On LinkedIn?
For a cup of coffee?
For a drink at happy hour?
Why do we connect with others? Is it obvious, or is the agenda hidden?
I have changed my personal LinkedIn policy relating to connections. Thankfully I receive invitations to connect with others on a consistent basis. Often they are people I don't know. Here's the new policy.
If you ask to connect with me we agree to a simultaneous phone appointment. Why? So I can speak intelligently about my new friend...if someone asks. I have not known how to handle this situation and often hit "accept" and go on to the next thing. I realize that not knowing my new connection is a lost opportunity. How hard is it to review your new connection's profile and put together a list of questions? It's not hard. Phone appointments may lead to other things depending on mutual interest.
One last favor. If you wish to connect, please tell me why in your invitation. I don't discriminate and would like to initiate a relationship with a basis of openness and trust.
Great post Michael. I agree whole heartedly with your policy. I have accepted a connection from folks who only use the standard Linkedin connection request. I continue to do so, but ask questions about why they wanted to connect with me as well as questions I may have about their profile. If they don't respond within a "reasonable" amount of time, then I disconnect from them. I also purge my connections..via Linkedin and my address book of folks who aren't responsive to contact I initiate or contact me on their own regularly. There are plenty of folks in this world who are "worth" connecting with and I need to spend my efforts on them.
ReplyDeleteCheryl - Thank you for the comments. I recently had someone say to me "you can delete connections on LinkedIn?" Shear amazement. Purging connections is healthy. I don't see the point of having "500+" connections. If you can't help them...or they can't help you...bye bye!
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