Here's the #1 Worst Thing You Can Do on LinkedIn

Plus: Why American Politics Isn't Broken...It's Doing Exactly What It's Designed To Do and an Update on the Business for Racial Equity Pledge

This week, I'm going to tell you about the worst thing you can do on LinkedIn (and it's terrible!). But before we get there, I have two important items for you.

First, let's talk about this week's episode of FOMO Sapiens (listen on Apple or Spotify). On this first episode of a special two-part FOMO Sapiens, political innovation activists Katherine Gehl & Michael Porter (he of Porter's Five Forces) explain how America's two-party political system undermines the robust competition and accountability necessary for democracy to thrive. Plus, stick around for a very special FOMOment with Lisa Lewin and Craig Robinson of the Leadership Now Project, who present a pledge they've created that all of us can sign to demand more from our business leaders when it comes to racism.

Second, speaking of the Pledge for Racial Equity, more than 1,000 business leaders across the country have signed on! It's not too late for you to sign on too - just click above, read the pledge, and consider signing.

And now on to what I've been thinking about this week: The Worst Thing You Can Do on LInkedIn.

Ok, I'm going to admit it. I'm completely promiscuous on LinkedIn.

What does that mean? It means that I accept connection requests from just about anyone. Unless you send me a message that is inappropriate (it's happened) or you look like you might not be real, I'm going to accept you. Now why would I do that you wonder…..here’s why:

1.     I genuinely think that it’s interesting to see the posts of all of these people I’m connected to on LinkedIn, even if we’ve never met. Having such a large network allows me to get a pulse of what people are thinking out there and I always learn something new when I log in. 

2.     I love knowing that if I have a question about just about any topic in any part of the world, I can find someone who probably knows the answer and then send them a message asking for help. I am not afraid of cold calls and having such a broad rolodex allows me to ask for help whenever I need it. 

3.     It’s surprising how many people I end up meeting in real life are already LinkedIn connections – so I figure at some point I’m going to meet you anyway. 

4.     It’s a very efficient method of storing contact data.   

But here's the one downside of this strategy: dealing with people who make the worst mistake on Linkedin. And drumroll......here it is:

The worst mistake you can make it to act completely differently online than you would if you met someone in real life!

Here's how it goes down. You accept a LinkedIn request from someone and then they send you this message:

"Hello. It looks like we know some of the same people. I always like extending my network, and thought this would be a good opportunity for us to introduce ourselves. I deeply value my LinkedIn network and it is truly and honor to be connected to you."

Then three days later you get this message:

"I’m regularly looking for ways to collaborate with my network. I was thinking that it would be good to connect by phone or Zoom meeting sometime. How is the next week looking in your schedule?"

Then a week later you get this message:

"Perhaps you did not see my last message. I'm looking for mentorship, advisors, and introductions to investors and partners to grow our startup. Would you like to invest a million dollars in our cannabis company?"

Now ask yourself these questions:

• Would anyone do this in real life in a face to face conversation?
• Would anyone cross your path and immediately tell you that their network is precious, that they deeply value it, and that it's an honor to meet you?
• Would anyone expect you to set up a Zoom call even though you even know what is the point of that call?
• Would you ask someone you barely know to invest in your company?

NOPE. Of course not! That's just weird. And as the kids say, it's thirsty.

I don't know who wrote the template for this kind of message, but I receive them all the time, so someone must think that they work. But what they actually do is waste everybody's time. So, here's my advice for all of you who connect with strangers on a routine basis:

1. Relax. Don't send a message right away. Get to know someone. Read their content. Comment on it.
2. Only reach out if you genuinely have a question or if you can actually deliver value to someone. Do not spam them with whatever you are trying to sell.
3. Be sincere. Unless it's Malala, you don't have to say you're honored to meet someone.

If people followed these three rules, it might just change the world (or at least the world of LInkedIn).

What do you think? Do you get the same kinds of messages from new connections and do you agree that it's the #1 mistake you can make? Or do you disagree? Let me know in the comments!