Are you (Linked)In or (Linked)Out?

What is the purpose of posting on LinkedIn? What should I post on LinkedIn? Should it be strictly business or should I sprinkle in some personal stuff? Do people care? Will it benefit my career (and/or my employer)? How serious/jovial should it be? Do I actually need to have an account? In an age of mass communication it is important to have something to cut through the noise. But am I just adding to it??

Whilst on leave earlier in the year I read a BBC article about LinkedIn and began to reflect on my use of social media as a professional tool. Some of my peers use it LinkedIn extensively. Others not so much. It made me wonder how important it is to have a LinkedIn account in my particular professional ecosystem. Could I be as effective in my job if I didn't use a LinkedIn account? Would it limit/enhance my employment prospects? Of course the answer depends on your profession to an extent. It may also depend what you actually post!?

I have tentatively dabbled in writing some light thought pieces and have only really used LinkedIn to post photos, tag people, send announcements, promote events/activities etc. I've now resolved to give my posts more thought and more time on the basis that it will ultimately help me be more effective and more efficient in my job. With that in mind the question is; what is the best way to use it? Should I try and be more personal to cut through the?corporate noise? Is making it more personal then inviting criticism that it is being used as a more Facebook style platform? Notwithstanding the security risks associated with revealing personal info.?

My LinkedIn account is my account i.e. it is not my employer's account. I always wrestle with my conscience after being asked to share/send something on my account ("don't tell me what to post!"). It is my choice what I post and when I use it. However, if the purpose of that particular channel is to improve the outcomes in my professional life, and by extension my employer, then perhaps being asked to share/send something is fair and reasonable. I'm paid to represent my employer and?if it means I am more effective at representing my employer (and in my case a significant number of members) then I should embrace it. Ultimately I still see it as a choice. I can embrace social media to attempt to be better at representing my corporate persona and my employer, but it is fraught with risk (particularly reputational).?

If there's one thing I steadfastly believe, it's that any content I post must be genuine and authentic. That they are written in a way people would imagine me actually saying for the most part. If you meet me in person I don't sound like a marketing-bot and I do give open and honest answers. Probably too honest at times. Posts should not be defamatory and opinions should always be backed with evidence. For the most part my employer may not care what I post. But developing a reputation as a loose cannon on social media may well diminish further career opportunities.?

So, could I do my current job without having a LinkedIn account? Of course I could. Would I be as effective at my job without it? I'm not so sure. Social media isn't for everyone, but in certain professions and used in a certain way it can be used for professional gain and career enhancement.?

A quick search suggests 2 million posts, articles, and videos are published on LinkedIn every day. That's a lot of noise to cut through. If you've read until the end of this, then maybe some of this post has an element of truth!