so does the ability to really connect with others on the platform. When we put the human element first, the table quickly changes, and suddenly TRUST enters into the equation. Both trust and gratitude help us recognize just how important relationships are especially on LinkedIn; there is an interdependence and we do need each other to make LinkedIn really and truly work.
There are several things you can do to flex your upstream reciprocity muscles here on LinkedIn:
In 2020, I wrote an article on Forbes about Community Building on LinkedIn .
The ripple effect of investing in upstream reciprocity is worth its weight in gold my friends
#keeponkinding
Follow me on Mondays#SG3 and get into the giving spirit!
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Shelly????
Join the #decidetobekind Group: https://www.dhirubhai.net/groups/13833326/
Order your #decidetobekind wristband (you always get one free to pay forward):
https://linkedexpress.ca/decide-to-be-kind/
Follow #hashtags: #kindclub #decidetobekind #SG3 #socialgivingexperiment
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Health promotion, Infodemic management, RCCE, Clinical Research, Pharmacy, Vaccines, Immunization. I support organisations to strengthen global, national, sub-national and local health systems.
2 年Thank you SHELLY ELSLIGER, PPCC, EDI Cert. This is explicitly inspirational.
Transform Your LinkedIn?? Success: Elevate Your Brand, Unlock Opportunities, Build Authority and Drive Growth. A LinkedIn? Trainer, Speaker, and Consultant for 12 years. I've got the Shirt! ???
2 年You've said it just like it should be SHELLY! ???? I am reminded of Stephen R. Covey, the author of ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’, who defines an emotional bank account as one's relationship with another. He explains the concept of an emotional bank account with a metaphor: “By proactively doing things that build trust in a relationship, one makes deposits”
Helping leaders invest in well-being, with a holistic lens, to prevent burnout. Founder, The Nourished Executive | Coach | Holistic Nutritionist | Mentor | Connector
2 年Great article. For me networking is always about investing in relationships and lifting others. A great question is how can I help? We are stronger when we lift each other.
Sharing the balanced life with influencers
2 年SHELLY, some excellent suggestions here for productive interactions on LI. Give us an example of “reframe challenging situations” as encountered on LI.
Projetista Mecanico Sênior Especialista
2 年This brilliant article reminded me of some excellent actors in the theater who, precisely because they were excellent talents, had something more, generosity and giving spirit. They gave tips, opened spaces for the younger ones, newcomers. It's fifteen recommendations are absolutely necessary to be observed and applied in the journeys of life, including. Thanks SHELLY ELSLIGER, PPCC, EDI Cert. for sharing with us these interesting and necessary references.??