I really liked this post, Constance! Thank you for writing it. You are definitely a super connector, and it is great to see your wisdom and experience written out like this.
I completely agree that we should default to double opt-in. I’ve been introduced to people without warning a few times, and it can be awkward when I don’t have time to connect or if I feel that I won’t be as helpful in this case. It also makes me trust the introducer a little less. I also think that it spares the other person we are being introduced to some time.
A mini-trial idea is useful. I’ve also noticed how many people don’t follow up when you ask them to take even a small extra step. For example, if someone wants to connect with others in the animal space, my first suggestion is usually “Join Hive” (if they are not already there). I’m happy to make 1:1 introductions, but if someone isn’t willing to take 10 minutes to join a free, relevant community, it often feels like a signal they’re unlikely to follow through when I make introductions. In those cases, spending time making a personal intro doesn’t feel like a good use of energy, especially if you consider the opportunity cost.
I liked your idea about asking people to write their own intro blurbs. I do that too, and it works as a helpful filter (a good reminder to master my blurbs!). I often don’t get the blurb back, which tells me the person probably wasn’t that committed. Your point about staking your reputation on this connection being valuable is important and something I could resonate with.
If someone wants a warm introduction, they should ask themselves: How can I make it easier for this person to stake their reputation on me? How can I demonstrate that I’ve already done my homework and this connection is the right next step for me to make more impact?
Yeah, this is a reason why I love communities like Hive. I can always signpost people towards joining the community or posting on the help request channel first to see if the community can help them. If they are unwilling to take the extra 10 minutes to access a free resource, then yeah, it seems like they’re probably unlikely to follow through on whoever I introduce them to as well.
I really liked this post, Constance! Thank you for writing it. You are definitely a super connector, and it is great to see your wisdom and experience written out like this.
I completely agree that we should default to double opt-in. I’ve been introduced to people without warning a few times, and it can be awkward when I don’t have time to connect or if I feel that I won’t be as helpful in this case. It also makes me trust the introducer a little less. I also think that it spares the other person we are being introduced to some time.
A mini-trial idea is useful. I’ve also noticed how many people don’t follow up when you ask them to take even a small extra step. For example, if someone wants to connect with others in the animal space, my first suggestion is usually “Join Hive” (if they are not already there). I’m happy to make 1:1 introductions, but if someone isn’t willing to take 10 minutes to join a free, relevant community, it often feels like a signal they’re unlikely to follow through when I make introductions. In those cases, spending time making a personal intro doesn’t feel like a good use of energy, especially if you consider the opportunity cost.
I liked your idea about asking people to write their own intro blurbs. I do that too, and it works as a helpful filter (a good reminder to master my blurbs!). I often don’t get the blurb back, which tells me the person probably wasn’t that committed. Your point about staking your reputation on this connection being valuable is important and something I could resonate with.
If someone wants a warm introduction, they should ask themselves: How can I make it easier for this person to stake their reputation on me? How can I demonstrate that I’ve already done my homework and this connection is the right next step for me to make more impact?
Thanks Sofia!
Yeah, this is a reason why I love communities like Hive. I can always signpost people towards joining the community or posting on the help request channel first to see if the community can help them. If they are unwilling to take the extra 10 minutes to access a free resource, then yeah, it seems like they’re probably unlikely to follow through on whoever I introduce them to as well.