Hi there!
Let’s talk about one of the most terrifying things in the world: the horror of posting on LinkedIn.
Why would you be contemplating this heroic feat? It’s often one of these three: you’re looking for a job, changing careers, or building a business.
To get to this moment, you probably went on a mini hero’s journey. First, euphoria: you did it! You got clear on what you want and courageous enough to go for it!!! Everything felt amazing… for about two hours.
Then the freak‑out started. All the reasons you haven’t done the thing come rushing in: What will people think? Am I secretly delusional? Will I end up living in a box?
Now those fears converge on one concrete moment: posting an update on LinkedIn. The scary thoughts really start coming now: “Oh god, what will so‑and‑so think?” “But this is my entire professional network.” “This is going to be so cringe.” And honestly – some people probably will cringe.
Here’s how to do it anyway:
1) Take the long view
The first thing I have clients in transition do is get clear on their vision and start referring to it regularly. Without this, the ego endlessly projects fear into the unknown.
For example, I’m about to start building my online presence, and I definitely have fear about that. (For me, it’s posting videos on Instagram that feels especially terrifying.) But when I review my vision, I remember that business isn’t even my top priority right now – my family is. That one shift puts social media into perspective and suddenly, it’s doesn’t feel like a big deal. It’s a part of my life, it’s not the be all, end all.
When we put our ‘problems’ in their true perspective, they lose their dominance. We remember what’s most important and care less about what isn’t.
2) Get leverage on yourself to act now
We let our fear win with thoughts like “It’s fine if I don’t do it today” or “I’ll start when things calm down.” Or, we quietly put everything ahead of the scary action and then “run out of time.”
To counter that, create a quick list with two columns:
- What I gain if I act now
- What I lose if I don’t
Using the same example, I’m motivated to build my social media presence because I have a book coming out in about 17 months and I’m planning some family changes next year.
- The gain if I act now: a better foundation for the book, a stronger business, and less pressure during a big season of personal change.
- The loss if I delay: a sloppier, less impactful book launch and the discomfort of trying to learn a new skill while I’m navigating major changes at home.
When I look at it that way, I can hardly wait to get going. It’s very clear it’s only going to get harder if I wait.
3) Borrow courage from your future self
Part of what makes new actions hard is that they don’t match our current identity. We resist what doesn’t feel like “us,” so if you’ve never posted on social before, of course it feels “off‑brand” to start.
To break that, imagine the future version of you who is living the life you want and ask:
- What would they be thinking about this?
- How would they act?
- What matters to them?
Back to my book example: when I picture the version of me who is on The Today Show talking about the book, she is way past caring what anyone on LinkedIn thinks. She has a message she cares about, and her potential for impact is more motivating than her discomfort. If I pretend I’m her for the day, I feel more courageous. I start acting ‘as if.’ That’s how we close the gap between who we are and who we’re becoming.
Hope this is helpful. If you try it and actually post on LinkedIn, PLEASE let me know – I will definitely cheer you on.
Love,
Kit
