Time Management for LinkedIn. Get More Done in Less Time!

For many of us, time management challenges on LinkedIn can vary depending on one’s individual usage and objectives. LinkedIn offers so many opportunities to start a conversation and begin to build a professional relationship with connections and prospects.

However, it can be a challenge to many to utilise all the features offered by LinkedIn to start and maintain those conversations.

Many people have found themselves:

In Information Overload: LinkedIn can inundate users with a constant stream of updates, notifications, and content from connections, groups, and companies. Managing this influx of information can be overwhelming and time-consuming. Sound familiar!

Distracted: The platform offers numerous features and functionalities, such as news feeds, messaging, job listings, and groups. Users can find themselves easily distracted, spending more time on LinkedIn than intended, which can detract from other tasks and priorities.

Networking Maintenance: Maintaining an active presence on LinkedIn often involves engaging with connections, responding to messages, and participating in discussions. While networking is essential, it can be time-consuming to manage relationships effectively, especially as one's network grows.

Job Searching: LinkedIn is a popular platform for job seekers, but searching for opportunities, customizing applications, and networking with potential employers or recruiters can consume a significant amount of your time.

Content Consumption or Creation: With a plethora of articles, posts, videos, and other content being shared on LinkedIn, users may struggle to filter through the noise and find valuable insights. Spending excessive time consuming or even creating content without a clear purpose can be counterproductive.

Profile Management: Maintaining an up-to-date and professional profile requires regular attention. It’s easy to spend considerable time optimizing your profile, crafting a compelling About and Experience section, and skills to attract attention from recruiters or potential collaborators.

Setting Boundaries: LinkedIn's accessibility through mobile apps and desktop platforms makes it easy for users to blur the lines between professional and personal time. Establishing clear personal  boundaries and limiting usage during non-work hours can be challenging but helpful for maintaining work-life balance.

To overcomnges, here are a few useful strategies that will help you.

1.)    Set up an exclusive Gmail account for ALL your LinkedIn notifications.

2.)    Consider your ultimate objectives for your use of LinkedIn and apply your efforts accordingly.

3.)    Set up a Folder in your internet browser, like Google Chrome. In that folder, save the content feeds of the people you want to regularly interact with.

4.)    Interact and be patient. Not everybody you want to have a conversation with logs in daily, sometimes you may need to wait a few days or more for a reply.

Finally, consider and apply the proven strategies of the well-known and renowned authority on ‘Time Management’ author Stephen Covey, who wrote "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." 

Consider your objectives and priorities.

Quadrant 1 - Urgent and Important: These are tasks that require immediate attention, such as crises, deadlines, and pressing issues. Covey emphasizes that while it's necessary to address these tasks, spending too much time in this quadrant can lead to stress and burnout if not balanced with activities that prevent such crises.

Quadrant 2 - Important but Not Urgent: This quadrant focuses on activities that contribute to long-term goals, personal growth, relationships, and prevention of future crises. Covey suggests that investing more time in this quadrant can lead to greater effectiveness and fulfillment. Examples include strategic planning, relationship-building, skill development, and self-care.

Quadrant 3 - Urgent but Not Important: Tasks in this quadrant may seem urgent but don't contribute significantly to long-term goals or personal values. They often involve interruptions, unnecessary meetings, and minor issues. Covey advises minimizing time spent here by delegating or eliminating non-essential tasks.

Quadrant 4 - Not Urgent and Not Important: These tasks are neither urgent nor important and often involve distractions, time-wasters, and activities that provide little to no value. Covey recommends avoiding or minimizing time spent in this quadrant to focus on higher-priority activities.

Covey's approach encourages individuals to prioritize Quadrant 2 activities, as they have the greatest potential for personal and professional development. By focusing on proactive planning, goal-setting, and relationship-building, individuals can become more effective and better equipped to handle urgent matters as they arise. Additionally, Covey emphasizes the importance of aligning daily actions with personal values and long-term objectives to achieve a sense of balance and fulfillment.

Finally. In my own experience, when I understood and began to prioritise my time on LinkedIn based on my most important objectives, I literally saved over 1 hour per day and achieved so much more!

Here's to your continued LinkedIn for business success!

Regards from

Derick

P.S. Follow me, Derick Mildred for More LinkedIn for Business Tips & a Daily Dose of Inspiration. 😎😎