Does it matter ANY-way?

To be honest I'm really not sure where to begin, because I'm a little frustrated at the moment with unwritten rules of engagement. Probably not the best time to put pen to paper so to speak but I'm going to give it a shot.

I'd like to start off by asking everyone a very simple question... Why are you actually on Linkedin? Seriously.

Maybe it's to share updates on the status of your company or, to let everyone know that you're in the market to fill a specific position. Who knows, you may be among the less than 1% who look to publish your own content - articles like this one, exercising your position and views on an issue or topic that you believe will secure the attention of the market and resonate with your peers. Then of course there is the simple ebb and flow of engagement throughout the course of each day that consists of liking posts, sharing a video or an article, even adding your own two cents by commenting on someone else's content.

As a very early adopter of Linkedin who has been intentional in building a professional network (not just clicks), for me personally, it's about constructive open dialog and the exchange of ideas with other thoughtful professionals. Offering different perspectives and at times, opposing points of view designed to expand the breath of dialog in the thread of a conversation. Sounds fair enough right? However, as of late I have discovered that my position unfortunately isn't so commonly accepted or shared.

I have made a conscious and concerted effort to publish content that is thoughtful, constructive in nature, that offers a challenging and often times insightful perspective outside of the norm, such as a focus on the struggles within making a decision on the ideal hire and addressing the sensitive topic of the gender pay gap. I've delved into the complex and inherent language of high-performers (Renegades) and even offered an intimate inside look into the executive search process of recruiting a COO, just to name a few. But more than this, I have invested the time to consume the content of those within my network in order to contribute and offer value. In exchange for my efforts however, I have recently experienced a form of censorship, whereby my comments have been muted (deleted) on various occasions. What has puzzled me over the past several days, and perhaps you can help me understand this - is why?

According to Linkedin, its mission is to "connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful." A means to that end is the collaboration of thought-leadership among us. Intentionally "connecting" with one another in order to add mutual value to our respective professional echo systems. Coincidently, Linkedin’s Founders, Reid Hoffman and Konstantin Guericke were both Gen Xer’s - the generation known for "getting things done" as well as the MTV Generation - I Want my MTV! They clearly "intended" this to be more than an entertainment platform. If it’s simply about entertainment value - That ain’t workin’.

Of course I have taken a step back to evaluate the nature of my engagement in each of these situations, however I'm left at a mental dead end. I found that my comments were constructive in nature, asking questions as to how something so impressive might have been accomplished? At other moments I submitted an additional point of view that had not yet been offered or considered. An example of this would be that of a Harvard Business Review article shared last week by HBR.org Editor Maureen Hoch. The piece garnered 277 comments, of which I was one. The article spoke of the hidden teams within organizations and fostered an abundance of opinions, views and counter-views on the topic, and of course I contributed to the conversation, but at no time were my comments unprofessional, argumentative, crass or disrespectful. I simply sought to better understand the subject matter or positively contribute in one form or another.

My additional frustration is based in simple principle. If you're not looking for constructive engagement or to challenge conventional thought, and if you're not open to the views of others be they positive or negative, then why are you putting yourself out there? Is it simply everyone's intention who posts content on Linkedin to have others fall-in-line and give them a proverbial pat of the back? Of course, this doesn't apply to everyone reading this, but it's a question I feel compelled to ask. 

No... I may not subscribe to your point of view, and yes, you may have piqued my curiosity and invoked my desire to inquire more about what you've stated - but isn't the idea to ENGAGE others and foster conversation? This is the sort of constructive engagement I truthfully believe companies wish to foster with their teams - yet come up short time and again. In my opinion, if someone, be it me or anyone else on this platform has taken the time to read your article, watch your video or, consume something that you personally felt was valuable enough to share and took the time to leave a thoughtful comment, I feel it is your obligation to let their comment stand and respond in-kind, if out of nothing more than professional courtesy and an appreciation for their attention.

Now don't get me wrong. I completely understand the art of being a fly on the wall, soaking everything in and basking in the security of sitting on the sidelines. I also understand the position of those who simply see Linkedin as a means to broadcast and disseminate information without the true intent of actual engagement. What I'm referring to are those of us who post, share and comment with genuine intent, and according to my news feed the individual contributions appear to be endless, to which I applaud. 

If you wouldn't mind, I would appreciate you letting me know if you have been the focus of censorship by your peers on this platform? Has anyone ever deleted your comment or, is it that I am sitting here on an island by myself due to my obvious unappealing commentary? 

I present this article as Exhibit A. Some may in fact take issue with it, or have been the "victim" of one of my comments on their posts. If that be the case, I welcome the opportunity for you to express your opinion - The floor is yours! And trust me, be it positive or negative, I will not delete (censor) your comment. If you’re going to do it right, I genuinely believe: That’s the way you do it.

About Steve Diedrick...

Steve is the founder of Redmond, a global executive search firm whose clients include world renowned brands and start-ups that are shaping tomorrow's world. As a highly respected authority and pioneer in the field of human capital with close to three decades in the space, his progressive ideas on search-excellence reflect a profound understanding/passion for the global economy and the ever-evolving mindset of the unique talent that propels companies forward. He has personally reached out to more than 100,000 professionals and interviewed over 35,000 potential candidates throughout his career. His personal drive, perspective, discipline and focus is a culmination of his life experience living abroad and the 27 years spent mastering the Martial Art of Qi Gong. His Mantra: There is nothing like direct experience that takes you from knowledge - to knowing.

Email me at: steve@redmondresearch.com or Text me at: 947.222.9200 and let's discuss how Redmond can help you.

? Redmond Research, Inc. 2019