Linked In – How to relax and build connections using “balls of steel…”

A little while ago I posted in a group on LinkedIn.  I am reposting here because unless you are in the group – called Townsville Business Network – you cannot see the posts.  You are welcome to borrow my approach to LinkedIn

Paste: James Hooper • Great article. I think there is a natural tendency to hold back asking to connect – as it may seem “pushy”. And when someone I don’t yet know asks to connect – sometimes the first response is “What are they going to try and sell me?”.

A different approach – as the article suggests – is to treat LI like an actual party. A ‘safe’ one where I can walk up and say hello without the implication that we HAVE to do business now that we have met. Yes – at some parties people have started to ‘sell’ to me in their first sentence – and I am sure that will happen here. But – I figure that if I treat people here like real people – as I would at a dinner party – then mostly they will respond the same way.

I like the idea of accepting all connections unless there is something clearly a bit dodgy – which I have not come across yet. I also like the idea of strapping on my “balls of steel” and systematically approaching interesting people to connect with each week. A bit like being at a party and walking up to people to say hello. For many years I was more likely to wait for others to approach me to mingle – staying “safe” with people I knew already. I learned via a combination of “screw this I’m bored” and “beer” that more fun was to be had by being the ‘out-goer’. Hence the ‘balls of steel”.

Now I even say smile and say “Hello” to people walking down the street that I don’t know should our eyes meet.

So – my new policies: If anyone asks to connect, I say yes. If someone looks at my profile (did you know you can see who looks at your profile?) and does not ask to connect – I will assume they are simply afraid of being “pushy” and I will ask to connect with them. Each week for 15 minutes I will search for different people to connect with. I will refrain from being concerned that people will “judge” me based on the people in my network.

Cheers
James

So – have a go.  I believe LinkedIn is a useful tool for relationship development, and that once we let go of the idea that “connecting” means that we have to do business with them, or that other people either will or will not do business with based on who you are connected to, or other slightly neurotic thoughts – it is a great resource.

Oh – please connect with me there  – click here James Hooper – my settings are set so that if you click “connect” we will be connected.  I think the “prove you know someone” level setting that many people have as default is not useful.

Buckminster Fuller said cryptically “You cannot learn less.”  Once I figured out out what that meant  – it gave me permission to smile and learn more.  In this instance it means that everyone knows something that I don’t – so the more people I know – the more resources become available for all of us.

Cheers

James