I always appreciate the questions that come in from readers. Sometimes, I need to think about them. Often, they are the inspiration for a future post. Thanks to Hilary for this week’s inspiration. She asked, “I am curious as to how to be authentic on LinkedIn. I find this platform to be especially difficult in that regard.”
I suspect she is not alone.
LinkedIn can feel like an odd place. It’s professional, but personal. Public, but relationship driven. Educational, but promotional. It’s a recruiting and job search platform. We are told to build our personal brand, showcase our expertise, and share our insights. Yet many people worry about coming across as self-promotional, inauthentic, or worse performative.
The question made me realize that many of us are trying to strike a balance between being visible and being genuine.
So, what does authenticity on LinkedIn actually look like?
Authenticity Is Not the Same as Transparency
One of the biggest misconceptions about authenticity is that it requires sharing everything.
It doesn’t.
Authenticity is not radical in transparency. It is not documenting every challenge, struggle, or personal moment. It is not turning your professional profile into a personal diary.
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It’s when your online presence reflects who you genuinely are. When people meet you after reading your posts and think, “Yes, this is exactly the person I expected.”
You can be authentic and still have boundaries.
You can be authentic and still be private.
You can be authentic and still be professional.
Why Authenticity Matters More Than Ever
The rise of AI-generated content has made authenticity even more valuable.
Today, almost anyone can create a polished post in seconds. But while AI can help us write, it cannot replace our experiences, perspectives, values, or relationships.
The differentiator is no longer whether you can create content. The differentiator is whether people feel connected to the person behind the content.
People don’t build trust with perfectly crafted sentences. They build trust through consistency, perspective, and genuine interaction.
The Test I Use
When I think about authenticity, I ask a simple question: Would someone who knows me well recognize me in this post?
Do the ideas, stories, humor, observations, and lessons reflect how I actually think and communicate. Does it sound like me?
If your LinkedIn voice sounds completely different from your real voice, people notice. If your posts are written only to impress rather than express something meaningful, people notice that too.
Four Ways to Show Up More Authentically
Share lessons, not just accomplishments.
Many people post only when they achieve something. Promotions, awards, speaking engagements, and milestones are worth celebrating. But often the most meaningful content comes from what you learned along the way.
The lesson creates connection. The accomplishment simply creates awareness.
Write like a human.
Too many LinkedIn posts sound as if they were written by a committee. You don’t need to sound corporate to be credible. Use your natural voice. Let your personality come through.
Write the way you would speak to a respected colleague over coffee.
Have a point of view.
Authenticity doesn’t mean everyone agrees with you. It means people know what you stand for. Share what you’re noticing. Challenge assumptions. Ask thoughtful questions. Offer perspectives based on your experience. Your perspective is often more valuable than your expertise.
Engage, don’t just broadcast.
Authenticity isn’t built through posting alone. It’s built through conversations. Respond to comments. Celebrate others. Ask questions. Follow up with people. Remember that LinkedIn is a networking platform, not just a publishing platform. Relationships are still the goal.
The Balance Between Visibility and Authenticity
Many professionals struggle because they believe they must choose between self-promotion and authenticity. I don’t think that’s true. The most effective professionals I know are visible because they are generous with their ideas, insights, and experiences.
Their goal isn’t attention. Their goal is contribution.
When contribution becomes the focus, authenticity tends to follow naturally.
A Final Thought
Hilary’s question has stayed with me because it highlights something many of us feel. Showing up authentically on LinkedIn isn’t always easy.
Perhaps the goal isn’t to reveal more of ourselves. Rather to simply to be more ourselves.
To share our ideas.
To express our values.
To contribute our perspective.
And remember that behind every profile is a person looking to connect with another person.
That’s what authenticity looks like to me.