Since I try to publicize my blog in as many places as I can find, I have to keep all of my social media accounts up to date and active so my work can be published on each platform. Yesterday I was checking my notifications on Linkedin, one of my least checked profiles.
I took note of few new things, but only after I got stuck enjoying how many “endorsements” I have been given. Today we need to address avoiding social ego boosts like those endorsements.
Feeding the Ego
I noticed how much flair I have from people “endorsing” me for skills I have. I don’t really take much notice in this because I’ve never really tried to get that boosted up, I just kind of get notifications for it.
I believe it’s a technique Linkedin uses to get it’s users to interact with other users. Feigning it’s own relevance and in some cases giving people false hope about what they’re good at.
Seriously, knowing Microsoft Office is not an actual skill, nor is the generic term Retail. These are vanity metrics that don’t mean much. Yes, they are supposed to help identify what your skills are to potential employers, partners, or customers. But what if I just made those up? What if I had zero public speaking experience and I just asked people to endorse me for that?
Easy to Fake
Why not just message a bunch of people and ask them to promote you for a certain skill? I could go from 29 marketing recommendations to 99+ overnight if 1/2 of my connections simply pressed “endorse” on my profile.
Employers and partners know this, and they don’t care that people have endorsed you for paper skill. They need something more compelling than that.
What’s not as easy to fake is a real recommendations that people give you. This can be on Linkedin, this can be on your website, or these can be hand written that you take with you to an interview. A real recommendation with actual details of how you have helped someone is worth much more than the click of a button to “endorse” someone.
Remember the 99%’ers?
We created that phenomenon. We created whiny brats that felt entitled to good paying jobs. We let them think that just because 400 people follow them on Twitter, they are relevant and someone should pay them $60,000 a year out of college without experience. We let them think that they don’t need real skills or experience, they just need a piece of paper that states their GPA. We let them feel this entitlement.
We can’t let ourselves get caught up in our “social relevance” or we’ll feel a sense of entitlement that will keep customers, employers, and partners from wanting to work with us. Some of us work in the digital space, and there’s nothing wrong with that (I mostly do myself). But we can’t let ourselves get trapped there.
Warning for the week: don’t get so wrapped up in social media vanity metrics that you forget to focus on the things that really matter. Make a conscious effort to make some real world connections this week instead of checking your social accounts to see who liked your picture on Instagram.
If you’re feeling bold, turn all your notifications off for the week. You’ll be amazed at what happens (no the world doesn’t end on Facebook with you knowing it) when you aren’t slowed down and distracted by all those pings. Avoiding social ego boosts is difficult, but it’s worth it when you make real connections after lifting your head from the screen!
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Have something to add to this? Leave me a comment below or chat with me on Twitter, I’d love to hear your feedback!
Have a great week!
