Distinguishing Authenticity from Oversharing on LinkedIn, According to Alec Rickard

In a recent LinkedIn post, Alec Rickard discusses the crucial distinction between genuine authenticity and oversharing on professional platforms, particularly LinkedIn. Rickard argues that while authenticity is key to building authority, it’s often misunderstood as sharing excessive personal details.

Rickard emphasizes that the goal on platforms like LinkedIn should be to share valuable insights rather than personal minutiae. He states:

Sharing your weekend plans on LinkedIn won’t build your authority. Sharing your point of view will.

This distinction, according to Rickard, is vital for professionals aiming to establish themselves as thought leaders. He cautions against the misconception that being authentic means divulging every personal struggle or fleeting thought, asserting that a LinkedIn profile serves a different purpose than a personal diary.

The Audience’s Expectation: Expertise Over Intimacy

Rickard highlights that the audience on professional networks primarily seeks expertise and valuable perspectives. He writes:

Your audience came for your expertise. They stay for your perspective.

This perspective suggests that while personal anecdotes can be effective, they should serve a larger purpose in conveying professional knowledge or insights. The focus, Rickard implies, should remain on the value proposition for the audience.

Strategies for Authentic, Value-Driven Content

To navigate this balance, Rickard proposes several actionable strategies for professionals to be authentic without oversharing:

1. Share Opinions, Not Confessions

Rickard advises taking a clear stance on industry-related topics rather than sharing personal confessions. This approach allows professionals to showcase their expertise and critical thinking within their field.

2. Tell Stories with a Lesson

Personal moments can be powerful tools for building connection and authority, but only when they are used to teach something. Rickard suggests that the lesson learned from a personal experience is what resonates, not the raw event itself.

3. Show Your Thinking Process

Instead of focusing on personal stresses, Rickard recommends illustrating how problems are solved. This method demonstrates a professional’s capability and problem-solving skills, which are highly valued by an audience.

4. Focus on Owned Themes

Consistency is key. Rickard suggests picking one or two core themes that a professional can consistently own and contribute to, reinforcing their expertise in specific areas. This helps maintain focus and builds a recognizable brand.

5. Practice Prudent Posting

Before hitting ‘post,’ Rickard advocates for a self-check: does the content teach, reframe, or help anyone? If the answer is no, he suggests skipping the post, thereby maintaining a high standard for shared content.

Defining Professional Authenticity

Rickard concludes that true authenticity on LinkedIn is about using one’s genuine voice on familiar topics. He reiterates the importance of sharing personal elements that teach and add value, while omitting those that do not.

The executives who grow on LinkedIn share enough to feel human and enough expertise to feel valuable. That balance is where authority lives.

In Rickard’s view, striking this balance between relatability and expertise is the cornerstone of building authority and a strong personal brand on professional networking sites.