Before you decide whether to accept or decline a LinkedIn invitation, first ask yourself these questions.

1. 3TipsforAccepting
LinkedInRequests
Youreceiveaninvitationtojoinsomeone’snetworkofconnections.
Beforeyoudecidewhethertoacceptordeclinetheinvitation,
rstaskyourself:
Ifyouchoosetodeclineaninvitation,usethesetipstodoso
RESPONDQUICKLY.
Ifyouwaittorespondtotheinvitationandthendecidetogoaheadanddecline
theinvite,theotherpersonmightbeevenmoreoffendedorconfused.Respond
quicklysothatthisissueisn’thangingoveranyone’shead.
IFNECESSARY,ASKFORMOREINFORMATION.
IIfyoufeeluncomfortablebecauseyoudon’tknowthepersonwellbutwant
toconsidertheinvitationbeforeyoudecline,respondwitharequestfor
moreinformation,suchas,“Iappreciateyourinterest,butIamhaving
troubleplacingourpreviousmeetings.Pleaseletmeknowhowweknow
eachotherandwhatyourgoalsareforLinkedIn.Thanksagain.”
RESPONDPOLITELYBUTWITHAFIRMNO.
Youcansimplywritesomethingalongthelinesof,“Thankyouforyour
iinterest;Iappreciateyoureagerness.Unfortunately,becauseI’mnotfamiliar
withyou,I’mnotinterestedinconnectingwithyouonLinkedInjustyet.”
Then,ifyouwant,youcanspelloutthetermsinwhichyoumightbeinterest-
edinconnecting,suchasiftheopportunityeverarisestogettoknowthe
personbetterorifheisreferredtoyoubyafriend.
gracefully.
HOWWELLDOIKNOWTHISPERSON?
WWithanyluck,theinviterhasincludedacustommessageclueingyouinto
whoheis,incaseyoudon’tremember.Youcan,ofcourse,clickthenameto
readthatperson’sproletotriggeryourmemory.Ifyoudon’tknoworre-
memberthisperson,youprobablydon’twanttoaddhimtoyournetwork
justyet.Ifyoudoknowtheperson,youneedtoconsiderwhetherhe’sworth
addingtoyournetwork.
DOESTHISPERSONFITWITHTHEGOALSOFMYNETWORK?
It’seasiertoputtogetheranetworkwhenyou’veestablishedasenseofthe
purposeyouwantittoserve.Whenyou’relookingatthisinvitation,simply
askyourself,“Doesacceptingthisinvitationhelpfurthermygoals?”
ISTHISSOMEONEWITHWHOMIWANTTOCOMMUNICATE
ANDINCLUDEINMYNETWORK?
IIfyoudon’tlikesomeoneordon’twanttodobusinesswithhimorher,you
shouldcertainlynotfeelobligatedtoaccepttheinvitation.Keepinmindthat
thesepeoplewillhaveaccesstoyournetworkandcanhityouupwithintro-
ductionandrecommendationrequestsonceyouaccept.
(orGracefullyDeclining)
Formorehelpfulinformationlikethis
checkoutLinkedInForDummies,
availableonlineat
www.dummies.com/buy/9781118822210.