Hello Ms. Hann,
I think one of the big benefits of being on LinkedIn is making a presence for yourself in the discussion groups. Pick groups you are interested in and passionate about and add your voice. Lurking is certainly beneficial, and there are groups you may feel uncomfortable contributing to. However, if someone says something you feel strongly about, jump in! Your mind is already as quick as it will ever be, so you will be able to make reasoned and useful posts to discussions about subjects you are knowledgeable and passionate about. As long as you are polite and respectful, people will respect you, especially if you are a creative thinker. In the end, it's all about ideas, and everyone working together to make the museum world a better place.
One word of caution, though. Make sure you stick with what you know, and don't go too far into conjecture without telling people you are making educated guesses. Many will ask for evidence to support what you say. Of course, if you are talking from experience, that is your evidence. Also, there are some people in discussion groups who have agendas, and are not fair or objective. Do not feel overly hurt if they write stuff that seems (or is) an attack on you. Stick to your guns and defend what you say. Or, if the attack is groundless and completely off-base, ignore it, consider the source, and move on. Still, I think situations like that are more uncommon than not. I think the discussion groups generally foster good connections (I was once invited to join someone's network largely because of what I posted in a discussion) and foster good problem-solving. Sometimes they even function as effective venting places!
Oh, and yet another thing, sometimes you may feel you want to reply privately to a poster, and you can do that, too. I once did that to compliment someone I felt was being very diplomatic and reasonable with someone who wasn't. The diplomatic poster and I are now friends, though we live 3000 miles apart!
Good luck, and feel free to contribute!
Cordially,
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Paul N. Pallansch
Dot-Connector,
Up-Close Realism
Silver Spring MD
Original Message:
Sent: 02-02-2016 01:27 AM
From: Stephanie Hann
Subject: Using LinkedIn to enhance your Museum's success
Hello all!
A museum colleague of mine and I were recently discussing the drawbacks and benefits of using LinkedIn within the field. As an emerging museum professional, I use it primarily to connect with others and showcase the skills I have obtained in paid and volunteer positions. A mid-to-late career museum professional might choose to highlight more recent or significant contributions to the field. A basic search will yield a variety of results showing that some professionals feel comfortable leaving their profile open to the public, while others opt for more privacy. What has been your personal approach and experience with LinkedIn? How has it either enhanced your personal career, or benefitted your organization's connections? How might this relate to the organizational/legal implications for connecting with volunteers, colleagues, members, or potential donors through social media?
I look forward to hearing your opinions!
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Stephanie Hann
Emerging Museum Professional
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