Written by: Clarene Mitchell, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
One may not readily think of the legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) has anything to do with LinkedIn, but it does. She was a highly skilled American lawyer, Supreme Court justice, and pop icon. She lived her life with courage, strong convictions, and boldness.
Let’s pull some LinkedIn tips from a few of her quotes.
“So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great, good fortune.”
Oftentimes, people start using LinkedIn because they need a job or business leads. The void can be seen as a negative, but it led them to use LinkedIn more. The impediment could have been the absence of a job or clients, the good fortune develops when the consistent use of the platforms leads to a dream job or an ongoing pipeline of ideal clients.
“Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.”
To the most from LinkedIn, you must view it as a marathon versus a sprint. This means you have to put the work in on an ongoing basis. It is not a one-and-done process. The process is ongoing. To get real, quality results… requires one post at a time and one engagement at a time. The more consistent you are with your posts and engaging with your connections, the more you will gain from the platform.
“My mother told me to be a lady, and for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.”
The principle that RGB’s mother taught her is important for all LinkedIn users, both women, and men. Being your authentic self is important on LinkedIn. As the popular Oscar Wilde quotes states, “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.”
You serve yourself best on LinkedIn when you distinguish yourself from others. Don’t seek to be a carbon copy of others. Stand out by boldly telling the story of what differentiates you from others who do the same type of work as you.
“I am a very strong believer in listening and learning from others.”
Having a ‘know it all,’ self-serving attitude isn’t well-received in person or on LinkedIn. Don’t just focus on posting content for others to consume. Intentionally and authentically engage in the content. LinkedIn is consistently ranked the most trusted social media platform. Follow key thought leaders. Devote time to reading their newsletters. Watch LinkedIn Live and Audio Events on a regular basis to learn as well.
“Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks. That means don’t do it just for yourself. You will want to leave the world a little better for your having lived.”
Are you leaving tracks on LinkedIn? Do you have a strong digital footprint that clearly showcases your expertise, skills, and impact on the world? With LinkedIn being the top social media platform for professional and business purposes, it allows you to dramatically increase your search potential. It is similar to the children’s fable, ‘Hansel and Gretel.’ The trail of bread crumbs made a world of a difference.
“You can disagree without being disagreeable.”
It is important to maintain one’s reputation at all times. This holds true on LinkedIn as well. It is a professional and business networking platform, and building quality relationships is very important. As RBG stated, we can disagree with posts and comments we see, but that doesn’t mean we should be negative or argumentative. Sometimes it is best to just keep on scrolling to maintain cordial relations and your brand. Keep in mind, that you never know who could be seeing your comments. Think twice before you hit the post button.
Now let’s look at the pop culture aspects of RBG. In addition to her being a fierce advocate for justice, she understood the power of branding and being visible. She stood out on the Supreme Court with her custom collars. The collars she wore were not just random, they each had significance. People knew her views about a decision the Supreme Court made based on the type of collar she wore. She spoke volumes without saying a word. How well does your LinkedIn presence convey your brand? Do you have a brand color that you consistently use in your graphics? Do you have custom hashtags? Do you end many of your posts in a unique way?
RBG’s activity off the bench is worth noting as well. Specifically her rigorous workout routines. Despite being in her 80s, her gym time outpaced people who were decades younger than her. She worked out intensely twice a week for an hour. She didn’t let others put her in a box or define her based on her age. She defined herself! She stayed consistent with her activity.
Be bold and champion yourself on LinkedIn! Lean into the legacy of RBG when you need to for inspiration.
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Clarene Mitchell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Clarene Mitchell changes the trajectory of lives and businesses, one LinkedIn profile at a time. A dramatic job loss in 2016 led her to use LinkedIn more consistently. She started generating organic results and others started requesting her help with how to use the platform. TCM Communications was created to address the challenge many have with understanding and effectively using LinkedIn. Clarene is on a mission to empower as many entrepreneurs and executives as she can to Shine Online and generate quality results from LinkedIn.
