At the moment my profile on LinkedIn suggests that my connection link me to approximately 5m professionals. Is this a cause for celebration? I think probably not. I haven’t yet consolidated the number as above 5m – it varies by several thousand above and below. Does it make any difference to me?
Well actually not really – although I do find that LinkedIn is a great source of ideas and (in some groups at least) some very intellectual and useful discussions. It is also a good place for what might be termed ‘people watching’ as there are a huge range of characters.
Most of the folk that I interact with on LinkedIn I previously ‘met’ elsewhere – either in person or through other ‘virtual’ environments. There is, however, an increasing number that are ‘new’ friends simply having ‘found’ them in one of the many groups that I have subscribed to.
Would I recommend it? Yes, if you are willing to hear viewpoints that are (sometimes VERY) different to your own. Yes, if you are willing to tolerate some ‘characters’ who seem just a little off the wall. I also think that you need to take part – rather than just being a spectator- in order to get the real benefit because then you do get feedback (not always welcome) on your own thoughts and ideas.
As in all communities there are those who dominate the conversations – for good or ill – and you quickly identify who you will ‘follow’ and who you would prefer to ‘just go away’!!! All in all though, I think that LinkedIn often demonstrates the real benefit of having a geographically disparate group able to ‘converse’ about topics that are clearly important to them.