A couple of months ago, I stumbled upon a post by Devin Reed, who shared five ways CEOs are redefining how they use LinkedIn.
Through his LinkedIn for CEOs agency, he studied their strategies, and what struck me most was how their approach isn’t just about growing a following—it’s about creating trust, building influence, and driving real outcomes.
As I read his post, I couldn't help but think, Why shouldn't these learnings also apply to me?
While I may not be a CEO, the principles he outlined deeply resonated with my own goals for using LinkedIn.
Inspired by Devin's observations, I crafted my own roadmap modelled after these insights.
Here’s how I’m aligning my personal LinkedIn strategy with the lessons from these CEOs:
- Prioritising trust over vanity metrics.
Most people on LinkedIn aim for viral posts, high likes, and massive reach, but CEOs take a different approach. Devin shared that CEOs focus less on engagement numbers and more on earning the trust of their audience. One CEO told Devin, "I want my audience small but powerful."
This approach resonated deeply with me.
Instead of chasing likes and comments, I want to create content that genuinely connects with the right people—those who share my values or can benefit from my insights.
- Strategy over shortcuts
No engagement pods. No growth hacks. No “tricks” to boost visibility. CEOs don’t have time for that, and frankly, neither do I.
They want a clear, repeatable strategy that consistently reaches decision-makers. That’s what I need, too—a structured plan for my content that builds long-term credibility, not just temporary spikes in engagement. One that aligns with my goals of building authority and connecting with like-minded professionals.
- A system that delivers real outcomes
The most successful professionals on LinkedIn don’t just “post and hope.” They use a system that drives real results:
- Growing a targeted, relevant audience
- Attracting the right opportunities (clients, partnerships, speaking invites)
- Starting meaningful conversations with decision-makers
Instead of posting randomly, I want to be intentional—making sure every piece of content serves a larger goal.
- Authenticity without compromise
One of my favourite takeaways from Devin’s post was this: CEOs don’t need to “find their voice.” Instead, they need to free it.
That’s what I want for my writing too. I don’t want to mimic trends or force a certain style. I want to write in a way that’s both professional and authentic—where my expertise and personality shine through.
- Focusing on relationships, not virality.
Devin pointed out that CEOs aren’t interested in going viral; they aim to build trust and influence among key decision-makers. CEOs care about reaching the right people—not just getting high engagement.
For me, this means valuing quality over quantity. Even if a post reaches just a handful of people, if those people are the right audience, then I’ve succeeded.
Reading Devin's post made me realise that the best people on LinkedIn don't just post content - they post with purpose. That's my goal as well moving forward:
- Write to build trust
- Stick to a strategy, not shortcuts
- Follow a system that creates real opportunities
- Stay authentic
- Focus on impact, not vanity metrics
I encourage you to try this approach if you’re a Gen-X professional like me. Let’s stop chasing numbers and start focusing on what truly matters: trust, authenticity, and real outcomes.
