I do a LOT of networking. Not to say that I do more networking than anybody on the planet, but I do more by far than most people I know. That's just how it is when you're trying to build up business. So it really irks me when people are rude about connection requests.
This has been happening to me a lot on LinkedIn lately. Now, I don't claim to be the MOST sensitive to others' needs, but I do try. I haven't bombarded any one connection with requests, and believe me I could. But I am trying to start relationships with certain people. This is what LinkedIn is for! It is a tool for building networks. You can also think of it as an online resume or ad space, but for the most part it is for networking. Thus the name, LinkedIn. You are Linked in to other professionals. I don't see why this is a difficult concept for some people to understand.
Another thing - when I see an opportunity for somebody I know (even if I don't know them all that well) I send them a note about it. It's good practice to try to help people. Most networking groups are explicit about this. They want people to give referrals. I have not found a single networking group that has stated you should go there and sell sell sell. So I personally have been very mindful to make connections where I see a possibility. Do not ever accuse me of simply being greedy and requesting connections willy-nilly.
So here I am,
This has been happening to me a lot on LinkedIn lately. Now, I don't claim to be the MOST sensitive to others' needs, but I do try. I haven't bombarded any one connection with requests, and believe me I could. But I am trying to start relationships with certain people. This is what LinkedIn is for! It is a tool for building networks. You can also think of it as an online resume or ad space, but for the most part it is for networking. Thus the name, LinkedIn. You are Linked in to other professionals. I don't see why this is a difficult concept for some people to understand.
Another thing - when I see an opportunity for somebody I know (even if I don't know them all that well) I send them a note about it. It's good practice to try to help people. Most networking groups are explicit about this. They want people to give referrals. I have not found a single networking group that has stated you should go there and sell sell sell. So I personally have been very mindful to make connections where I see a possibility. Do not ever accuse me of simply being greedy and requesting connections willy-nilly.
So here I am,
sending one connection request to one person, and that person has a huge bad attitude about it. I won't name any names, but seriously I thought we were friends or at least friendly. (that person can forget about that lunch I owe them because it ain't gonna happen now!) I've had three people with bad attitudes about this in the last week, and I've just had enough!
Whether you are having a bad day or are just plain ignorant, here is a little tutorial to get you on the right path.
Whether you are having a bad day or are just plain ignorant, here is a little tutorial to get you on the right path.
Meet the lovely Adrienne. I do not know her, and she does not know me. I have blacked out lots of her personal information because it's not important. I picked her randomly for the purpose of this tutorial, and I hope she doesn't mind. But I could have picked any person who is 3 connections away from me for this.
If you will look closely, there are a few green arrows and a couple red arrows on this image. This is the information I wish to share with you. That box is titled "How you're connected to Adrienne." When you look at a profile of somebody who is 3 connections or fewer away from yourself, there is usually this box somewhere on the right side of the page telling you how you are connected to that person. See here on Adrienne's profile that she is three connections away from me. If I wanted to meet Adrienne, I would get in touch with Alexander or Dave by the green arrows to get the ball rolling. This s because Alexander and Dave are my connections. They're supposed to be people I know. They're supposed to be friendly.
This is the important part. I am completely aware that Alexander and Dave do not know Adrienne. It says right there that they are 2 connections away from her. When I forward Adrienne's profile to Alexander and Dave, they will see a different version of "How you're connected to Adrienne" than I do here. They will see who they know that Adrienne also knows.
THIS is the information I want. Since I do not know all of Alexander and Dave's connections, I have to rely on them to help me find out who Adrienne knows. (the red arrows) If they are kind people they could say, "oh yeah, it looks like Maria (made up name) knows Adrienne." If they are extra super business people, Alexander and Dave could say, "Maria X knows Adrienne, and Maria is a member of the AIA. You could try to connect with Maria there, and possibly she could connect you with Adrienne."
If YOU could do this for me, you would be in my good graces forever. Seriously. This is a big deal. Connect me with somebody else who can connect me with my prospect, if you will, and I will owe you. I will get you the biggest fanciest coffee you ever did lay your eyes on. I will connect you to everyone I know if you wish. Whatever. Just do this favor for me and you'll be golden.
End of tutorial.
I hope you understand I'm trying to grease the wheels of business for everybody here. In the big picture, if we all help each other out with our networks we can do so much more. I dare say we all could be doing a lot better in business if we each handled little requests with more grace. And I promise if you ask me if I know somebody who knows somebody else on LinkedIn, I will do everything I can to help you connect to that person within reason. Scout's honor.
Thanks for reading!
If you will look closely, there are a few green arrows and a couple red arrows on this image. This is the information I wish to share with you. That box is titled "How you're connected to Adrienne." When you look at a profile of somebody who is 3 connections or fewer away from yourself, there is usually this box somewhere on the right side of the page telling you how you are connected to that person. See here on Adrienne's profile that she is three connections away from me. If I wanted to meet Adrienne, I would get in touch with Alexander or Dave by the green arrows to get the ball rolling. This s because Alexander and Dave are my connections. They're supposed to be people I know. They're supposed to be friendly.
This is the important part. I am completely aware that Alexander and Dave do not know Adrienne. It says right there that they are 2 connections away from her. When I forward Adrienne's profile to Alexander and Dave, they will see a different version of "How you're connected to Adrienne" than I do here. They will see who they know that Adrienne also knows.
THIS is the information I want. Since I do not know all of Alexander and Dave's connections, I have to rely on them to help me find out who Adrienne knows. (the red arrows) If they are kind people they could say, "oh yeah, it looks like Maria (made up name) knows Adrienne." If they are extra super business people, Alexander and Dave could say, "Maria X knows Adrienne, and Maria is a member of the AIA. You could try to connect with Maria there, and possibly she could connect you with Adrienne."
If YOU could do this for me, you would be in my good graces forever. Seriously. This is a big deal. Connect me with somebody else who can connect me with my prospect, if you will, and I will owe you. I will get you the biggest fanciest coffee you ever did lay your eyes on. I will connect you to everyone I know if you wish. Whatever. Just do this favor for me and you'll be golden.
End of tutorial.
I hope you understand I'm trying to grease the wheels of business for everybody here. In the big picture, if we all help each other out with our networks we can do so much more. I dare say we all could be doing a lot better in business if we each handled little requests with more grace. And I promise if you ask me if I know somebody who knows somebody else on LinkedIn, I will do everything I can to help you connect to that person within reason. Scout's honor.
Thanks for reading!
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