Why I Stopped Pretending to Be "Professional" on LinkedIn (And Started Winning More Clients)

I used to have what I call a "corporate hangover."

You know that feeling - where you believe success on LinkedIn means maintaining a polished, pristine professional image at all times. The kind where your personality gets filed away like last year's tax returns, replaced by carefully curated corporate-speak and strategically bland content.

I followed all the "rules." I toned down my naturally loud laugh, deleted any hint of my colorful vocabulary, and carefully crafted posts that would make any corporate comms team proud. I even tried to minimize my accent - a unique blend from living in different countries that makes me, well, me.

And here's the thing: it was working. Sort of.

I was getting engagement. Making connections. Even winning some clients.

So why did I stop?

Because I was exhausted. Every post felt like putting on a suit that didn't quite fit. Every interaction required a mental check: "Is this right, is it professional enough?" And "What if someone doesn't like it?" Or "I don't want to alienate my old boss." The clients I was attracting expected that polished version of me - not the real person who sometimes drops an F-bomb when she's excited or laughs so hard at her own jokes that she snorts.

Then something interesting happened.

One day, I accidentally let my guard down. I shared a story about a trip to the bakery - just a simple, everyday moment that taught me something about business. No corporate jargon. No professional filter. Just me, telling a story the way I would tell it to a friend.

That post got more engagement than any of my "professional" content. But more importantly, it attracted messages from people who said, "Finally! Someone real!" (Some people even agreed with my opinion about eclairs!)

That's when I realized: LinkedIn doesn't need another corporate robot. It needs real humans sharing real stories that matter, alongside the right context.

Since then, I've discovered that authenticity isn't just more comfortable - it's more profitable. My ideal clients aren't hiring me for my ability to maintain a perfect professional image. They're hiring me because they trust the real person behind the posts.

Here's what I've learned:
- Your "unprofessional" traits might be your greatest assets
- The stories you think are too simple or ordinary often resonate the most
- Being yourself takes less energy than maintaining a persona
- The clients who connect with the real you become your biggest advocates

The truth is, every business owner has stories worth telling. Yes, even you. Especially you. That story you think is "not interesting enough"? It might be exactly what your ideal client needs to hear.

Because at the end of the day, people don't buy from profiles - they buy from people. Real, imperfect, authentic people who dare to show up as themselves.

So here's my challenge to you: What would happen if you stopped trying to be "professional" and started being real? What stories are you not telling because you think they're not "LinkedIn appropriate"?

Maybe it's time to find out.

*Want to learn how to turn your real-life stories into client-attracting content? Join me for the Spotlight Stories™ Workshop, where I'll show you exactly how to find and share the stories that will make your ideal clients say "When can we start?"*

Click the link to learn more about the live workshop on the 26th February.