Yes, I get it, 'LinkedIn is not Facebook'

I got so annoyed today; I saw yet another person comment on someone's LinkedIn post proclaiming 'this isn't Facebook'. Geez, thanks for that assertion, Sherlock, I'm glad you clarified that! This isn't the first time I have seen this comment either, it's one that I see time and time again in the comments section on various posts. In fact, there are also LinkedIn articles and posts that go into detail about how people are oversharing and that LinkedIn should be kept to professional topics - whatever that means! 

Okay, perhaps I am a being a little sensitive because I too have coped this comment on some of my LinkedIn articles and posts. If you have ever read any of my content, you would you know that although I write about business and work, I also write a lot about my life and my experiences, which also include non-work related topics. Topics in the past have included - health, wellness, marriage, divorce, friendships, children, meditation, yoga, alcohol, exercise, and even Botox.

LinkedIn is meant to be a professional platform - I totally understand that. However, I honestly can't stand this idea that we are separate from our private lives. It is so old-fashioned and outdated. I remember when I first started working in the corporate environment, I felt I couldn't be myself and that I had to wear a (figurative) mask. I would constantly have to dull myself down, and heaven forbid if I ever showed anything that resembled a personality. It was exhausting. 

I am not one-dimensional; humans are not one-dimensional. There are many elements that make us, us. It is silly to think that the other aspects of our life do not affect our work or business life. Take for example exercise and health. When I feel healthy, I am happy. I am therefore more productive, more effective in my role and able to handle any challenges that come my way. Just look at how corporations are now putting such a big emphasis on health and wellness - Why? Because they know healthy people equals happy people, meaning that they are more productive and therefore more profitable for their business. Corporations know this, yet it seems like a high number of LinkedIn users can't see this link.

Another thing, when people say stuff like 'LinkedIn should only be used for professional content', who's to say what is considered professional or not? There are a lot of people on LinkedIn who work in industries that may not seem "professional", such as fashion, beauty, fitness, wellness, liquor, casino, TV, and entertainment. Should they be censored because their industry doesn't seem professional enough?

Perhaps we need to start accepting that there are many different industries and businesses and that maybe we could learn something from each other. I, for example, have implemented many things I have learned from my business in the beauty industry to my current company, which is in the construction industry. One of the items has been the social media strategy which I had for my beauty clinic. I took elements of it and implemented it in the construction business. As a result, our social media presence is quite high, and we were one of the first Australian construction companies that were very active on Instagram. This strategy has not only led to direct business, but we have also partnered with many of our suppliers and subcontractors through social media. I really have my experience in the beauty industry to thank for this.

I saw a few people make the 'this isn't Facebook' comment on someone who posted something on a recent world political news story. This is just insane. Political and world events shape us and our society. They can affect policies and law reforms and therefore affect business and our work. For example, take the hippy movement of the 1960s. They pushed the boundaries with sex, drugs, and music. It may seem superficial at first, yet these changes impacted all elements of society, including changes to societal norms and views, economic changes and law reforms. At first glance, it may seem that this is totally unrelated to anything remotely professional. Here was a collective group of people who were part of the counterculture, yet they impacted race relations, women's rights, views on war and free speech. There is no doubt that their presence impacted the world, business, and industries.

You may think that hippies are the furthest thing from being professional - yet it is this paradox that magnifies their significance. By not being part of the professional world, they influenced all elements of society including work and business. It would be foolish to not take into consideration their impact. It is the same as everything else that happens in life and society. It is all important, as it impacts how society views itself, influencing the business world.

Next time, instead of complaining that someone should use another platform to express themselves, why not just unfollow that person? Or better yet, how about we let people speak about what they like without judgment? Perhaps you might learn something new or realise that everything is related, even if you can't see how at that moment. It would be foolish to censor. Everything is impacting society, and as a result, business is changing to accommodate. What do you think?

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