How to Get UnLinked on LinkedIn

LinkedIn can be a very valuable tool for B2B professionals to meet colleagues they'd never otherwise have access to, network with those they don't see very often and engage in conversations on topics of interest. It's also one heck of a community for getting to know your prospects and customers.

LinkedIn can also expose a lack of integrity and authenticity in a heartbeat.

Here's an example of how that can happen:

Yesterday, I received an email from a colleague telling me about a woman he'd met on LinkedIn who was asking for advice on finding a job with a marketing automation vendor. Since that's not his specialty, he suggested that she contact me. She thanked him for the referral to me. I know this because my colleague forwarded me the email trail of their discussion along with his note.

An hour or so later, I received an invitation to connect on LinkedIn from the woman which I accepted.

Next, I received the exact same email that she had sent to my colleague:

Date: 7/22/2010
Subject: Thank you!
Thank you so much for connecting with me virtually! I just wanted to introduce myself and see if I may be able to help you in anyway and initiate connecting further.

If I may, I am writing to you because my current employer which is a small marketing automation provider, lost its funding. As a result, I am initiating an aggressive job search campaign. I am a well-qualified sales/business development executive with a 15+ track record of surpassing sale quotas.

If you have any questions about my background or would just like to see how we may be able to help one another, please email me or dial...

No salutation. Nothing personalized. Word-for-word the same exact message as if the exchange between her and my colleague never happened. If you get this message, just click delete. I have a feeling it's being sent to more people than the two of us.

What a turn off!

Will I help this person? NO.

Am I even interested in being connected to her? NOPE.

Do I feel slimed? YEP.

The point of this rant is that building a network takes time, care and respect. LinkedIn is tied to your professional reputation, your integrity. Trust me, if this woman's name ever comes up in conversation my response won't be favorable.

You never know who people know or the side conversations that can happen beyond your visibility. It's a small world out there - getting smaller by the day. If you don't have respect for others or for yourself, it will become obvious faster than you think.

The sad part is that she could have started a relationship. She could have met some people who could introduce her to others who could help her find a new position. She could have made the experience valuable for others and for herself. But she didn't. 

She has just been "unlinked" - removed from my connections.

Comments

[Lalit Chowdhary]

I agree, how can people be so casual about business communication. I have seen similar trends in LinkedIn recommendations.

http://www.digitalpost.org/2010/07/how-to-read-linkedin-recommendations.html

[michael webster]

"Slimmed"? I don't know what that means, but I like the sound of it.

You are right about the use of linkedin, and I try to include some personal remark when I ask someone to link with me.

The use of spam for a request for help is crazy.

[Ardath Albee]

Hi Michael,

Oops - too many "m"s. It should read "slimed." Think Ghostbusters :-)

Thanks,
Ardath

[Brendan]

Hi Ardath, I have to agree, there's nothing more impersonal than what happened to you. My only thought is that it may be worth being tolerant of human frailties like this because I have found you just never know where that next big deal or important introduction will come from. I can remember around thirty years ago when I first started my sales career that one of our senior sales people dismissed an old man because he stuttered. I was chatting with that man after this occurred and I allowed him the time to tell his story and patiently listened to every word he said. It turned out that he was one of the wealthiest men in our city and because I took the time to get to know him and overlook his flaws, he rewarded me with business opportunities which lasted many years. However, I can't claim to be tolerant when it comes to all things. I recently contacted Groupon asking for information and pricing about listing our business on their website. Instead of a courteous reply, I received a marketing letter asking me to sign up for their services. As I had already signed up and as this email did not contain one word of a response to my question, my confidence about doing business with an organisation like this has been a little shaken. Does that mean that we won't do business? No, but it will mean that I will be much more cautious in my dealings with them. I think what's happening here is that you and I are just part of a changing culture wherein the Internet age has brought about the automation of tasks to the detriment of personalisation. Do I think that you should overlook the impersonal email? Well probably, but do treat them with caution.

[Gogo]

Ardath,

Yeesh!

What an unwise decision on the part of the person seeking help.

I think we are in a "gap" phase; a period of increased mass adoption of contact automation in social media/ web 2.0 platforms, but before full acculturation as to the implications of such automation; what's appropriate and what's not.

Thanks for the post.

P.s. I enjoyed your presentation on "Dynamic Business Week" a few months back.