Let me take you on a personal journey—one that involves navigating my own fears and doubts about LinkedIn. You see, when I first started my side hustle as a Virtual Assistant, I was working full-time for a large company. I knew adding my business to my LinkedIn profile could open up great opportunities to meet potential clients, but it felt like a huge leap.
It was like announcing to the world, "This is what I'm doing now," and suddenly, everyone I knew would be able to see it.
The nerves hit hard. What if my business didn’t take off? Would people who knew me start doubting me? Would they whisper about my failure if things didn’t work out?
That fear was real. I hesitated to add my side hustle to my profile for a long time because I felt vulnerable.
It’s one thing to be quietly working on something in the background, but putting it out there on a platform where my colleagues, mentors, and even friends could see felt like standing in front of a crowd.
But here’s the truth I learned: so many of us are afraid to use LinkedIn because we worry about being judged, yet by not using it, we’re missing out on one of the greatest tools to network and grow our businesses.
When most people think of LinkedIn, they picture a buttoned-up, professional platform full of resumes and corporate-speak. But it’s so much more. It’s a thriving network of professionals, a space to build your personal brand, and a playground of opportunities. So why are so many people still holding back?
Here are the three main reasons:
It feels intimidating: The professional atmosphere can feel much more serious than the casual vibes of Instagram or Facebook.
Fear of judgement: No one likes the feeling of being judged, especially by colleagues or mentors.
Lack of direction: Many people simply don’t know how to show up or what to share.
But here’s the thing: LinkedIn is ripe for building your personal brand because most people aren't fully utilising it. There’s less competition than on other platforms, and that leaves room for you to stand out!
Fear of judgement is the number one roadblock I hear when it comes to LinkedIn. What will coworkers think? What if people don’t agree with what you say? What if your posts don’t get any likes?
I’ve been there.
But here’s a mindset shift that helped me: People are more focused on themselves than on you. Everyone has their own stuff going on. This isn’t about them, it’s about you showing up for yourself and your business.
My greatest piece of advice: Think of each post as an opportunity to be seen, not judged. Every time you show up on LinkedIn, you’re allowing potential clients, collaborators, and mentors to see what you’re about. People don’t connect with perfection, they connect with authenticity.
LinkedIn is a goldmine of opportunities waiting for you to tap into it. The fear of showing up is valid, but it shouldn’t hold you back. By shifting your mindset, embracing authenticity, and focusing on connections over perfection, LinkedIn can become a powerful tool for you and even a space you enjoy.
Today I encourage you to take that deep breath, put yourself out there, and watch the magic happen!
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