A number of you have asked about the role of LinkedIn in board networking and how to create executive-level self-promotion. Social media has become the fastest adopted form of media in human history. While we are still in the early stages of this phenomenon, I do think that dedicated time networking on LinkedIn is well spent. Once I reached the level of posting strategic content based on my expertise in LinkedIn groups (once a week with content from my Board Guru™ eBooks), I had my first client within 90 days in the fourth quarter of 2012. I do not think that the fundamentals of how a director search is done will change dramatically; I do think that a focused effort on LinkedIn will provide visibility and introduction. For example, you can join my Board Guru™ LinkedIn group and meet executive recruiters, sitting directors and director candidates. (For more tips, see Becoming a Public Company Director: Social Media Strategies) To help you begin your own executive-level conversation on LinkedIn, here are a few ideas:
1. Use your content. Write a piece of 200 – 300 words on a board-focused topic you are an expert on. Add a call to conversation at the end. One of the best examples of this type of post is done by Lucy P. Marcus on LinkedIn.
2. Share event key thoughts. Contribute some of the substantive thoughts, what your learned or what surprised you from a conference or webinar you attended.
3. Best Practices. Pick a topic and share the story with the best practices used or learned.
Tracy E. Houston, M.A. is the President of Board Resources Services, LLC. She is a refined specialist in board consulting and executive coaching with a heartfelt passion for rethinking performance, teams, and the boardroom. With a focus on leadership, strategy, and risk management, she consults primarily with directors, presidents, and senior officers to provide input on high level, sensitive, and complex issues. Sometimes called the Chief Potential Officer, Tracy has a background that includes sitting on a number of boards, board consulting, and coaching for potential. She develops unique insights into the vital role of human interaction and the inevitable fusion between barriers to growth and success. Extensively published, Tracy has written hundreds of blogs that are featured on numerous award-winning websites and has a monthly board column hosted by ColoradoBiz Magazine. She is the creator of the Board Guru™ eBooks –a corporate governance leadership series.
Her company, Board Resource Services, has a website at www.eboardmember.com and www.eboardguru.com. Follow Tracy on Twitter @BoardGuru. Headquartered in the Denver, Colorado area, Tracy is an avid hiker.
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