2022 is all about maintaining healthy connections, be it in our real or virtual networks.
Year after year, we outgrow people, including childhood classmates, acquaintances from years ago, and the like.
This means a deliberate review of who stays on our network and who does not is also important in our professional endeavors.
In this article, we will provide a detailed guide on how to remove a connection on LinkedIn.
By the end of the write-up, you will be able to determine the difference between a follow and a connect, and get important facts about using LinkedIn.
How to Remove a Connection on LinkedIn?
Removing a connection on LinkedIn, often done discreetly so as not to offend the other party, is very easy. It requires less than three minutes of your time to complete.
Here is an easy-to-follow guide on how to remove a connection on LinkedIn:
Step 1: Click on “My Network”
Click on the “My Network” tab on top of the profile page, next to the “Home” icon.
Step 2: Click “Connections”
You will automatically be redirected to your Network tab showing your connections, contacts, following list, groups, events, pages, newsletters, and hashtags.
Select “Connections” and this will reveal all the people in your close network.
Step 3: Find the Person You Want to Disconnect With
From a pool of people, find the person you want to disconnect with. Click the three dots on the right side of the person’s profile and click “remove connection.”
That’s it! The person will not be notified he/she has been removed from your network.
Difference Between a “Follow” and a “Connect” on LinkedIn
While they seem to have the same function, their core functions are different.
People we connect are often those we have deeper peer-to-peer and professional relationships with.
They are on our connect list because we trust them and vice versa. They can see the posts we follow, like, and share, and we see theirs in return.
Follow, on the other hand, is more of a mentor-mentee relationship.
We follow influencers, businesses, companies, and organizations we identify with and keep track of their respective activities.
However, they do not see our LinkedIn activities nor are involved in any of them.
1st Degree, 2nd Degree, and 3rd Degree Connections on LinkedIn
When you scroll through LinkedIn, we sometimes see profiles with a written sign of 1st degree, 2nd degree, or 3rd-degree connections.
What do these signs mean? Find our below.
1st Degree Connection
First-degree connections are people you are directly connected with. Either they sent you the connect request or you did, it does not matter.
As long as they belong to your immediate network, these profiles are considered first-degree connections.
2nd Degree Connection
Ever heard of the “mutual friends” concept on Facebook, the second-degree connection works the same way.
These are profiles connected to your first-degree connections which you could contact using an InMail to initiate an introduction.
3rd Degree Connection
Third-degree connections are profiles connected with your second-degree connections.
More often, a network can be formed up until this degree of connection.
Out of Network
Meanwhile, there are also members for whom we do not share any link showing “Out of Network” in their profiles.
We can still contact these profiles using the InMail tool.
Reasons Why Removing a Connection Should be Encouraged
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In many cultures, cutting ties with anyone is considered impolite and is therefore highly discouraged.
On the other hand, experts say that this is actually beneficial for us, especially in maintaining a healthy digital life.
Here are some of the reasons why removing a connection on LinkedIn should be encouraged and practiced regularly:
1. Quality Over Quantity
We have hundreds and thousands of connections on LinkedIn. However, we only engage with about a fourth of them regularly.
LinkedIn is not a popularity contest of who gets to get the first 500 connections wins the game.
Remember, our network speaks so much about our professional goals.
Always assess our degree of closeness with each of them before connecting and deciding to keep the connection long after it’s due.
If you realize one of your connections adds no value to your growth, do not be afraid to click that “remove connection” prompt.
It is always about quality, not quantity.
2. Being Selective is a Skill
Being selective, even with our professional network, speaks so much about our character.
It is a skill that everyone must learn how to master as it saves us millions of trouble and time in the future.
As they say, do not sweat the little things. Remove that first connection and see adrenaline rushing through your veins.
You will feel good after.
3. Give Room for Those Who Deserve the Spot
Having someone sit at your table is a privilege–make them realize that.
Drop those unhealthy and spam-filled connections to give room for healthier, more growth-supportive ones.
Conclusion
How to remove a connection on LinkedIn is relatively easy! On the other hand, many of us do not do it for the fear of what other people think.
Remember, this year’s mantra should be all about generating and maintaining healthy connections and removing bad ones.
Also, make sure to use LinkedIn automation tools to enhance our professional lives. Happy disconnecting!
