Transforming my LinkedIn experience: From Dread to Inspiration

I will be honest. for a long time, LinkedIn felt like a chore; something I only used to stay in touch with colleagues. Every login left me drained, as repetitive posts and polished updates from others made me feel disconnected. I struggled to find meaningful content or authentic conversations, and I wasn’t sure how to use LinkedIn in a way that felt true to me.

Candidly, here’s why I felt this way:

1. Echo Chamber Syndrome

Most of my connections were from a few long-term companies, leading to a cycle of similar posts with little diversity. This created an echo chamber of similar contents. Every time something launched, I saw the same post repeated dozens of times. This created a cycle where the content started to feel like a formality; authentic moments of connection felt harder to come by. I longed for more meaningful, thought-provoking conversations and ideas that inspire and help me grow, but I wasn’t sure how to tap into the wisdom of my network.

2. The Humble-Brag Trap?

I grew tired of the over-polished career updates and felt insecure that I wasn’t celebrating my own accomplishments enough. For a long time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone else’s team was celebrating their achievements and I wasn’t doing enough to celebrate mine. But when I posted our achievements among a dozen other similar posts, it felt self-serving and sterilized. This sounds silly, but I believe it’s a sentiment shared by many. While much of the work we do is worth celebrating, strategic and supportive nature of our Global function meant that we couldn’t talk about our major initiatives (yet), or we weren’t the one executing them in markets. This dynamic changed now that my team has been focused on executing our major global initiatives with partner-market for efficiency and effectiveness, but we still have a gap when it comes to posting corporate-approved contents, and opening the platform to an endless list of others’ glowing achievements was starting to drain me.

3. Lack of Vision??

And then there was the fundamental problem: I didn’t have a clear vision of how I wanted to show up on LinkedIn. I’d believed (wrongly) that I could only post content that was “washed, rinsed, and sanitized” and approved by multiple layers of management. I was unsure of how to engage with LinkedIn authentically. It didn’t feel like a space where I could express myself authentically, or share ideas that were personally meaningful.

But last year, I decided it was time to change the dynamic.?

I’m not very active on social media, but I realized that I wasn’t fully exploring LinkedIn’s potential as a platform for inspiration and connection. I am connected with incredible professionals in industries like Branding, Design, Retail, Food & Beverage, and Personal Care. If they are in my network, I loved working with them and valued their expertise or opinions. Why not turn my negative relationship with LinkedIn into a positive, authentic experience??

Here’s what I learned in the process:

1. Defining the Value I Could Bring

The first step in transforming my relationship with LinkedIn was getting clear on what I could contribute. As a brand design expert with over 20 years of experience, I realized that my knowledge of storytelling, conceptualizing, and analyzing ideas could offer valuable insights to others. As a minority design leader, I also had a unique point of view that others in similar positions might relate to. This felt like a real opportunity to share my perspective.

Additionally, I was connected with some incredible business and design leaders who had a wealth of expertise. I realized that I could use my platform not just to share my own thoughts, but to spotlight the brilliant work of others, creating a space where I could amplify voices I believe in.

2. Identifying the Value I Wanted to Gain

The next step was to identify what I hoped to gain from LinkedIn. Networking was a given; I wanted to stay connected with people I’d worked with and keep up with their journeys. But as I spent more time on the platform, I realized there was so much more to gain. The real value came from putting myself out there, sharing my ideas, and learning from others in return.

One of the first pieces of content I posted last year was an analysis of the Jaguar brand redesign. It was a topic that piqued my curiosity, and I intentionally kept my point of view neutral and speculative, aiming to invite a mix of positive and critical responses. What I didn’t expect was the insightful and passionate feedback I received from professionals in the auto industry. These experts shared a wealth of knowledge, ranging from branding equity to industry shifts, that deepened my understanding of the field. There are parallel lessons I could apply to other categories I work in. The depth of knowledge and generosity of thought that I received from simply inviting others’ opinions blew me away.

3. Shifting from Passive to Active Engagement

One of the biggest revelations I had was that I could be active in a way that felt true to my interests and expertise. Instead of passively scrolling through others’ success stories, I started engaging with content I found inspiring, sharing my thoughts, and asking questions. Instead of just consuming information, I’m learning and building relationships in a way that adds value to my work today.

The platform has become an active space for me to engage with topics I’m passionate about; branding, strategy, business models, and leadership. I’ve learned so much from the unique perspectives of others in my network. With more and more content online being generated by AI and bots, the genuine expertise and ideas shared by my colleagues who I respect are increasingly valuable.??

The Result: A Revitalized LinkedIn Experience

Today, LinkedIn is no longer a drain. It’s a place for inspiration and genuine connection and inspiration. I genuinely enjoy the content my colleagues share, and I know how to reach out when I want to dive deeper into a specific idea or gain a fresh perspective on an issue.?

If you’ve ever felt like LinkedIn wasn’t living up to its potential, I’d love to hear how you want to transform your experience with the platform. Has it been a source of inspiration for you, or do you still struggle with the same issues I once did??

In a world of algorithm-driven content, human-driven ideas have become more precious than ever. As we navigate the future of work and connection, LinkedIn has the potential to be more than just a networking tool—it can become a meaningful platform for sharing ideas, building relationships, and, most importantly, finding inspiration in the work of others. And for me, that’s a game-changer.

Disclaimer: The views and personal opinions expressed in this article are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization, entity, or individual with whom I am associated.

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