What on earth is she doing, offering LinkedIn classes?

A few people have asked me … if you’re not a social media expert or trainer, how come you offer LinkedIn classes and training?

I thought I’d give you a bit of background and context.

My career and business background

I work as a women’s career and leadership coach.

Given my background (former Global Head of IT Service in an international law firm), I work with women in technology and women in professional or financial services (so probably in the City).

After 25 years in technology, in April 2012, I set up my own business; just before that I was the UK Business manager for a leading legal technology outsourcing company, and was responsible for setting up and running their first operation outside the States. Therefore it makes sense that my other clients are women in business (consultants, coaches, trainers, marketing specialists etc).

Both groups of ambitious women want my help to get clear on what they really want from their career or business, then find the confidence and develop the leadership to do it.

Technology is in my DNA

I grew up with technology and have worked with, in and around technology all my life. I’m not a geek (though some people say I am) but I am smart and clever when it comes to technology. It’s in my DNA.

My Dad worked for IBM most of his working life. When I was a child, my parents never bought me drawing paper or colouring books because my Dad just brought home reams and reams and reams of computer printouts. I’m showing my age … you remember those big computer printouts in films from the 70s? I’ve been visiting server rooms (or ‘machine’ rooms) since the age of 10 when I used to go with my Dad to some of his big clients.

And that’s why LinkedIn is so easy and straightforward for me. I don’t just use it … I use it strategically. That’s my gift – to think strategically.

Work is one of the five key confidence elements

The Confident Mother, (and there’s a story around the business name too), is based on my philosophy that in order to be confident, it’s about focusing on five key elements: contribution, wellness, work, family and the feminine.

When I work with clients, most want to start with the WORK element. And today a key part is networking. In today’s employment and business market, LinkedIn is THE place for networking, even if you are not looking for a career move right now. I started teaching lawyers in 2007 about HOW and WHY to use LinkedIn to build business and develop expert authority.

Confession time

Even though I’ve been teaching and training LinkedIn to lawyers and other professionals since 2007, until recently my own profile was very basic. Pretty embarrassing given that I help clients get strategic on LinkedIn.

My profile didn’t even mention I’d published a book – a friend in my mastermind pointed that out! Or that I was speaker. Doh!

As soon as I made a concerted effort to polish my profile AND use LinkedIn more consistently, it all clicked into place. I started getting invites to appear on Sky News. I was asked to join a work-life roundtable at Legal & General. A former work colleague from 20 years ago (!) got in touch when his employer (one of the challenger banks) wanted help to implement their Women in Finance Charter strategy.

I had discovered the 3 keys you need to attract the right people to your profile.

That’s why I get so cross and frustrated

And now every day when I go onto LinkedIn, I get so cross and frustrated when I look at other people’s profiles. Ugh, their headline. Ugh, no photo. Ugh, the summary is practically empty. Ugh, why no mention of quantifiable achievements. It was driving me nuts.

So of course when you work with me one-to-one or as part of my Leadership Confidence programme, I will critique and review your LinkedIn profile. I often offered one-to-one LinkedIn coaching and a profile review as an Early Bird bonus. But for those thinking, “I don’t need all the Back to Work Confidence pieces” or “I’m not ready for the Leadership Confidence programme”, I wanted to offer the LinkedIn piece on its own, if that’s the missing piece that’s stopping you from doing what you want.

It started with the one-to-one review, then I launched the 10 Day Challenge (hoping for 50 so blown away when 155 signed up!) and now LinkedIn Confidence online.

Simples

So that’s why a women’s career and leadership coach offers you LinkedIn coaching and training to attract the right people and the right opportunities to your profile. Technology is in my DNA. Work is one of your five key confidence elements. In order to get work confidence, you need to network. And LinkedIn is THE place for corporate and business networking. Simples.