For many professionals, LinkedIn is an invaluable platform for building a personal brand, connecting with prospects, and showcasing expertise. Yet, countless users find themselves paralyzed at the thought of sharing a post. What if no one likes it? What if I say the wrong thing? These fears are more common than you might think and, left unchecked, can prevent you from leveraging LinkedIn’s full potential.
Michelle J. Raymond, an experienced LinkedIn coach and business branding expert, has spent years helping professionals overcome these barriers. In this transformative discussion, she shares actionable insights to help you step past the fear and take that first step toward impactful LinkedIn engagement.
Whether you’re a seasoned sales professional, a digital marketer, or a business founder looking to amplify your reach, this guide will help you overcome the mindset blocks standing in your way.
The Root Cause of LinkedIn Posting Fear
One of the most important lessons Michelle highlights is that fear of posting isn’t about the platform itself – it’s about mindset. Over her years of training, she’s identified three core fears that hold people back:
1. Fear of Judgment
This is the most prevalent block. Thoughts like, "What if no one likes my post?" or, "What if I’m not the smartest person in the room?" run rampant. These fears stem from our brain’s natural desire to keep us safe – a survival instinct. Unfortunately, this instinct often sabotages the courage needed to share our voice.
Key Insight: Fear of judgment isn’t unique to beginners. Even experienced professionals and business leaders experience it. The key is learning how to silence these self-defeating thoughts.
2. Fear of Silence
Another major barrier is the fear of being met with crickets. What if you post and no one engages? For many, this silence feels like validation of their worst fears – that their voice doesn’t matter.
Michelle flips this fear on its head: With over one billion LinkedIn users, only 1% actively create content. The odds of standing out and being noticed are in your favor once you take action.
3. Fear of Comparison
For perfectionists and high achievers, comparing themselves to others can be crippling. It’s easy to look at influencers or seasoned LinkedIn trainers and feel inadequate. Michelle terms this "comparisonitis", and it’s especially dangerous for those new to posting.
Key Insight: Remember, you’re seeing others on their Day 100 while you’re still on Day 1. It’s unfair to judge your progress against someone else’s journey.
Shifting the Focus: The Ultimate Mindset Hack
The antidote to fear? Shifting your focus from yourself to your audience. Instead of worrying about how others will judge you, ask yourself:
- What transformation can I offer?
- How can I help others solve a problem or reach their goals?
- What value can I provide through my expertise?
Michelle emphasizes that when you focus on service – helping your audience achieve growth, clarity, or solutions – you’ll naturally let go of self-doubt. There’s someone out there who needs the knowledge you’re keeping to yourself.
"Staying stuck and silent doesn’t just harm your business – it robs others of the transformation you could create."
Practical Steps to Start Posting on LinkedIn
Breaking through LinkedIn posting fear doesn’t require perfection. It requires action. Here’s a simple, actionable process to get started:
1. Shift Your Mindset to Helping, Not Proving
Instead of posting to prove your expertise, post to help others. Share a tip, insight, or personal experience that could benefit someone in your audience.
2. Start Small
If the idea of creating a long-form post feels overwhelming, start with something short and simple. For example, share a quick lesson you learned recently or comment on an industry trend.
3. Acknowledge Your Fears, Then Act Anyway
Recognize that fear is normal. Even Michelle, with years of experience, still faces moments of doubt. But taking action despite fear is where growth happens.
4. Engage Before Posting
Ease into LinkedIn by engaging with others’ posts. Comment thoughtfully, share your perspective, and support others. This builds confidence and visibility before you create your own content.
5. Give Yourself Permission to Be Imperfect
Your first post may not be perfect – and that’s okay. What matters is breaking the silence. Over time, your confidence and skills will grow.
The Ripple Effect of Courage
Michelle’s own journey is a testament to the power of starting small. Five years ago, she couldn’t even record a five-minute video for a digital marketing course. Today, she speaks on international stages, creates podcasts, and inspires thousands of professionals.
Her growth didn’t happen overnight – it started with one imperfect action. By taking that first step, you create momentum for everything that follows.
"Done is better than perfect", she reminds us. Every post, no matter how small, is a step toward building your brand and making a difference for others.
Key Takeaways
- Fear of posting on LinkedIn stems from mindset blocks, not the platform itself.
- The three most common fears are judgment, silence, and comparison.
- Shifting your focus from yourself to your audience is the ultimate mindset hack.
- Think about the transformation you can create for others.
- Start small and embrace imperfection.
- Your first post doesn’t need to be perfect; it just needs to exist.
- Engage with others before posting.
- Commenting and supporting others builds confidence and visibility.
- Consistency creates confidence.
- Each action, no matter how small, builds momentum over time.
- Fear is normal – but it doesn’t define your ability to succeed.
Closing Thoughts
LinkedIn offers incredible opportunities for sales professionals, marketers, founders, and recruiters to connect with their audience, build authority, and grow their businesses. Yet, these opportunities remain untapped if fear keeps you silent.
The journey to LinkedIn success isn’t about being perfect; it’s about showing up. Start with one post, one comment, or one idea shared with your audience. Over time, you’ll see how small steps create powerful transformations – not just for your business, but for the people you serve.
Today is the day to get off the sidelines. Your voice matters. It’s time to share it.
Source: "The LinkedIn Algorithm Isn’t Your Real Problem (This is)" – Michelle J Raymond – B2B GROWTH CO, YouTube, Sep 25, 2025 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7hbfgS9lTw