LinkedIn Helped Me Maintain My Relationships

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I’m grateful for LinkedIn because it’s allowed me to go deep with my relationships.  There, I said it, and I know to some I sound like a heretic.

Through LinkedIn, I’ve been able to maintain contact with people and support them throughout the pandemic, which has created some really amazing friendships and client opportunities.

Whether it’s operations support for a corporation or making introductions for a startup, I’m grateful to have had the community and platform to leverage to make a difference when it counted for both organizations and individuals.

It’s not just the networking aspect of LinkedIn that’s been of value to me; it’s the ability to monitor and take action within my communities.  I don’t use linked in for “cold calls” or sales pitches (I tried that, and it’s not in alignment for me, so I apologize to those whose feed I may have fumbled around in), but that’s not to say that people shouldn’t, it’s just not the best way for me to harness its power. If I reach out to you with a connection request, I want it to make sense for both of us and appealing for you to want to engage with me; not make you feel like the victim of speed dating.

For me, LinkedIn is about relationship building, earning trust, and providing value – one very long interaction at a time.

𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗮𝘆? 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁. 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿? 𝗘𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗸. 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗿. 𝗥𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀.

I believe that, for me, being there for a kind word of support or tidbit of shared experience is where the rubber hits the road.  Think of my “road” as a well-constructed path through a park and my “rubber” as a bicycle with a flowered basket full of picnic nosh.  I want people to smile when they see me coming and know I’ve brought the goods to nourish them during our time together.

So, rather than adding to the “Remember These 5 Things,” “Try These Hacks,” polls that don’t create change or other quick-fix headlines, I’m going to continue to make a concerted effort to get to know YOU.  Not just the people in my network, but people like you who post questions, seek real answers and engage in a bit of conversation.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽-𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆?

For my part, I will reply and comment or share stories and experiences when I see that you have posted something to which I can contribute.  I will reach out and offer resources and introductions where appropriate, and I will share my time and experience.  I hope you do the same in return.

So, with all of its limitations and oftentimes noise, I’m grateful that LinkedIn will allow me to continue learning about you, sharing my insights, and building relationships.  Even if I can’t be sure when exactly we’ll be able to shake your hand or share a coffee in person, it’s still my favorite game in town.

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About Lizabeth Wesely-Casella

Lizabeth Wesely-Casella is a skilled strategic advisor specializing in attrition mitigation, workflow management, process improvement, and culture. With over 20 years of experience as an administrator and policy and programming consultant, her work has contributed to successful project outcomes in federal health policy, international program development, for-profit, and non-profit/association management.

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