This week in the world’s #1 newsletter on leadership communication:
- How to Build a Six-Figure LinkedIn Profile
- Confidence on Command (Recording)
- Why Your Team Underperforms
- How to Have Conversations that Matter
How to Build a Six-Figure LinkedIn Profile
There are two ways you can make six figures with your LinkedIn profile:
You can attract high-paying job offers. Or you can create leads for your business.
I have chosen the latter path. Here’s how it works:
A significant number of people find me through LinkedIn, reach out, or sign up to the newsletter. In some cases, we end up working together.
This creates a six-figure annual revenue stream for my business through coaching, advisory, and the Speak Like a CEO Academy.
LinkedIn is a great way to build trust at scale. It’s your business card with social proof.
But it won’t automatically create revenue for you.
To turn LinkedIn into a magnet for employers and clients, you can follow my PACES method.
PACES stands for Profile, Audience, Content, Engagement, and Sales.
Today I will focus on “Profile”. You want it to look top-notch – even if you never post.
There are 6 parts that matter (you can also check my profile to see how I did it):
#1 Background Banner
Do: Focus on a call to action (like “sign up to my newsletter”), or show a picture of yourself on stage speaking or presenting.
Don’t: Leave it blank (nothing makes people leave your profile faster); show a picture of your city or your hobby because that can confuse people interested in you professionally.
#2 Profile Picture
Do: Frontal, head and shoulders, high-resolution, smile.
Don’t: Full body (too small to see your face), looking away, covering your face with hands or sunglasses.
If your picture is off the mark, it can really hurt you because we subconsciously decide if we trust someone in a split second.
I dug into the research on this here for you.
#3 Bio
That’s the bit under your name.
Do: I tested this a lot and the key to growing my account was telling people why they should follow me (“to become a top 1% communicator”). Also: tell people what you do and what makes you special.
Don’t: Use generic job titles or boring descriptions. Avoid the tired “I help people …” – it’s not 2021.
If your bio sounds like you want to sell something, people will decline your connection request.
#4 Follower count
Do: Invite 100 relevant people into your network every week. It takes 10 minutes, and adds thousands every year. And of course, publish content - only 1% of the 1 billion users do so the opportunity is huge.
Don’t: Ignore this. People use the number of connections or followers as a sign of social proof and relevance.
#5 About Section
Do: Follow the framework “Hook – Key Message – Proof – Call to Action”.
Don’t: Retell your resumé - that’s what the Experience section is for.
#6 Featured Section
Do: Post two or three well-designed cards that link to your website, an offer, your Calendly or a way to get in touch.
Don’t: Pin old posts, or create a cluttered look with more than three elements.
What about the rest? Do skills, recommendations, education etc. matter?
They do, but not as much as the six I focused on. People rarely scroll that far down.
What next? Take action. Spend 1h this weekend to upgrade your profile to unpick your six-figure LinkedIn potential.
WEBINAR
Over the past decade, I've helped 300+ CEOs master their confidence using my BMW method (Body, Mind, Words).
I shared it in last week’s session on how to create confidence on command.
PODCAST
Why Your Team Underperforms
I do a show to help you become a top 1% communicator. Please subscribe.
To find out why most teams underperform and how to fix it fast, I sit down with THE expert on the subject.
Dr. Colin M. Fisher is a Harvard-trained management professor, former jazz musician, and author of the brand new book The Collective Edge.
He dismantles the myths most leaders believe about collaboration, trust, and leadership.
Colin explains why most teams are too big, too unclear, and too focused on individual performance – and what it actually takes to build a high-functioning team that delivers.
We cover:
- Why adding more people makes your team slower, not smarter.
- How to reset broken teams without firing anyone.
- Why the lone genius narrative is toxic — and how to build systems that reward actual performance.
Forget forced fun, trust falls, and bloated org charts – this episode reveals the science of successful teams.
Listen to the full episode here:
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
We Need to Talk
This is not a book about how to win arguments – it’s a guide to having conversations that matter.
Celeste Headlee, an award-winning journalist and NPR radio host, draws on decades of experience – and on her 2016 TED Talk that broke the internet – to dismantle the myths of modern communication.
She shows us why listening – real, active, generous listening – is the single most powerful skill for connection, trust and understanding.
She admits that it’s difficult, even for her, and gives us a smart, no-nonsense playbook to become a better colleague, leader, friend or partner.
The coolest thing: Celeste Headlee joins us on the podcast in two weeks!
Have an inspired weekend,
Oliver
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