Leadership: LinkedIn and opened out

Published: 2010-12-10 There are 8 comments ... please add yours below

You can widen your horizon: engaging and inspiring followers, whom you’ve never met

avoiding being bound by old concepts of geography, time zones and physical limitations

Old technologies and ways of doing things always colonise the new. Value only emerges when the unique potential of the new is properly exploited. Early TV was radio with pictures: boring shots of people reading the news. This changed once media companies recognised the mobility of TV cameras delivered powerful on-the-spot reporting – whether of earthquake damage or red-carpet events. For many leaders, social media and networking tools are still little more than an electronic Rolodex. Is that you? Here are five questions I’m answering for myself from engaging with the networking tool LinkedIn. What are your answers?

I’m far too old to be a digital native. So, I apologise if this is old-hat for some (or most) of you. But, I fear there are plenty of leaders like me, who are still not fully earning the digital dividend. From my experience, it’s less about new rules and more about new ways.

Who’s your audience? Even online, it’s still true that “who you know” is often more important than “what you know”. But, the “who” is redefined. It’s no longer just people in your town, region or country. It’s multinational: anyone with common interests, wherever your language is spoken and ideas can be shared or your offering delivered.
How do you reach them? I’ve used email for years, but my address book has been substantially local. With my Leadership Action Planning tool and my weekly blog, however, networks like LinkedIn offer amazing ways to “meet” people around the world via discussions of shared business or professional issues. Having seen what has happened so far, I expect in five years my (digital) address book will be hugely bigger – and most people in it will be living in other countries.
What’s the value of your network? This hasn’t changed. There are three variables: the Number of people you know; their Estimation of your value-add; and, their Talent or capacity to help you. Value = N x E x T. And, online more than off, it’s easy to organise how you build – and maintain – your network.
How do you increase your value-add? Since we now “talk” online, you can focus more effort on the content: honing your ideas and questions – and you can do this when and from wherever you choose. With a modicum of politeness, your contributions are taken at face value. People soon recognise (and link to you), if they find you’re adding value.
What do you need to avoid? From my short experience, I’d say: don’t splatter – or blather. Choose carefully the topic(s) on which you engage. Without focus and commitment, you’ll run out of steam. Equally, if you make annoying or time-wasting contributions, people will skip your comments – and your network value will reduce.

Online, as offline, success comes from being courageous; taking the plunge. Nothing new in that. What’s your advice re using LinkedIn and its ilk? Please share your ideas below.

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" ... process is superb" Paul Sprokkreeff, CEO Web Profits Pty Ltd
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Dr. Timothy Pascoe AM
PhD (Cambridge), MBA (Harvard), BE & BEc (Adelaide)
Creator, V|E|C|T|O|R Leadership^®

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Comments (8)

Timothy Pascoe - date: 2010/12/14 02:35 pm

Dear All,

Thanks for your comments.

@ Joseph Mullin

Oops. I certaintly didn't intend to suggest that I personally see LinkedIn as a digital Rolodex. Quite the opposite. My apologies for the confusion.

I agree with all your comments - and hope that my involvement and commentary as part of various LinkedIn discussions reflects this.

@ Ijaz Rana,

Thanks for your kind comment.

@ J Jeyaseelan,

Yes, social media have a long way to go. We're still just beginning. Part of the digital revolution, which is only in its early stages - notwithstanding amazing things that are already happening.

@ Firdhaus Khan,

I like your three points - including particularly the need for cultural sensitivity.

@ Phadke Subodhkumar Narayan,

As always, a very kind comment. You've been very kind in introducing others to my weekly Pascoe's Potshot. This is a wonderful help to us in getting the word out. Please keep it up.

Again, thank you all for your comments.

Timothy

Joseph Mullin - date: 2010/12/14 12:02 pm

Dr. Pascoe IF you are seeing LinkedIn as an electronic Rolodex then you do not see the power in LinkedIn. LinkedIn is much more than a Rolodex it is a community made up of smaller communities, AKA groups, for the purpose of sharing knowledge among peers. It is networking on steroids if you understand the power and the correct way to use it. It is about how to use and the purpose of using every feature that it provides. My audience is a diverse group of people that I share a mutual benefit with. By that I mean there is a way that we can help each other. I reach them by group discussion, in answering questions and in direct emails. For the N E T, I am from the quality school of thought on this. I find it better to have a smaller quality network that I can truly have a relationship with each one rather than have an open network where I do not know most of the people in it. As I stated earlier I need to see a mutual benefit in our connection in order for me to connect. There needs to be the ability to help each other. I increase my value added by not being in the three of the four classes I have for users in the discussions and answers on LinkedIn, The takers: Those who never contribute but read the post and take away from them The yeah me too's: Those that just post a simple yeas I agree line and that is it. Well if there are two sides of an issue being discussed I do not know which side you just agreed with. The glaze overs: These people are like politicians, they say a lot of words but on closer examination they have no meaning. There is no substance to what they said. The in-depths: This is the class that I belong to. We think about the discussion topic and then answer with an in-depth and compelling answer. We usually take it down a few layers as to educate those reading it. IT makes for a better discussion as other in-depths will add to it. What to avoid? Spending too much time helping and not asking in return. Being caught in the I'll just answer one more and it taking up all your time.

Ijaz Rana - date: 2010/12/14 12:02 pm

Dear Timothy. You are hitting the nail at the right place. Great job. Thanks & Best Regards. Ijaz

J Jeyaseelan - date: 2010/12/14 03:12 am

Very well said. Social networking is still evolving. I do hope that in the next few years people of the same feather would flock together more easily. There is still lot more value to be realized from this online networking phenomenon.

Firdaus Kahn - date: 2010/12/14 03:07 am

Dr. Pascoe,
Since we share a LinkedIn fellowship, it's delightful to see you being such a keen observor of the same, besides an avid contributor. The article highlighted valid points. My observations about social media (LinkedIn & facebook) are as follows -
(1)Literally the world is your oyster! The snowballing effect of networking carries great potential. But you need to take a conscious decision about the people you would or wouldn't want in your network.
(2)Social media carries with it "The Emperor's New Clothes" curse! You are out there in the open - your opinions, activities, trials & tribulations up for scrutiny. So be truthful & judicious.
(3)You require a cultural sensitivity to engage in global 24*7 conversations. Constructive criticism, genuine apologies, well-intended clarifications and such can tide you through any glitches you might encounter.

Here's wishing one 'n all 'happy e-conversations'!

Phadke Subodhkumar Narayan - date: 2010/12/13 07:59 pm

Namaste sir,

This is well thought & well drafted article. I wish let everyone across the globe reads it word by word.

I thank you for informing me about this article. I also thank you for keeping me in "your trust circle".

Without being told & without being asked, I am sharing this article as it is in India and empowering them.

Sincerely,

Phadke

Timothy Pascoe - date: 2010/12/13 02:51 pm

Dear Karthikeyan,

Many thanks for your kind comment.

I (and I'm sure others too) would welcome any thoughts or advice you have on social media - and their place in our work and leadership careers. Please feel free to share them with us.

Timothy

Karthikeyan - date: 2010/12/13 11:09 am

Pretty Cool & Sharp Tips, Thanks

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Leadership: LinkedIn and opened out

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