Targeting a Board Seat? Use LinkedIn Groups to Advance Your Expertise

LinkedIn is the best social media site for professional conversations. LinkedIn groups are communities of like-minded people who share a common interest. As someone who is a member of LinkedIn groups and also manager of my own group, I have extensive experience from both sides of the fence. Here are a few etiquette tips when participating in LinkedIn groups:

Create community. The main motivation of most LinkedIn users is personal advantage of a professional nature. Seek to start or add to conversations in a manner that builds your overall influence, credibility and reputation while building relationships by adding valuable content. Be respectful and courteous. Don’t take personal shots at others if you disagree with their point of view.

Focus. Demonstrate expertise and share knowledge. When you create conversations, think of yourself as a thought leader within the parameter of your value proposition.

Frequency of discussion posting. Generally, once a week is an adequate level of participation. If you find yourself wanting to start more than one discussion a week, you can start your own group or discuss a larger role in a group with the group manager.

External Links. If the content in your conversation is aligned with both the group mission and adds value to the larger group, then add a link to an external site. Be prepared to back this up if the group manager believes otherwise. 

Overall, think of your social media behavior on the same level as the behavior expected of you when you are serving on a board.

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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