Humanizing Linkedin - Bringing family into your professional feeds
James Paul Pilande
General Manager of EXSTO Philippines Inc. Architect, Singapore Accredited Interior Designer, Indoor Air Quality Specialist and Editor-in-Chief of TheOfficeDesigner.com
We are in Linkedin for a particular purpose… either expanding our network, meeting new connections, finding a job or merely trying to enhance our professional profiles to showcase our growth and achievements. If you look closely all these are for business and professional objectives. In the corporate world we always talk about organizing family events and gatherings, companies putting emphasis on work life balance and almost anyone and everyone in your organization wants to meet your family.
Being in Linkedin should be no different, We should also show our human and personal side besides our over achieving careers and business objectives in the social network. I know everyone will say that there is facebook or google+ and many more for this purpose. But wait, do most CEO's and busy corporate executives have facebook accounts, Headhunters trying to access your locked twitter feeds or do they even have time to be browsing your alternative social media space at the first place?
This is where Humanizing Linkedin comes into play.
Would it be great if occasionally you post pictures of your family and recent events on your personal life so future connections, potential business partners and future employers will see a different perspective on your personality and life besides work rather than the one you project in your profile, it just makes you a true human being.
Of course you just don’t overdo it. Occasional post of vacations and family events should be limited to maybe a post or 2 every month or in a quarter and should still be decent to the eyes of the viewer inclined to look at your photos on a more professional approach. Get Real, remember that your digital life is an extension of your real life so what happens in real life should also be applied to your digital life.
A picture of me and my daughter taken after her K2 Graduation today
James Paul Pilande
CAD, CAE Services & design solutions
9yHi James - I must compliment you for 'thinking out of the box' and bringing in a new perspective to how much of a personal touch should 'professional' social networking include. To me, at the first instance, it sounded a bit awkward - why bring some personal 'colour' to a professional 'black and white' world. Ironically, this is what is needed... a dash of personal touch to a professional life will only do good. I hope to try it out soon and see if it is received positively within my professional network.
Sales Representative
9ySuch a coincidence... I was on my way to work thinking about the divide work / life. What is acceptable and what isn't? I mean, if you look at all different social media platforms and their own individual codes you will always find a common aspect: Rogue users! I mean, how can a person be criticised for sharing a picture of its newborn child when there are people self-advertising in commentary treads! It's not about content, it's about common-sense. Family is important and should be a part of ones professional life as it only makes us better professionals.
General Manager of EXSTO Philippines Inc. Architect, Singapore Accredited Interior Designer, Indoor Air Quality Specialist and Editor-in-Chief of TheOfficeDesigner.com
9yYup, work life balance in Linkedin:-)
Operations Manager at Dovre Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd
9yYour post is very relevant, i agree we are always showcasing our professional accomplishments without presenting our human side