If You Aren’t Relatable, You’re Invisible

In order for people to participate, they need to feel comfortable. If someone feels insecure, intimidated, or otherwise bad while around you, he will not join you in the discussions you lead. People know that as your audience, the more engaged they are, the more they support you. When audience members answer your questions or people join your LinkedIn group, they know that they are supporting you. They choose to do so for the benefit they will receive. But they will not want to join you—and support you—if they do not see you as relatable and likeable.

Be the best you can be—but don’t be perfect

Remember how we like people who are like us? This is the law of similarity. Do you think you’re perfect? Probably not. In fact, we are our own worst critics. Because we don’t see ourselves as perfect, we don’t relate to people who come across as too perfect.