Recommendations on LinkedIn are a great thing.  They let others toot your horn while you can do the same or Pay it forward.  There are currently four ways to classify a recommendation based on who provided it:

1.  Colleague

2.  Business Partner

3.  Client

4.  Student.

Recommendations are not gifts to be given out for special occasions or charitable gifts.  They should only be given out when earned through actions that go above the norm.  Here are some tips to keep in mind about recommendations.

1.  They must be sincere:  People rely on recommendations to make decisions.  The quickest way to devalue recommendations is to pass them around freely.

2.  Reciprocal recommendation can hurt more than help:  I often see reciprocal recommendations noted on my home page.  This is where Jim recommends John and John immediately recommends Jim.  People notice this.  Recruiters notice this and discount these types of recommendations.  If someone recommends you only provide a reciprocal recommendation if it’s based on an action that you document in the recommendation.  Otherwise pay it forward by recommending someone else who has provided value to you.

Jim saying John is a great guy and John returning the favor adds no value.

3.  Write a great recommendation and Spell Check it:  Poorly written recommendations and ones filled with grammatical errors reflect poorly on the giver and the receiver.  As a extra precaution, when you receive a recommendation check it for errors.  If you think there is a better way to word the recommendation or some parts need correcting, you can request that the individual revise the recommendation.  You can’t make changes to it.

4.  It’s OK to Request a Reccomendation:  Just make sure there is a valid reason.  Don’t send out a request for recommendations to your entire network.  Don’t ask for one if you have not provided service or value in a great way.  Having met one time, had a single conversation and then connected is not the basis for requesting a recommendation.

5.  If you receive a recommendation request respond to it immediately.  Otherwise you’ll likely get busy and forget.  If you’re not comfortable writing a recommendation send a message back to the person explaining why.  In business it’s never a good thing to delay or ignore a request.

I’m sure there are more tips and thoughts which you can add to the comments section.  Wednesdays are about me unleashing my creative genius in the form of the LinkedOut comic rather than preaching.  Have a great Wednesday!

**Remember to keep the but slapping on the football field.  If you want to tell someone “Great Job” in the office constrain yourself to a high five, a pay raise, or a LinkedIn Recommendation.

Don’t forget to add comments for anything you think I missed.