The Circle of Trust Closure

By Angela Weinberger | Global People Transitions Mission: Bringing the Human Touch Back into Global Mobility

Many years ago, I met a woman on LinkedIn and supported her without charging because I felt she needed the support, and she could not (under no circumstances) pay for our coaching. Recently, we got reconnected and she connected me to a really interesting community in the NGO DEI space where female startup founders are also encouraged to connect with investors. I don’t really know yet what comes from this connection, but I definitely feel inspired, and I am so grateful to this woman. I am telling you this because you never know when the “networking karma” hits back (the empire strikes back in a good Jedi sort of way). This was an example of how the circle of trust closes and then might evolve into something bigger, something yet to be discovered…

Also, one or two of you talked to me about how to leverage and work with 2nd Level connections on LinkedIn. I know you often think I have it all figured out but that’s not entirely true. 

As you have probably noticed by now I am rather careful when I have not met a person IRL. I have a handful of amazing friends that I originally met online only (on Twitter, when that was still legal). So, approaching a person that I don’t know is actually HARD for me. However, once I have built trust with someone I find it easy to talk about what I need or how I feel about life and work. And if I know that I helped someone in the past I also find it easier to ask them for help. Not that this is always an expectation but it makes it easier to ask.

If you feel the same you might want to read our tips here.

1 – Move from “Stormtrooper” to “Jedi”

In the high-stakes world of Global Mobility and international recruiting most professionals approach LinkedIn like “Stormtroopers”, blindly firing off connection requests to anyone with a relevant job title. This creates noise, not value. Also, it’s not always considered polite (and actually not even allowed) to connect with someone without any significant previous interactions.

To become a Jedi in your field, you must move from a reactive “Connector” to a proactive connection seeker. This means leveraging your 2nd-level connections (the “friends of friends”) to build a strategic network that supports your career and your clients.

2 – Use the Follow Button

Before you can perform, your stage must be set. Most LinkedIn profiles are set to “Connect” by default. As an authority in your field, you want to shift to a “Follow-First” model. When you set “Follow” as your primary action, you allow 2nd-level connections to consume your content without you having to grant them immediate access to your private network. It builds “Social Proof.” By the time they see your content, they are primed to trust you.

LinkedIn misses an introduction feature (and I am not talking about a group chat). In our cultural context an introduction freature would be useful, but LinkedIn misses a lot of things…I recently thought an “Open to Global Mobility” badge would be useful too. As we don’t have this function we need to find another way to close the circle of trust.

3 – Close the “Circle of Trust” via a common connection

How do you turn a stranger (2nd-level) into a collaborator? You use the “Circle of Trust”. Do not send a connection request to a high-value 2nd-level contact “cold.” Use this cadence over one week:

• Follow first and understand their content.
• Three Likes: Like three of their recent posts or comments. This puts your name in their notifications three times.
• Two Meaningful Handwritten Comments: Don’t just say “Great post.” Ask a strategic question or provide a counter-insight and COMMENT without using AI.
• One “Bell” Notification: Hit the 🔔 on their profile. This ensures you are part of the early “Jam Session” whenever they post.

This is how you amplify your Digital Media Presence.

4 – Craft the Connection Request and Follow-Up IRL

When you send a connection request, mention the person of trust you both know and be clear about your ask. (Alternatively, ask for an introduction by group chat or email.). When you finally hit “Connect,” you must use a personalized note. At Global People Transitions, we avoid the “Standard Template.” 

The “Roadie” Outreach Template:

“Hi [Name], I’ve been following your insights on Global Mobility trends—specifically your recent post on [Topic]. I’m currently leading the xxx and moving our mission toward a more human-centric model in xxx. 

The Connection Philosophy: Keep a spreadsheet of your Top 20 2nd-level connections. Track your 3-2-1 engagement to ensure no fan is forgotten.

Meet in person: Once you have established your authority and trust, you should ask to meet in person at either a Global People Club Master Class or another “safe” event. 

Invite the trusted person along: If you have a circle-of-trust situation, you can invite the trusted person for lunch or an apéro, for example.

5 – Linking Your LinkedIn to Your Online Home

Your LinkedIn activity is the “Front Stage,” but your resources are the “Backstage.” You now want to send your followers and connections to a place where they can learn more about you and build a long-term relationship with you. For example, you could send them to a landing page where they need to enter their email ID to download a free resource you provide. 

The Human Touch in a Digital World

LinkedIn is just a tool. It is about using that tool to find the humans behind the data points. Finally, we can’t expect shortcuts to building trust in this digital world. We need to do the work. In my view, it’s NOT a numbers game; it’s a question of how supportive you are to the people who need your support. The rest is karma.

Do you have questions about LinkedIn? Do you need more technical support in implementing your digital presence?