A Better Way to Talk to Your LinkedIn Connection During Challenging Time

Stop asking whether the virus affects them as an opening question. Do this instead.

Photo by Masaaki Komori on Unsplash

In general, I greet all my new connections in LinkedIn with a simple message — “Hello, thank you for connecting.” This is how I start to build a human relationship with the people I meet online and make the conversation flow.

Yet starting from the pandemic, several of my new connections responded interestingly.

• “Thanks. How is your field? Is it heavily influenced by COV19?”
• “Nice to meet you. How are you doing? Is the virus affecting your business or not? “
• “No problem. How are you currently navigating the crisis for your life and business?”

The talking made me uncomfortable (which I would dive in a bit more later). Still, I would politely reply, “We are adapting the new way of working and learning every day.” The conversation usually won’t go any further after that.

They Ask for the Purpose of Asking

I am curious about your feelings towards their opening questions, particularly how you would respond. I found it frustrating because the people who asked actually have an absolute answer —…