Look at the top line of any LinkedIn page. There’s likely a red balloon with a white number floating atop your Messages and Notifications tabs, one or both of them, and that means you are behind in your diligent correspondence.

Not in the moment, behind the fast-paced world. And before long, you have ruined any opportunity to appear timely and offer an opinion, observation, answer, or greet a prospect.

How long have you waited? Have they waited for you?

Though their message is still there in the ether red balloon, the timeliness of your action has probably expired. You may have blown a job, quote, proposal, gig, and your reputation has imploded with it.

Is this what you want to be known for?

How often do you pay your bills late? Not very, or at least not for very long before the gas, electric, cable, whatever gets shut off. Or your effectiveness as a so-called professional is blown.

I cannot tell you how often I see people’s LinkedIn profile screens by screensharing with them in my work and there are 2- and 3-digit numbers in those red balloons.

If the message is spam, delete and report it. If the message is not urgent, make an effort to get it sorted out and off your plate. Prioritize LinkedIn messages just as you do emails.

At some unexpected point, those proverbial message balloons just won’t fly anymore.