I’ve been an executive coach for a good while. I don’t often chase after new clients or look for extra gigs. If someone needs me, cool, I’m here. If not, no sweat. With seventeen other jobs and many hobbies, I’m never really bored.

I work with folks who are director-level and above across all departments. These are people who are tired and want more from life. For some, it’s about jumping ship and trying a new adventure. For others, it’s about finding their happy place right where they are.

Every week, I hear the work gripes. You can probably guess them: lack of passion, not enough empathy at the top, trust issues, not finding the right talent, leadership mishaps, crummy pay, too few resources, and tech that’s more of a pain than a help.

But here’s the kicker: since 2020, almost everyone’s been ranting about getting bombarded with spammy LinkedIn intros. They are burning work hours or precious family time to determine who’s real or fake. This ordeal makes them wary of accepting new connections, and that’s unfortunate.

Hear me out: All social media sucks. Why does Instagram keep asking if memes from my pals, like Sarah White, Jennifer McClure, Tim Sackett, and William Ticup, help my “business goals”? Seriously, Meta? But those memes are pure gold. It’s why I stick around despite the ad overload.

Here’s the thing with LinkedIn: if you’re not inclined to expand your network or learn new stuff, give it a pass. But if you ever want to learn new things, feel inspired, find a new job, or boost your business, log into LinkedIn weekly and connect with people.

While some say, “Don’t connect with strangers,” I say—why not? Unless they’re a business pretending to be a person or faking someone else’s identity. Connect wide. If you stick to just your circle, how’s that network gonna grow?

Decline invites and just have followers? Come on, you’re not that interesting. Who’s going to follow you? Most of us will get more out of a two-way connection than from a passive follower.

Why is a connection better than a follower? Your contacts bring you closer to folks you want to connect with in the future. Plus, don’t be a narcissist. Someone needs the expertise you’ve got right now.

Are you worried about spammers or those odd date requests? Handle it like any other unwanted message. A simple “No thanks” works wonders. It’s a kind way to set boundaries.

Block and unfollow buttons always exist if the sales stuff doesn’t disappear. But trust me, “no thanks” can be a real game-changer.

So, to wrap it up:

  • Don’t rag on LinkedIn until you have a personal engagement strategy.
  • Don’t ghost LinkedIn because of some spam.
  • Give the “no thanks” move a shot and watch it work wonders.

Every social media platform can be a pain without a strategy. Even if you don’t have friends who send fun memes, you can use these platforms to boost your careers. Dive into LinkedIn, connect with those who find you engaging, and save your cash instead of paying me to hear you gripe about LinkedIn!

Category: Work