I have a beef with one of the perceived policies with LinkedIn.
Supposedly I’m only supposed to connect with people I “know and trust.”
Both of these words can mean different things to different people – not even going to go there. Maybe Bill Clinton can weigh in on what “know” and “trust” mean.
Let’s just assume it means that I shouldn’t connect unless I have some kind of relationship, and the relationship has some mutual element to it (they “know and trust” me).
So here’s my beef: if I go to a networking event and meet someone for the very first time, I don’t quite know them yet, and I certainly don’t have any reason to trust (or not trust) them.
I’m not allowed to connect with them on LinkedIn? WHY NOT?
How do we get to a point where we can say we know and trust them?
The relationship has to start somewhere (that initial meeting, usually). The relationship nurturing continues with further ocmmunication…. lunch, phone calls, email, sending one another news clippings, etc.
At what point can I invite this person to connect in LinkedIn?
MY ANSWER IS: whenever I want. Because I use LinkedIn to HELP me with the relationship nurturing.
I use it as a communication tool.
I think it’s naive to think that we wouldn’t use LinkedIn as…. this seems silly to even write…. as a NETWORKING TOOL.
Of course, this is just my opinion… what do you think? Is it okay to use LinkedIn at an early stage in a relationship, or is it something that should be saved until later?
