image: Linkedin
LRNT521 Unit 3 Activity 2
Over 800 1st connections and I would admittedly suggest ONLY 30% of those are REAL CONNECTIONS; people I truly feel I can reach out to and have meaningful discussion, dialogue and collaborate within my professional world.
image: brewbooks via flickr.com
When I see my visual graphic for my LinkedIn connections it’s very telling, how I have ABSOLUTELY made a clear line in the sand between personal and professional connections. ONLY 15% of the 800 connections are represented in BOTH Facebook and LinkedIn; so a conscious effort not to collide my professional space (LinkedIn) between my personal space (Facebook).
I am still very active in both spaces as a resident, but clearly separated by Dorothy the Senior Advisor of Leadership and Learning, colleague, and alumni and Dorothy the mom, daughter, wife, aunt, friend, sister and coach.
Another observation is I have a heavy concentration within a few industries/sectors, most likely because of where and what I do at work and how I represent myself as a professional. For example Financial Services, Education, Corporate Training and Instruction Design and Women and Leadership Networks are big color clusters.
I also was fascinated by the ‘degrees of separation’ between my 1st connections, 2nd and 3rd connections, as well as how many of my first connections connected and/or had the same connections as I did, perhaps influenced or recommended by me or because of similar networks, interests, companies and/or schools we attended.
Finally one of my takeaways from this, will be to more intentional and ‘disconnect’ with those I feel I don’t have a connection with and/or can mutually benefit one another. I can see how it has grown to 800 especially with 3 distinct careers within 3 large organizations, 3 post-secondary universities and several professional interest groups, but it’s time for more of that quality I seek versus quantity I see.