How to Deal with Frustrating Random People on LinkedIn Who Ask You Intrusive Questions About Your Business

LinkedIn is a great platform for networking, learning, and finding new opportunities. But it can also be a constant source of annoyance and stress when you encounter random people who ask you intrusive questions about your business. Whether they are curious, nosy, or rude, these questions can make you feel uncomfortable, violated, or defensive. Even this morning a gentleman by the name of Michael asked me what my Monthly Revenue is. How inappropriate is that? Michael is some sort of self proclaimed mastermind of business growth and labels himself as a "Creative Mastermind", who boasts photos of himself with Gary Vee (Who Cares?). How do you handle these situations without losing your cool or compromising your professional image? Here are some tips and strategies to help you deal with frustrating random people on LinkedIn who ask you intrusive questions about your business.

1. Know what you want

Before you respond to any question, ask yourself why you are reaching out to someone or why someone is reaching out to you on LinkedIn. What is your goal or intention? What do you hope to gain or offer from the interaction? Having a clear purpose can help you decide whether to engage or ignore the question, and how to frame your response.

2. Be polite but firm

You don’t owe anyone your personal information, especially not to satisfy their curiosity. You have the right to set boundaries and protect your privacy. You can politely decline to answer any question that you find intrusive, irrelevant, or inappropriate. For example:

• “I’m sorry, but I don’t feel comfortable sharing that information.”
• “That’s not something I discuss on LinkedIn.”
• “I appreciate your interest, but that’s confidential.”

You can also redirect the conversation to a more relevant or appropriate topic, or end it altogether if you feel uncomfortable.

3. Be specific and sensitive

If you decide to answer an intrusive question, be careful not to give too much detail or information that could compromise your business or reputation. You can also use humor, sarcasm, or uncertainty to deflect or discourage further probing. For example:

• “Trust me, not even close to what I’m worth.”
• “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
• “I’m not sure yet. I’ll let you know when I have news to share.”

However, be mindful of the tone and context of your response. You don’t want to come across as rude, arrogant, or dismissive. You also want to avoid offending or hurting someone who may have a genuine interest or concern.

4. Take charge of the situation

You can also take control of the conversation by asking questions back, giving feedback, or making requests. This can help you steer the direction of the interaction and establish your authority and credibility. For example:

• “Why do you ask?”
• “How is that relevant to our discussion?”
• “Please respect my privacy and stop asking me personal questions.”

You can also use this opportunity to educate or inform the other person about your business or industry, if you think they are genuinely interested or misinformed.

5. Do a little acting

Sometimes, the best way to deal with an intrusive question is to pretend that you didn’t hear it, or that you misunderstood it. This can help you avoid answering directly or giving away any information that you don’t want to share. For example:

• “Sorry, what did you say?”
• “I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you mean.”
• “Oh, I thought you were asking about something else.”

This can also signal to the other person that their question was inappropriate or unwelcome.

6. Report or block

If someone is persistent, aggressive, or abusive in asking you intrusive questions about your business, you may need to take more drastic measures. You can report or block them on LinkedIn if they violate the platform’s policies or terms of service. This can help you protect yourself and others from harassment or spam.

7. Learn from the experience

Every interaction on LinkedIn can be a learning opportunity for you and your business. You can use the feedback or information that you receive from others to improve your profile, content, products, services, or communication skills. You can also use the experience to refine your network and connect with more relevant and respectful people.

8. Be proactive

One way to prevent or reduce intrusive questions on LinkedIn is to be proactive in managing your profile and content. You can update your profile regularly with accurate and relevant information about your business, achievements, goals, and interests. You can also create and share valuable content that showcases your expertise, insights, and opinions on topics related to your business or industry.

This can help you attract and engage with more like-minded and respectful people who share your vision and values. It can also help you establish your authority and credibility, and deter or discourage random people from asking you intrusive questions.

9. Be selective

Another way to avoid or minimize intrusive questions on LinkedIn is to be selective in who you connect with and how you interact with them. You don’t have to accept every connection request or respond to every message that you receive. You can use filters, criteria, and preferences to screen and sort your potential connections and interactions.

You can also use different communication channels and platforms for different purposes and audiences. For example, you can use LinkedIn for professional networking and information sharing, and use email, phone, or video for more personal or confidential conversations.

10. Be positive

Finally, don’t let intrusive questions on LinkedIn ruin your mood or motivation. Remember that most people on LinkedIn are there for the same reasons as you: to learn, grow, and connect. Don’t take their questions personally or let them affect your self-esteem or confidence.

Instead, focus on the positive aspects of LinkedIn and the benefits that it can bring to you and your business. Use it as a tool to showcase your strengths, talents, and passions, and to build meaningful relationships with people who support and inspire you.

11. Do what I did

Ask them questions that are equally as invasive, asinine, or pedantic as theirs. Perhaps the most direct approach to make a linkedin spammer realize how foolish and inappropriate they sound is to simply return the favor. For example, when a linkedin user asks you for your Gross Monthly Revenue, simply reply with the following :

"What's your mother's maiden name, and her social security number?"

"Please provide your schedule and a list of fears"

"What medications are you on? Do you have any allergies?"

In conclusion, dealing with frustrating random people on LinkedIn who ask you intrusive questions about your business can be challenging, but not impossible. You can use various tips and strategies to handle these situations with grace and professionalism, such as knowing what you want, being polite but firm, being specific and sensitive, taking charge of the situation, doing a little acting, reporting or blocking, learning from the experience, being proactive, being selective, and being positive. By doing so, you can protect your privacy and reputation, and make the most of LinkedIn as a platform for networking, learning, and finding new opportunities.