I was in a group discussion around the benefits of LinkedIn and the unabashed and seemingly unqualified connections some people develop. While the proponents of this in the discussion had valid points that seem to back up this theory, I for one can't quite get my arms around it—around the fact that I am connecting with people that I don't know, via some folks that I only kinda know....maybe—all under the umbrella of experience, expertise, and qualification.
Perhaps this will lead to my professional demise.
Now, I am not good with names (just ask my wife), but am with faces and personalities. And some technological things seem off-putting. So maybe that's why this tactic of connecting seems unauthentic to me. I need to be connected with people, not profiles. Maybe this profile connecting will turn into people connection, but I've not seen much fruit from that tree as of yet—although I admit I am (perhaps hypocritically) trying to water it.
Many of us have become disenfranchised with social media, yet continue to play along. And now, I do it in a professional sense. I've probably even emailed or messaged a few who are reading this with the impetus for connecting being a business possibility. But what I'm finding is that you can't change a tiger's stripes, and if I am a relational being (which I am), I require relationship, and not simply transaction.
Networking is weird, and seems one-sided. I have been to events that encourage an "others first" methodology, wherein you see how you can help someone before you help yourself. They mean it. And I get that. And I try to do that. But the social/online piece seems counter intuitive to the legitimacy of this practice.
Simon Sinek said "Companies don't do business with companies. People do business with people." This I understand and embrace. If we are able to be "people" online and not simply profiles—if we actually post with authenticity, right intention, and real point of view, and not simply to be "seen"—maybe online humanity stands a chance.
Makes me want to update my LinkedIn profile a bit.