Here’s one of my LinkedIn pet peeves: CEOs who post generic content about their team.

These are some of the bad examples I see most frequently:

#1 - Bland compliments

“Nice work” and “great job” could apply to anyone. Half-hearted praise doesn’t communicate what you value about your colleagues or their specific contributions.

#2 - Celebrating an achievement, but not the people behind it

CEOs use LinkedIn to boast about company awards or other accomplishments. But they don’t always acknowledge the hard-working colleagues behind their success.

#3 - Posting photos of company events without meaningful context

CEOs post photos of company gatherings with lame remarks: “Great day with the team - can’t wait to do it again.” But they leave out details that convey how an event (celebration, retreat, conference, etc.) reflects what’s special about their company culture.

The new playbook:

#1 - Be specific when you recognize employees

People feel seen and valued when your praise is precise.

• What did they do?

• What impact did they have?

• What values/traits did they demonstrate?

Here’s an example we love:

#2 - Celebrate the people behind team accomplishments

Who led a successful project? Who executed the work? Who suggested a brilliant idea in the first place? Break down the team contributors and give credit where credit is due.

Too many people to tag in a single post? Recognize the unique contributions of different departments. Do you have a communications team with killer storytelling instincts? The world’s most efficient engineering team? A sales team that won’t quit? Show teams that you see them.

#3 - Connect your recognition to team values

The best way to reinforce your company culture:

Tell employee stories that show your team's values and mission in action.

Make the connections explicit.

#4 - Celebrate team events that elevate your culture

Posting photos of your company retreat, conference, or celebration? Tell us why it matters:

• How did activities advance your work?

• How did they reflect your culture?

• What insights did you glean from the event?

Don’t forget to acknowledge the event organizers.

#5 - Tag individual team members in your posts

Tag personal LinkedIn accounts in your post. Your colleagues and their networks are more likely to see the content and feel your appreciation.

Plus, our data analysis shows posts that tag specific individuals perform 16% better than posts with no tags.

The takeaway:

CEOs who post forgettable content forget who’s reading their posts. Your employees are your #1 audience. What you write should convey your values, your appreciation, and your awareness of team contributions.

Leaders who know how to recognize their teams build better cultures and team goodwill.

What other questions can I answer? Let me know and I’ll aim to address your question in an upcoming newsletter.

Best,
Justin

Justin M. Nassiri | Founder & CEO
M: 650.353.1138 | E: [email protected]
250 Fillmore St Suite 150, Denver, CO 80206
www.ExecutivePresence.io

We specialize in helping top-tier executives boost their visibility, activate their network, and position themselves as thought leaders via our premium, fully-managed LinkedIn service.

Our unique process involves ex-McKinsey, BCG, and Bain consultants conducting monthly hour-long interviews with our clients, and turning them into impactful daily LinkedIn posts to establish their unique voice and authority. On average, our clients see a 500% bump in engagement in their first 30 days with us. Data is continuously analyzed to improve engagement and identify impactful messaging that you can use for conferences, podcasts, and internal communications.