Are We Networking or Just Collecting Connections?
Is it just me, or has the concept of connecting on LinkedIn changed recently?
One of the things I have always loved about LinkedIn is that it is built around a fairly simple concept: 1:1 networking. Granted, as a social media manager this can present its challenges when you are managing a business page, but as a networking tool I think this is one of the things that makes LinkedIn so useful. It gives us the opportunity to connect with like-minded people who share common goals, interests, skills or values, or perhaps simply share interesting content which adds value to our working lives.
I am on LinkedIn to network, share knowledge and learn. Always learning.
But I have found myself thinking more and more about what actually makes a good connection, particularly as it seems to have become increasingly easy to collect connections without necessarily building any kind of relationship with those people.
We can send and accept a connection request in a few seconds, but having hundreds or thousands of connections doesn't necessarily mean that we have a strong network.
A network isn't simply a list of people you are connected to. It is the relationships you build with those people.
For me, networking has always been about the possibility of a relationship. That doesn't mean every connection needs to become a close professional relationship, a business opportunity or even a conversation that lasts beyond LinkedIn. It simply means there should be some reason for making the connection in the first place.
And perhaps this is where the distinction between following someone and connecting with someone is actually quite useful.
Do you really need to connect?
If I come across someone whose content I really enjoy, whose knowledge I value or whose work I want to keep an eye on, I don't necessarily need to connect with them. I can follow them, read what they share, interact with their content and get to know a little more about what they do.
LinkedIn itself makes a distinction between the two:
Following someone allows you to see their content without creating a two-way connection.
Connecting is intended to create a professional relationship. (LinkedIn)
I actually think this is a useful distinction because we don't necessarily need to connect with everyone we find interesting. Sometimes following someone is enough if you simply enjoy their content or want to learn from them. Equally, I don't think you need to have met someone in person before you can connect. If you share an industry, interest, event, skills or simply think you might enjoy a conversation, then there is a genuine reason to connect.
For me, that's the test: is there a genuine reason why we might want to know each other?
If there is, connect. If there isn't, perhaps follow them first and see where it leads.
My three tips for better connecting etiquette
1. Think about why you want to connect
I know LinkedIn has traditionally suggested that you should only connect with people you know, and its current guidance still encourages members to connect with people they know and trust. (LinkedIn) But I don't necessarily think that means you have to have met someone in person before you can build a professional relationship with them.
Some of the most interesting connections can start with two people who have never met. Perhaps you work in the same industry, have a shared interest, attend the same events, could see yourselves working together in the future, or simply have something you think you could learn from each other.
For me, the question is really whether there is a genuine reason to connect.
If you think you might have a conversation, collaborate, learn from each other, attend the same events, share useful ideas or perhaps even meet for a coffee one day, then why not?
But if you simply came across someone's profile and thought they looked like a useful person to have in your network, perhaps following them first is actually a better option. You can get a feel for what they share and whether there is a genuine connection before asking them to become a first-degree connection.
You don't have to connect with everyone you find interesting. Sometimes following is enough.
