There are several popular social media platforms that have launched and run successfully with millions of subscribers. However, one such platform that has become a massive hit among executives is ‘LinkedIn’. However, selecting a platform and using it effectively to enhance leadership skills are different things.
About LinkedIn’s popularity
Organizational leaders seem to have a strong preference for this social platform. Hence, no question arises about its popularity. The company claims to have approximately 660 million active users across the globe. That includes C-suite level executives crossing 8.2 million. It is used extensively by successful leaders associated with large companies. Even senior marketing and sales executives, supply chains, and other functional areas use this platform regularly.
But it does not necessarily mean that all of them are using it effectively. Few leaders create an account to enhance workplace credibility but seldom engage. Others tend to use it sporadically. They don’t have much intention of putting it to good use. You have to learn to use it effectively to realize its value.
How do you derive LinkedIn leadership?
1. Related:
LinkedIn articles are posts that are mostly organized around hashtags. Searching for articles and posts allows you to interact with other leaders who have similar interests. Interactions are mostly around curated or original content or posts on specific topics. They enable you to focus on truly relevant topics. You can even discover people interested in your type of topics.
Few people might curate interesting and relevant content from others without making comments. Some will offer valuable insights into your content, allowing you to interact better. You will receive updates as your connections make updates to their contact information. It boosts leadership development.
2. Sensemaking:
Leaders who are strong in sensemaking can explain internal and external phenomena associated with the organization. They also state what response an organization should provide. LinkedIn focuses mainly on business. Hence, what you see there is relevant to all business leaders. Site members prefer to curate diverse topics published elsewhere and share their thoughts about them. Others responded to such posts. You may go through such posts to gain diverse perspectives on shared ideas and enjoy leadership development.
3. Inventing:
Leaders never stop inventing. They have to devise ways to communicate important news, both good and bad, threats, simple facts, and opportunities. They formulate approaches to overcome obstacles to tactics and strategies. Hence, designing a new organizational structure can help serve the organization’s direction. Inventing has become all the more vital to enhance workplace credibility.
Regular usage of LinkedIn profiles can help identify cutting-edge, relevant ideas. You can also derive valuable feedback from your posts and ideas. You can also get useful answers to questions posed about some inventions. Continuous engagement enables you to get ideas about potential consultants and employees.
4. Visioning:
A solid foundation is desired of logic, facts, statements, empirical analysis from domain authorities, and relevant anecdotes. With LinkedIn, you can easily find them. Continuous visioning is what leaders are expected to do. By using LinkedIn effectively and regularly, you will find content that enables you to lay the foundation for your visualizing output.
You may test a few ideas by replying to posts and checking responses. You may even seek individual feedback on a specific topic instead of public opinion. In such cases, you may use LinkedIn’s InMail function or use its contact information. It helps you develop your leadership skills.
5. Setting directions:
You can set the right direction by relating, sensemaking, inventing, and visioning. As a leader, you will want to be visible to the public and set the right direction. This is achievable through LinkedIn articles. You can expect your colleagues to follow you, read your articles, and posts, re-post, and respond. You will also be followed by customers and suppliers.
Thus, LinkedIn leadership is a wonderful leadership tool that enables you to establish yourself as a successful leader in your workplace.
