Finding the Balance in Professional Descriptions on LinkedIn
Today I want to address the following topic: the tendency to use pompous and exaggerated titles to describe our professional activities on LinkedIn. It may be a controversial subject, but I believe it deserves a brief analysis.
Let’s start with the harsh reality: we live in a world where we are bombarded with information from all sides. Competition is fierce, and the struggle for attention and visibility has become an outright war. But how can you stand out in this informational jungle? How do you sell yourself in a world where selling means becoming increasingly aggressive? How can you attract the attention of an audience that is already immune to the avalanche of information they have to process?
You probably don’t have much choice other than to use pompous titles for both your roles and jobs as well as your posts. Journalists at news channels have long understood this, which is why we find titles like “Nuclear”, “Shock Edition”, “Staggering News”, etc. on our TV screens.
Many of us have resorted to aggressive tactics for “selling” ourselves. We are “Innovation Specialists”, “Growth Strategy Gurus”, “Strategic Visionaries” or other titles that seem to give us an aura of importance and uniqueness. It’s a trend we observe not only on LinkedIn, but also on other platforms.
And here’s the dilemma: how do we stand out in a sea of over 800 million LinkedIn users without resorting to these marketing techniques? How can we promote ourselves in an authentic way without sacrificing modesty and honesty?
I admit, I’ve been tempted to apply such techniques myself. It’s not my natural style, but the pressure to be visible and to “satisfy” the LinkedIn algorithm is high. Several times, I’ve tried to change my title/role, in a desperate search for that perfect balance between being “interesting” and relevant, but without appearing unsuccessful or hypocritical. It was a struggle between the desire to promote myself and attract attention, and the fear of exposing myself to judgment or criticism. But after several attempts and hesitations, I decided to return to what I consider to be the most authentic and representative for me: the title of web designer. It’s simple, direct, and describes the essence of what I do.
But why do we end up using these pompous titles? The reasons are deeply rooted in human nature. Let’s explore a few of them:
- We desire recognition and validation: We all need to be seen, appreciated, and validated for our work. We use pompous titles to draw attention to our work and expertise. It’s a way to reaffirm our value in front of others.
- We fear being undervalued: In our times, simple work is unfortunately often minimized or ignored. That’s why we fear that if we describe our activity too modestly, we will be undervalued or ignored. So we use grandiose titles to ensure that we are taken seriously.
- We want to keep up with trends: There is constant pressure to go with the flow and follow the dominant models on social networks. If others use pompous titles, we fear being left behind or considered inadequate if we don’t do the same.
- We are ambitious and want to progress: For many, these pompous titles are not necessarily exaggerations, but rather aspirations. We use them as a form of self-motivation, projecting the image of the person we want to become.
- We are doing personal marketing: In the digital age, everyone has to become their own brand and marketing agent. We use pompous titles as a personal branding tactic, hoping to stand out and attract potential employers or clients.
Of course, these reasons don’t necessarily justify the practices of exaggerated self-promotion, but they help us understand the deep human motivations behind them. After all, we are complex beings, guided by profound psychological and social needs. By acknowledging these reasons, we can find healthier and more authentic ways to express our value and aspirations.
How about introducing more authenticity and naturalness into the way we describe ourselves on LinkedIn? We can alternate long, complex sentences with shorter, more direct ones, just as we do in ordinary conversations. Let’s add nuance and depth to how we present our expertise and achievements without falling into the trap of exaggerated self-promotion.
PS: And now I keep thinking about what title to choose for this article? On the one hand, I could go the proper route and choose a “well-behaved”, direct, and objective title, such as “Finding Balance in Professional Descriptions on LinkedIn”. Such a title would honestly and authentically reflect the content of the article.
However, on the other hand, I know that an overly simple and unattractive title could go unnoticed in the sea of content that floods our daily feeds. It could be too easy to ignore or overlook by rushed readers who are bombarded with hundreds of articles every day.
Should I use a “clickbait” style title, something more provocative and intriguing, like “The Success Secret on LinkedIn That No One Wants to Tell You!”. Such a title could pique readers’ curiosity, make them click on the article, eager to find out that promised “secret”. Of course, there is a risk here. Such a title could be perceived as deceptive or exaggerated, causing frustration among readers once they realize there is no revolutionary “secret”, but rather a nuanced analysis of the issue.
In any case, this dilemma itself perfectly illustrates the challenges we face in today’s digital age. We must find creative ways to make ourselves heard in a noisy, information-saturated world without sacrificing our integrity and authenticity.
Dragoslav Radovan
Web Designer
