Engaging is “to occupy the attention of a person or persons: He engaged her in conversation.”
We can be engaging in person, at networking events, on the phone, via email, in a letter and on LinkedIn.
Being engaging is an important networking skill. I encourage you to always strive to be engaging in any setting, including LinkedIn.
As LinkedIn continues to increase it’s popularity as the #1 business social networking tool, we need to be more engaging when using it. Otherwise, we’ll just be a part of the never ending buzz of social networking noise.
In his book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” Dale Carnegie teaches us how to be a more engaging person. The principles below are vital when engaging on LinkedIn, as well as in real life:
- Don’t criticize, condemn or complain
- Give honest, sincere appreciation
- Arouse in the other person an eager want
- Become genuinely interested in other people
- Smile (yes, even when using social media)
- Remember that a person’s name is to that person the most important sound in any language
- Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves
- Talk in terms of the other person’s interests
- Make the other person feel important – and do so sincerely
- The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it
When I adopted these Dale Carnegie principles into my life, I began to surpass my business and career goals.
I often get asked this question, “How has being more engaging on LinkedIn helped you?” The answer is “growth” and lots of it. Growth in the size and diversity of my LinkedIn network, the many new and different conversations I have and the new customers I get every month.
I ask this question when someone calls me about a business opportunity, “Why did you call me to help you?” The answer is generally, “I like what you talk about on LinkedIn.”
Not all of my new business comes directly from LinkedIn. Often I get business from outside of my LinkedIn network. However, these people are influenced by my LinkedIn network. I know this because I hear this frequently, “{One of my LinkedIn connection’s name} suggested that I contact you.”
I can proudly and respectfully say; “LinkedIn makes money for me every month.”
You can be engaging on LinkedIn through your individual posts, within LinkedIn Groups and directly with your connections. Being engaging on LinkedIn does not mean you have to spend hours every day on LinkedIn, but it does require an investment of a little time every day.
Here are 5 easy and beneficial ways to engage on LinkedIn:
#1 – Start a conversation immediately after connecting
#2 – Where relevant join your network’s conversations
#3 – Share useful and relevant information with your network
#4 – Start conversations about your industry, not you or your business
#5 – Where possible meet your LinkedIn network in-real-life
Regardless of your business, the size of your LinkedIn network, or your business or career goals, find ways to engage on LinkedIn and you too will find value in this business tool.
If you want to learn more Social Media Skills read my book Success using Social Media.
If you need coaching on LinkedIn, consider my LinkedIn Coaching Program
* This post was written by Career Confidential LinkedIn Expert Teddy Burriss of Burriss Consulting, Inc. Follow Teddy Burriss on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook to learn more about his Social Media Coaching and Career Transition services.