Many are confused as to who should be invited to join a professional network.  We’ll review the LinkedIn policy and other philosophies that members adopt. We’ll offer a few opinions.

LinkedIn Policy
The policy of LinkedIn is that you are encouraged to invite those you know and trust.  This policy is grounded in sound thinking.  Those you connect with will have access to those in your network; others may ask you about them and vice versa; and you’ll get updates on their activities. 

You can invite classmates, colleagues, business partners, friends and associates from groups you belong to without entering their email address.  For all other invitations you must know the person’s email address to invite them to join your network.

Caveat
Be aware that inviting someone who may respond to your invitation with “I don’t know” jeopardizes your invitation privilege of sending invitations without using an email address to the groups previously mentioned.  When you have accumulated a handful of “I don’t know” violations, you will be required to enter email addresses for all you wish to invite.  Your privileges will be restored once, if you acknowledge that you have reviewed the LinkedIn policy and agree to abide by it. 

Open Networkers – LION’s.
Counter to LinkedIn policies are LION’s (LinkedIn Open Networkers) whose philosophy is to accept all invitations.  They will not invite members indiscriminately, but will ACCEPT ALL invitations, including those from those unknown to them.  They also will forward ALL Introductions requested.  For them what matters most is building a network that is wide and broad without a care for depth of relationships.  It’s about reach and access to a large network.  Their ability to facilitate Introductions is questionable since many of the relationships in their network are not usually well-devloped.

LION’s are easy to identify.  They often use the term “LION” in their profile name or headline fields.  It’s common that they include their email address in these same fields also.  They scream, “invite me, connect with me.”  Their networks are usually very large.

It’s not a bad idea to connect with LIONS.  You might invite them strategically, understanding that you are jeopardizing your invitation privileges as stated above.  They will expand your network and will forward your requests for Introductions.  What would make a LION of strategic interest?  They might be connected in your field or industry of interest enabling you to extend your network.

Closed Networkers
While there is no “CLIN” term used designating such members, they may be anonymous in identity choosing not to reveal their name or are identified by First Name, Last Initial, or in some cases are identified as PRIVATE.  Their profiles are vague and brief.  Their networks are small.  Their privacy settings shun most invitations and requests for introductions.  They can best be described as reluctant networkers. 

Choosing your philosophy
What’s right for you?  Who should you invite? Whose invitation should you accept? 

You can’t go wrong abiding by LinkedIn’s policy.  Invite those you know and trust and accept invitations from the same.  Understand that “knowing” someone does NOT imply endorsing them.  Let’s consider two moderate approaches used by LinkedIn members and refer to them as “Networking Friendly” and “Selective Networking.”

Networking Friendly
I suggest that you might benefit from this moderately open disposition.  Invite people you have met and know casually.  You can identify them by face and name.  You’ve conversed and found them to be cordial, helpful, articulate and engaging.  If you met them at a party and would introduce them to someone else at the party, the context of LinkedIn might be no different.  While you have no idea of their professional abilities, you are doing nothing more than affirming their personal manner.  Consider that you never know who they know – siblings, neighbors, friends, work colleagues, business partners and others, all people who might be valuable to you in making future connections.

Selective Networking
Those wishing to remain very selective in building their network will have smaller networks.  This curtails their networking benefits and is a matter of choice.  They value quality connections sacrificing the size of their network.  The advantage assumed is that introductions will process easier and that the exclusive nature implies almost a recommendation of each connection in the network.

The Company You Keep
To some extent you might be judged by the company you keep, but that may not always the case.  Those who know you well and consider you to be a tolerant professional will understand that you might connect with someone who you might not hold in high regard.  Being tolerant, connective, and believing that connecting does not imply an endorsement or recommendation of all the professionals in their network enables them to build larger networks with more opportunities to connect.

Consider this.   Connecting with a former co-worker, who you would never endorse for employment purposes, enables you to assist others in your network.  How could this be?  Just as a connection can serve to recommend someone for employment, so too it can be used to NOT recommend someone for employment.  The ability to save a network connection from making a terrible hiring decision can be even more beneficial than recommending a stellar employee.  If you are not a hiring manager, ask one if this is true.  In addition, consider that even those you do not hold in high regard are capable of having family members, neighbors, friends and others in their networks who can add value to your network.

If you are worried about what others think of you and the company you keep, then you might consider shifting your focus.  You really want to be judged on your own merits and achievements. Those in your network have no impact on your value, contribution and reputation in the workplace.

In Closing
I suggest that you begin with a moderately open disposition in making connections initially.  Assess the results and adjust accordingly.  Be sure to visit the Accounts & Settings to adjust your network preferences according to your networking disposition.