On your #LinkedIn profile, words can get in the way; one remedy

We attended a developmental play this weekend (which for those of you, like me, who were not familiar with the term, it’s a play that the author is developing as audiences react to it, as actors work with it, and with limited funding, until it’s ready for “prime time”).

We arrived early and coincidentally met the playwright in the lobby and he was uneasy one-to-one.

When he introduced the play to the audience, he stumbled on his words. He “picked himself up” and put the words back together to finish and the play began, expressing his word, phrases, sentences and some very complex emotional issues, but indeed a nice touch to personally welcome us.

We all get nervous in front of a crowd, I get that, in this case an audience of 30, many of whom it was clear were his friends and entourage. He was unsure how to speak his own words to his friends and the acquaintances and to the audience…hmmm…

I was thinking later that a man who places words in the mouths of others got tongue-tied himself. How ironic.

Such can be the situation with those of us who practice our elevator speeches, work hard to project the right image and persona in a networking situation, and strive to deliver a effective talk in a somewhat controlled situation. Yes, it happens to me and you too BTW.

Here’s the LinkedIn connection: if you are a wordsmith or not, a crowdpleaser or an  introvert, we all need to ask friends and trusted entourage of business advisers to review our LinkedIn profile.

Ask them for help and honest, constructive criticism by saying:.

“I need your candid opinion:

• Is this profile I show telling why I do what I do?
• Is there anything missing, some aspect of me without enough emphasis, some skill or attribute I have overwritten?”

You may be amazed at what objectivity they return to you.

Then use their honest responses and keep writing, expressing and revamping yourself. Keep tweaking it over time. Ask different, and the same, people for help as you progress.

In LinkedIn, if “the play’s the thing;” how well you you say it is the memorable monologue of “why you do what you do.”