In recent weeks I’ve been making a concerted effort to socialise more. Meeting girlfriends for lunch on Sundays and catching up with business colleagues I’ve neglected all year.
Part of this is because it’s winter with its uninviting weather for gardening so I have more time on my hands. Part of it is because I’m going stir-crazy not being able to get outside. And part of it is that after the isolation of Covid I truly missed people.
I’d kept up with friends and colleagues online of course, like everyone, but much less so in person. With the consequence that quite a number have slipped through my fingers and some relationships have lapsed entirely.
This turns out to be bad for my health. The BBC reports that the World Health Organisation has just founded a new Commission on Social Connection because something called a ‘biopsychosocial model of health’ shows that friendships can influence everything from our immune system's strength to our chances of dying from heart disease.
The BBC says, ‘The conclusions of this research are clear: if we want to live a long and healthy life, we should start prioritising the people around us.’
While this clearly applies to our in-person networks I’d argue it also applies to our online relationships, and especially LinkedIn™.
In the 10 years I’ve been making a concerted effort to widen my network on the platform, I’ve formed strong friendships with people all over the world. People I am never going to meet IRL and who will only ever be faces on screens for me.
But they’re people I trust, respect and who have added immeasurably to my sense off wellbeing. And it would seem are helping me to live longer. (Given I’m no spring chicken, I’m all over that!)
Just as in the offline world many of those you meet online just aren’t your sort of people. They don’t share your values, your humour or have anything in common with you. Fortunately, they tend to disappear quite quickly.
But those who do share your values, who do like your jokes, or with whom you do have work or personal interests in common tend to stick around. They enjoy your company or communication as much as you do theirs. In the way of true friendships, you become mutually important to each other. And if it helps each of you in your work, even better.
The number of people you have the opportunity to meet on LinkedIn™ is many degrees larger than you have a hope of in person which, if the connection is strong enough, means you might live forever. That’s not true, of course. But if it makes us healthier because we don’t feel so isolated then it can only be a good thing.
So, reach out on LinkedIn™ and use the platform to build those relationships – it’s what it’s all about after all – and see if you too can create a strong network of trusted colleagues and friends.
If you want to read the BBC article, you’ll find it here.