Have you ever wondered what the best working environment is?
Many companies and individuals are currently focused on answering exactly that question. What will serve their clients and colleagues best in terms of working and operating environments?
Below, you’ll see a fantastic illustration. shared with thanks to Michael Hughes who is a specialist in this space.
You’ll see here the range of working environments available – but of course, the one of everyone’s lips is hybrid.
From personal experience, Planet Hybrid Working has been around as long as I have – and no, you definitely didn’t just see a Tyrannosaurus Rex walk past!
The real difference now is that people have become more aware of Planet Hybrid Working, and what it takes to make it work well. Key decision makers anticipate adaptation and change – these are at the top of their agenda.In addition, we’ve had incontrovertible proof that people can, in fact, be trusted to work from home successfully to get the job done.
But what are the challenges that come with this model? And how can you make the most of it?
One of the first challenges is the adoption of new skills to suit life on Planet Hybrid Working, or the evolution of existing skills to really make the most of life in this new world.
Teachers and leaders like Dr. Joe Dispenza, Neville Goddard, and Bob Proctor have long known that we, as human beings, must control our environments.
If we allow our environments to control us, they will eventually shape us. We will be a reaction to or a product of our space, rather than sovereign entities in charge of our own sacred lives: our sanctum sanctorum.
Of course, with everything that’s happened, you might justifiably feel that much change has been forced on you. Despite this, I do believe that you are in control regardless, and you always have been. That also means that you have the choice to embrace (or reject) learning the digital skills that are a prerequisite for a happy life on Planet Hybrid.
Way before the pandemic – back in 2003, in fact, a group of clever blokes thought a professional networking site was a really good idea. And you know what? I thought the same! I thought it was such a good idea that I became a member in 2004.
Zoom (no, not that Zoom) 18 years forward, there are now c.760 million members on LinkedIn, closing in swiftly on that 1 billion mark.
Over the last couple of years. whilst things have certainly changed, how you interact with that change is still up to you.
So, if you do feel like thriving in your new or evolving habitat on Planet Hybrid, allow me to suggest some solar-powered LinkedIn systems that will help you flourish without getting burned.
Soaking up the Sun: Your Digital Brand and Persona
For most roles and services – whether you’re hiring, or the face of a company – people expect you to have a digital anchor. You expect it of them, and people expect it of you.
It’s highly likely that whenever they hear about you, or research your expertise or products and services, they are going to go looking for information – and that means a LinkedIn search.
But what does your digital brand say about you?
The most common mistake is the “Me, Myself, and I” approach. This is a hangover from the old days of LinkedIn when it was more about jobs. Today LinkedIn is a massive ‘souk’ where you research and evaluate expertise, products, and services.
So merely having a CV or job description on your profile? You’re talking about yourself to yourself.
You need to translate and communicate your expertise to meet your audience’s needs and wants. You have to mirror what they expect to see.
Happy, Sunny Days, or Threatening Rain?
You never get a second chance at a first impression.
This is especially true of our digital impressions: what is there isn’t going anywhere once it’s up, and it can be unforgiving and brutal.
I am sure you will have seen inappropriate headshots or activities on LinkedIn that turn you off. Can you imagine what your potential prospects and employers are thinking, too?
Take a good look at your profile. How do you measure up?
I often refer to your profile as an artist’s canvas: you need to paint a profile that appeals to your audience.
Where do you lead their imagination? Can they see you working with them, doing all the right things, in their office, interacting with their team? Are they assured that you ooze integrity and professionalism? Help them dream.
What causes people to back off and go elsewhere? I think there are two things that block your sun.
- The “Me, Myself and I” profile: “Thanks for looking at me! I am going to tell you all about how wonderful I am, and I’m going to make you do the hard work of figuring out if I’m a good fit…”
Reaction: “You are making it really difficult for me to see your expertise. I’ll try somewhere else.”
- The Placeholder profile: “I really can’t be bothered to explain myself. Over to you.”
Reaction: “Goodbye!”
Many miss the point of LinkedIn. It has evolved into a huge marketplace of expertise – so you need to showcase just that, as well as your products and services, in a way that appeals to the people who are searching for them.
Lying in the Shade: Physical or Digital Networking?
The answer here is Mother Time. Let me explain.
We all have the same amount of time each day. It’s what we do with our time that is key. The good news is that you can have the best of both worlds, when it comes to time spent networking.
There is nothing like meeting someone in person. However, so that you can maximise your time, you should build a network online first – you get a lot more bang for your buck, so to speak. Then, where you feel appropriate, you can arrange to meet face to face, depending on your need.
The great thing is that it is more accepted now to meet digitally and on a video call. You can maintain a much larger network – both online, and off.
So, my advice? Get on with it! Get active and build a network that works for you.
Check out my Suntan! The Question of Increasing Visibility
Again, a bit of challenge for a few folks on LinkedIn. The platform is built for you to be active on it – not off somewhere getting a suntan.
Liking, commenting, and sharing good content with your community, or interacting with trigger events on your notifications is a really easy way to get yourself seen (for the right reasons) on LinkedIn.
A much underused and undervalued exercise that can have a massive impact is what I call your ‘week in review’.
I filter my posts by 1st degree connections, limit this to content from the last week, and review what they’ve been sharing.
Industry trends, talking points, and great conversation from the last seven days – you’ll never miss anything again.
Being seen on LinkedIn is ultimately about building enough familiarity with your skills and profile that you become someone’s intuitive go-to for help – and there’s no sun tan that can match that glow.
Beach Hawkers: Connecting Just to Sell?
Beware of beach hawkers flogging goods… and make sure you’re not one of them.
The Product Pusher: continually going from door to door, peddling their wares.
The Click and Sell: they invite you to connect, then boom! The very next message is a pitch.
Shock Jock: their hallmark is out-there behaviour. This person is an attention seeker who tries to suck you in with overly personal, click-baity, negative, disruptive stuff, and build their visibility in this way. Some people love it. And some people don’t. I guess you know what camp I’m in!
The expectation on LinkedIn is to build a trusted network, where you can educate on (not sell) your products and services, whilst encouraging and helping others towards their goals. Collaboration, partnership, and positive, nurturing relationships are the key modus operandi here.
Shore Thing: How to Deal with Noise and Hawkers
If you seem a little put-off by the busy beach and some really badly behaved people, please be encouraged by the introduction to this blog.
LinkedIn is entirely under your control.
It is possible to weave your path through the noise and the washed-up flotsam, and generate a successful experience.
If someone you are connected to is posting rubbish, behaving badly or just making you feel uncomfortable go to the MORE button on their profile and you can deal with them in three ways:
Unfollow them: if a first connection this is maintained, but you’ll no longer see their posts. I use this one a lot.
Remove connection: knock them back to a 2nd degree.
Report/block: for super-irritating people (of any level of connection) you can cut them off, never again to be seen by you on the platform.
More good news? None of these actions send notifications to the contact. They are silently administered – and you can also reverse them, should the need arise.
Enjoy the awesome solar power of LinkedIn. With the right mindset and good actions, you’ll be flourishing and thriving in no time.
f we are not connected please connect with me here https://www.linkedin.com/in/milesduncan/
Thank you for reading this article, please share it with you colleagues.
You are very welcome to come to my next free event https://www.b2bsuccesssystems.co.uk/free-events/
