10 More (Proven) Ways to Screw-Up in LinkedIn

My original “10 Ways to Screw-Up Your LinkedIn Presence” article has had hundreds of readers internationally since its posting on 10 June 2009. If you haven’t read it, you can get to it via this link: http://habaconsulting.blogspot.com/2009/06/10-ways-to-screw-up-your-linkedin.html

Over the past 15 months, I have continued to witness glaring issues with how people disrespect their own online profile in LinkedIn. Since so many people are still being lazy or foolish, or simply stubborn procrastinators, it’s time to add more cautionary advice about what NOT to do when maintaining your LinkedIn presence.

1. SKIP PROOFREADING FOR SPELLING/GRAMMAR, especially for your title or headline. This makes a very bad impression on the legions friendly with the Spelling and Grammar Police. No, LinkedIn doesn’t have a facility to help – do your homework yourself.

2. PASTE YOUR RESUME INTO YOUR PROFILE, because you’ve already spent a lot of effort crafting your resume. It’s lengthy, structured, full of technical language specific to your industry, and… woefully devoid of your personality. The purpose of LinkedIn is to connect and interact with all sorts of people, so be more personally engaging in how you present yourself so that people will be interested in getting to know you.

3. LIE ABOUT YOUR EMPLOYMENT STATUS. Some who are unemployed leave their previous employment information in, perhaps because they don’t know how to represent a status of being unemployed. This is not simply lazy; it’s lying. There are many pointers available for truthful alternatives. Search Answers in LinkedIn for creative solutions.
4. INAPPROPRIATE OR TOO FREQUENT STATUS UPDATES drive some people (like me) to hide all of your status updates, forever, out of irritation. I don’t need my LinkedIn page to be “Starring You” every day.
5. SPAM FELLOW LINKEDIN MEMBERS with relentless promotion of yourself or your business. When you need to ask for something, always counterbalance your request by giving a gift of information or assistance.
6. DUELING LINKEDIN & FACEBOOK PROFILES. Prospective customers or employers are going to Google you to find out more about you. When your LinkedIn and Facebook profiles make it seem as though you are two separate people, searchers will wonder who you really are. Are you the experienced and grounded entrepreneur, or the neurotic and scattered hedonist?
7. HIDE YOUR PERSONALITY behind techno-speak and bullet points. Without going too overboard, make sure your profile information reflects your personality. Your headline should be succinct, but attention-getting. Read your summary aloud and consider whether it sounds like how you would speak, or if it is too stilted. Ask a trusted friend/mentor for objective input.
8. CONNECT WITH ANYONE WHO SENDS YOU AN INVITATION merely to pump up the number of people to whom you are connected. Connect only with people you know and respect, through positive face-to-face or online interaction. What good is it to either of you to be connected to a stranger?
9. LET YOURSELF GO STALE. You have a profile in LinkedIn, but haven’t developed it or kept it current. You never log in, and don’t reach out to make connections. Make a decision. You are either all in or all out. You’re not doing yourself or anyone else any favors with halfhearted participation.
10. DISREGARD LINKEDIN RULES AND GUIDELINES as detailed in their User Agreement (which is legally binding).

Now go review your LinkedIn profile again.

Talkin' About a Revolution

Last Thursday, I attended a seminar in Chicago hosted by best-selling author Seth Godin (http://www.sethgodin.com/). My ticket was a generous gift from a long time friend and colleague. (Thanks, Carolyn.) The following is Mr. Godin’s teaser for his session:

You don’t need more data. What you might need, though, is a different way of seeing, an immersion in an alternative approach to:
     --creating work that matters
     --spreading ideas
     --interacting with people online

     --approaching the digital world with generosity

     --realizing that small things have more leverage than ever before

I am still processing what I heard in this session. I’m also reading Godin’s latest book, Linchpin. He is introducing very important thoughts about how we are in the midst of a revolution of work, original ideas, and emotional engagement. The call to arms is that in order to be indispensable in today’s business world, individuals need to “invent, lead (regardless of title), connect others, make things happen, and create order out of chaos” (from the dust cover of Linchpin). Otherwise, we are replaceable cogs in the machinery of an old fashioned organization. A scary and challenging perspective, no?

During the seminar, Godin made a comment I am paraphrasing here: “I can’t tell you how many people I am meeting, between the ages of 55 and 60, who have retired early and now say they want to do something creative – something that matters.” My mouth must have dropped open, because I felt he was speaking directly to me (although I won’t be 55 until next month…).

The only regret I have from my corporate career is that I played it a little too safe. I didn’t rock the boat often enough, challenge the status quo, argue with my boss when I knew he was wrong, or fight to implement my wildly creative ideas. This is an overly-harsh self-assessment; but I know I ratcheted back my performance to fit the mold that was in place. The result? I was successful – to a point. I achieved a position of some respect, was well-compensated, and able to retire early. The problem? The work I did rarely fed my soul or made a lasting difference. I left the company before the new wave of Ivy League-educated, private equity “cogs” decided who was dispensable. The writing was on the wall.

Are you indispensable? Have you unleashed your creativity to produce work that matters? Do you spread ideas, take risks, and engage with the digital world with a generous spirit?

Let’s get swept up in the revolution.

Are Shifting Consumer Values Changing Retail?

Is it merely the weak economy that is changing consumer buying behavior, or is the shift due to something more fundamental to our values?

Recent retailing research is indicating that we are moving from “conspicuous consumption” to “calculated consumption”. The trend is that people are saving more and spending less; buying more with cash and less with credit. Smaller homes are gaining in popularity over “McMansions”. Conspicuous consumption is becoming passé, causing some high end shoppers to request unmarked brown bags for their merchandise instead of incurring the guilt of strolling down the avenue carrying Gucci and Armani-emblazoned bags. (It’s tough to enjoy being well-to-do when unemployment is high and people are being evicted from their foreclosed homes.)

People are clearly seeking more value and long-term satisfaction from their carefully-considered purchases. It’s more satisfying to have the experience of a cruise vacation than to cuddle up with a new fall wardrobe that will be out of fashion next season. Cooking lessons that enhance at-home dining have long-term payback. Seeing Paul McCartney in concert creates a memory that lasts a lifetime. “Staycations” can be very thrifty, and also conducive to family bonding. Activities that build relationships and cherished remembrances deliver more happiness than material possessions.

Assuming that consumers continue with this modified behavior, the challenge is on the table for retailers to create binding loyalty through experiential retailing and customer service. If people find out that they are happier spending this way, this shift may be permanent.

There’s an exciting opportunity for retailers to act on this trend and break away from the pack in terms of sales, loyalty, and profitability. Retailers that really know their customers and engage them in buying experiences that break the old-fashioned mold will be the big winners. When was the last time you saw an Apple store that wasn’t mobbed? Why does Sephora have department store cosmetic counters frantically re-tooling? Why do we shop at Whole Foods even though it’s more expensive?

Critical components of success in this new world:
• A brand identity that stirs the emotions of customers
• Unique offerings aimed with laser-like precision at target consumers
• Sophisticated integration between web sites and brick and mortar stores
• Strategic partnerships that deliver special experiences and exclusive products
• Responsive and interactive application of business intelligence
• Personalized customer service that binds us to brands and products

Acknowledgements: Thanks to Mary Gendron for posting the New York Times article that inspired this blog: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/business/08consume.html?_r=1

Encouraging Productivity Like Farmers Do

I just read an article that summarized a surprising study published in an academic journal called Anthrozoos. The research showed that “by giving a cow a name and treating her as an individual, farmers can increase their annual milk yield by almost 500 pints”. Some quick Googling and calculating of my own revealed that 500 pints reflects approximately a 3.4% increase in productivity. That's fairly good payback from a little free bovine TLC.

To me, the report was not only interesting, but oddly heartwarming. Even cows (who my husband sadly assures me are not the brightest of God’s creatures), respond to being treated as more than a number. It made me think of those commercials for California Cheese, whose tag line is, “Great Cheese Comes from Happy Cows”.

Immediately I made the connection to management practices… If even cows are more productive when called by name and treated with empathy, why don’t all managers understand how important it is to interact with their employees with personal warmth and respect?? You don’t have to be friends with everyone with whom you work. I understand that you don’t necessarily even like everyone with whom you work. But we all respond better to a little kindness, recognition, and appreciation.

Wandering through the office giving a distracted nod to your co-workers does not create relationships nor build a team. Even a hearty “thank you” doesn’t cut it, without personalizing your appreciation to make it meaningful. Let people know you see them as individuals! Make it your business to know enough and be perceptive enough to be able to show a little personal interest.

“Susan, I was impressed by your preparation for yesterday's meeting."
“Mark, I heard you just got back from vacation. Did you enjoy your visit with your family in Florida?”
“Tracy, I heard you made those cookies in the break room.  They were awesome.”
“Bill and Martha, you did an incredible job resolving that issue yesterday. I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into taking care of the customer.”

Your job as a manager is more than planning, scheduling, writing reports, facilitating meetings, and responding to email. You are responsible for guiding and nurturing the growth of your team. It can be one of the more rewarding aspects of your career. Start by knowing – really knowing – who your players are and what they bring to the table. Call them by name. Recognize and express appreciation of their accomplishments. Show that you are paying attention.

Dairy farmers know how to encourage enhanced productivity, greater employee job satisfaction, and the respect and loyalty of their herd. So do we.