LinkedIn the Expected and Surprising

The Expected

I joined LinkedIn several years ago. At the time it was a place to look for jobs and connect with other professionals I already knew. I had a network of 50 or so connections who were current or previous colleagues.

It seemed to be a place where professionals came to seek new opportunities, find candidates, read articles related to professional interests and learn something new from those they followed or connected with. As well as a place where other professionals promoted their services, skills or business to their many connections and followers.

I followed professionals and companies I was familiar with and interested in learning more about.

The Unexpected and Surprising

Over the summer I became more active and started to connect with and follow a few people outside of my circle. I posted two articles related to work completed as a consultant.

Then, I posted a response to one of Oleg V's posts and received hundreds of likes and as many requests to match. This was definitely unexpected and this prompted me open up to connecting with many amazing individuals from all over the world. I now have other 3,000 more connections, from many countries in nearly all of the continents.

I found LinkedIn to be a place where individuals do much more than what I expected when I first signed up a few years ago.

I found professionals who extended their time, assistance and support. Mentors and friends with whom I could have real conversations. Colleagues and strangers who were there to support my thoughts, ideas and moments of success. Individuals who shared learning, but also their passions, jokes and opportunities for some fun. Opportunities for open networking and to talk about who we are and where we are from.

I see colleagues and people who don't know each other, provide support in hard times by sending prayers, thoughts and words of support and in the good times, recognize each other's success, to celebrate and send wishes for much more. I see individuals who are trying to connect people they have likely never met, with opportunities or with people who can help them.

I see like-minded professionals discussing topics of interest, but also opening their hearts and offering their time to help someone in need. I see professionals sharing their stories, both the successes and failures, so that others might learn from these actions and reach their own dreams. I also see Individuals spending time with each other through messaging or video chat to discuss ideas or to just be there to listen.

LinkedIn is still everything I expected, but it is also much more...

Above all I have found a place for authentic human connection, with a community of learners who are eager to grow and help each other.

A community is what you make it- The individuals within the LinkedIn community have shown me how extraordinary a community can be.