False positive

Every so often, I’ll get an email from LinkedIn that says something like this:

“Stephen, you’re getting noticed. Your profile is looking great! Your work and accomplishments are being recognized. [Click here to] see who’s looking.”

Garbage.

Malarkey.

Hooey.

I’m not knocking LinkedIn as a professional networking tool. But messages like this are no better than click-bait.

And automated flattery is as gross as it is disingenuous.

There’s power in placebo … and in the kind of praise that puts us in the mindset to be our best.

But this is not that.

Keep a watchful eye for false positives. Someone snooping a social platform is not the same as being recognized for your good work, and “views” and “likes” — for better or worse — do not necessarily show the reach of your impact.