My word is my bond

So what’s your reputation?  The chances are that as you think about that question you try to see yourself through the eyes of others… your clients, your peers, colleagues, community, possibly even friends and family.

So let’s say you have a great reputation as an HR Blogger.  Perhaps it’s your job…

The chances are that people constantly happily endorse you as an HR Blogger… they ReTweet your posts, *like* them and recommend them.  Most of those actions take some consideration but through technology only take a click or two to spread out to your network and beyond.

For most of us that is a very genuine action and our endorsement is given with meaning.  It has to have meaning otherwise our own reputation would be for endorsing people for no good reason!

Endorsement

I quite happily endorse people I think merit it.  Sometimes it’s a RT or a #FF on Twitter.  Sometimes it’s a brief chat and a connection.  Other times it’s a written recommendation.   Every time it’s my reputation on the line so I choose carefully and do so with meaning & aforethought.

Recently, something curious has been happening.  People I respect and use social media, who I know endorse people with care & meaning, have been reacting against the concept of endorsing peoples’ skills on LinkedIn.

There’s a good blog post here by @allinsona which shares some thinking & reaction on this phenomena.

I think there’s a real danger that some endorsements are given either without thought, with only the expectation of reciprocation or fear of missing out.  There’s a lot of blather and posturing on social media so I believe this issue of hollow endorsements is not just a LinkedIn phenomena.

At the end of the day though, your reputation is only as good as your word.  Sometimes all it takes is a single word (or action) to recommend or endorse.  It in some ways defines us.

That’s why I’ll use LinkedIn to endorse the skills of those I know well, willingly and with meaning.

How about you?


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