How the Intersection of the Professional and Personal Makes a Bigger Impact

I’ve spent the last two weeks working my way through most of the executives in a single client. We’ve been, in small groups, or one-on-one, making sure that each executive has a LinkedIn profile that is complete, and represents the company in the way the company wants to be represented. I enjoy these sessions because it gives me the opportunity to get to know individuals within a client team. I’d never know what I’ve learned about the people inside the company if I didn’t have the chance to meet with them like this. It helps us get into the real story of the company and the people who create it.

When it gets down to the backgrounds of people who have worked in their industry for, sometimes, more than 30 years, it’s fascinating what you learn. One executive confessed she wished she’d become a nurse, instead. Another told me of his passion for singing in his church choir. I’ve learned about the nonprofit organizations these people support in their spare time, and the reasons why they chose their career path that led them to this point. Every single one has an interesting story.

In these sessions, colleagues end up getting to know one another better. The employees begin to share more about themselves, what they do, what they know, and what they like about their work. They become more accessible. The community notices this, particularly when those team members start sharing that information online, through the company blog, on LinkedIn, on Facebook or wherever they choose to engage.

It’s really interesting to watch it happen. As soon as the team takes those first steps they start to see the benefit — they’re delighted by the new information they have, the reconnecting of past relationships and the forming of new ones. I’m glad I have a small role in that transformation.