Overcoming Creative Blocks on LinkedIn

You can’t afford a silent personal brand. Doubts cost you freedom, daily. An external force isn't stopping you… It’s the internal illusions you let consume you. ☑ Identify the self-sabotaging behaviors: Spotlight Effect Cringe: Overestimating how many see your posts and judging every word you write. Distraction: Mindless scrolling instead of meaningful engagement. Comparison Trap: Measuring likes, views, and connections against others, fueling insecurity. ☑ Understand the real obstacles: Decision Paralysis: Believing success requires perfect data and strategies before taking action. Personal vs. Useful: Focusing on personal opinions over genuine value for your audience. Vanity Metrics Addiction: Chasing impressions instead of true community-building. ☑ Implement these strategies to combat sabotage: Reality Check: Recognize that not everyone reads (or judges) your every post. Intentional Engagement: Dedicate time to comment, connect, and converse with your network. Self-Comparison: Track your own progress rather than obsessing over others. ☑ Develop a mindset for success: Embrace Imperfection: Learn in public and grow by sharing, not by hiding. Prioritize Value: Offer expertise that genuinely helps others instead of just voicing personal rants. Focus on Connection: Relationships over chasing larger and larger impression counts. ☑ Tools to help you stay on track: Time-Blocking: Schedule engagement sessions so distractions don’t derail you. Confidence Boosters: Keep reminders of past wins visible to fight impostor syndrome. Analytics with Purpose: Measure what matters—impact, relationships, and progress. ☑ Optimize your environment for growth: Supportive Circles: Join groups or masterminds that encourage your LinkedIn journey. Clear Your Feed: Mute, unfollow, or reduce content that triggers comparisons or doubt Structured Routines: Create consistent posting habits to overcome hesitation. ☑ Top tips for maintaining momentum: Post Consistently: Overcome the cringe feeling by taking action repeatedly. Reward Incremental Wins: Celebrate every milestone to keep motivation high. Keep Learning: Seek feedback, refine your approach, and always move forward. ☑ Ensure every action aligns with your goals. Adopt a strategy that includes: Clarity of Purpose: Know whom you serve. Consistent Execution: Show up every day. Resilient Mindset: Obstacles are part of the process. Act despite the illusions. The real villain isn’t out there. It’s within.

Creators on LinkedIn aren’t creating authentic content anymore. And the worst part? Most are blaming the algorithm. If you’ve scrolled LinkedIn for even five minutes, you’ve seen it. The same selfie. The same short lines. The same emotional-but-not-really-that-emotional story. The same “What do you think?” fishing line at the end. “If it worked for them, maybe it’ll work for me.” - is how creators lose their edge. LinkedIn just shared a new product update (Nov 2025, by Sakshi Jain) revealing that the algorithm isn’t punishing creators. LinkedIn actually removes demographic signals like age, gender, race — they’re not used at all in deciding reach. So why do two “similar” posts get different results? Because the algorithm now evaluates hundreds of signals that prioritise: 🤾 originality 🎯 relevance ✍ insight 👩💼 actual usefulness to your audience And here’s the highlight: LinkedIn confirmed that while content competition has exploded, so have the opportunities — especially for creators who aren’t copying a formula. The system is now testing “creator allocation” — meaning if two creators post about similar things, the one with more distinctive, higher-quality content gets ranked higher. So if your posts look like everyone else’s? The algorithm isn’t blocking your reach. Your sameness is. So what should you be doing? 1. Clarity: Identify your actual edge. What is the thing only you can say because you’ve lived it? 2. Distinction: Say it in a way nobody else can. Your tone, your story, your thinking — not a template. 3. Resonance: Watch the right signals, not the loud ones: DMs invites collaborations referrals repeat viewers deeper conversations in comments (yes, I'm looking at the AI comments) So the next time you write a LinkedIn post, ask yourself: “Am I saying something I actually believe in?” But creator- professionals who stand out - by being themselves - build unfair advantage in their career. Have you seen this shift on LinkedIn?

Writer’s block isn’t just for writers. You want to show up: → On LinkedIn, building your brand. → At the gym, feeling good. → In your career, updating your resume, searching for the next thing.   You have the skills. You have the drive. You’ve even cleared time for it.   But the action… just won’t flow. That’s not a time issue. It’s not a motivation issue. It’s resistance. And it shows up for all of us. Not just authors stuck on chapter three.   The cure? It’s not waiting for clarity. It’s disrupting your own block.   Here are 12 unconventional (and silly) ways to shake yourself loose *Note: No one can see you do this - so be embarrassing: 1. Write a post and don’t publish it - just to remind yourself you can. 2. Send a voice note to your future self describing the breakthrough you just had. 3. Pick the lowest-stakes idea you have and send it within 2 hours. 4. Pretend you're being interviewed on a podcast - what would you say? 5. Set a timer and write “I don’t know what I’m doing” until something more interesting comes out. 6. Share something imperfect on purpose - just to break the perfection spell. 7. Create a fake challenge for yourself (e.g., 3 posts in 3 days) and treat it like a game. 8. Ask ChatGPT: “Tell me about what the version of me that isn't overthinking is doing right now?” 9. Move your body like a weirdo for 90 seconds before you try again. (Yes, really.) 10. Start a private doc titled: “Things I Know How to Do That People Forget Are Valuable.” 11. Schedule a 20-min “pick your brain” chat with someone more junior in their career. You’ll learn more than you think. 12. Write a 3-sentence bio as if you were being featured in Forbes.   You don’t always need more discipline. Sometimes, you need more play. ✨ Break the block. Build the momentum. Let it be messy - but get it moving.

What’s stopping you from posting on LinkedIn? Let’s be honest – if you’re silent, people forget you. And reposting someone else’s content won’t help with new opportunities and lead generation. You need your own voice out there. Working with our agency clients, I’ve noticed 4 main blockers: 1. Perfectionism You want every post to be perfect. But nothing ever feels good enough. So, you delete it. Again. And again. Try this: – Dump your thoughts exactly as they come. No editing. No structure – Then do a light cleanup – fix the obvious stuff, but don’t overthink it – Now… take a deep breath and hit "Post" 😅 Yes, even if it feels a little scary. The audience’s first reactions usually cure perfectionism fast. Turns out people like your ideas 😊 2. Impostor syndrome "Who am I to talk about this?" You feel like you’re not expert enough to post on professional topics. Spoiler: you are. What helps: Start with summarizing articles, research, or insights from industry leaders. Add your own perspective (or don’t). Either way – your audience will thank you. And with every "like" or "thanks for this!" your confidence will grow. 3. Overestimating your audience "This is too basic. Everyone already knows this." Actually… they don’t. We all live in our own bubbles. What feels obvious to you might be a new perspective for someone else. So: Post that "basic" tip. Write about what you consider day-to-day work. You’ll be surprised how helpful people find it. 4. Cynicism / "Content is for clowns" "I don’t post because I'm busy. People who post clearly have too much free time." Let’s be real – this mindset is outdated. Social media isn’t a waste of time – it’s a tool. For visibility, trust, opportunities, and even sales. The world’s leading companies invest in Employee Advocacy programs for a reason. And yes, you can find at least 30 min a week to write something helpful. Ask yourself – do you scroll LinkedIn? Then you are in the game. Why only consume, when you can create? Being visible online is no longer optional. No posts -> no presence -> no opportunities. Start small. Post messy. But post 💜

How do I consistently get ideas for my LinkedIn posts? My not-so-secret ideation process 👇 Honestly- I'm not always in my creative zone. But there are two non-negotiables in my routine no matter how hectic days get: reading and writing. Every day, I make it a point to consume something in written form and jot down my thoughts in a journal. Now- Coming up with that perfect hook, value-packed & engaging LinkedIn post boils down to one thing – Idea behind the post. 1. Capturing Ideas Instantly When inspiration hits or something happens that I can narrate as a story, I quickly jot it down in my phone's notes app—technology keeps me organized. 2. Daily Journaling & Organizing Each night, I journal and organize my random thoughts. then, I maintain an Excel sheet of potential topics. 3. My ideas often come from: 🔹Day-to-day experiences 🔹Content I consume on social media 🔹Trending news & my opinions on it 🔹Comments on my previous posts 🔹Questions asked by audience 🔹Reflection on what resonates deeply with me 4. Research & Scripting Once I have my topic,it's either picked from journal & I simply rewrite it as it is or it’s time to research. I dig into what experts are saying to build a solid foundation. Then, I script my post. 5. Final touch I polish the content by writing a compelling hook, body, and conclusion or Call to Action. I often write personal story; experiences; conversations; learning & keep it authentic. PS. I skip bulk writing because it kind of feels disconnected and creativity/freshness is compromised. After all that? There’s no guarantee the post will work! But I’ve found peace with this too: through something I call the "detachment zone" - LinkedIn as my outlet to share experiences & network - I don't open LinkedIn more than 4 times a day. - Instead, I have allotted time to respond to comments, review feedback, and analyze content performance weekly. - I avoid getting caught up in a post’s virality or its flop. Should I share my ideation process for Instagram & YouTube too? Let me know in the comments below! #ShrutiSonawane #SocialMedia #ContentCreation #LinkedInTips

2018: Felt intense fear of being seen especially online 2022: Invited to LinkedIn London HQ graduating from their Creator Accelerator Programme 🥳 Overcoming my fear wasn't about fearless, it was about BRAVE. Here's how I leaned into being BRAVE using my 5 step framework: 1. BOLD - Understand and address the limiting beliefs and fears holding me back from being bold (mine were being cringe, a failure, exposed) 2. RESILIENCE - Realising that all my fears came true (being called cringe, low engagement on posts, trolls), yet I was ALWAYS able to bounce back stronger and had so many wins 3. ACTION - “Don’t be upset by the results you didn’t get, from the work you didn’t do”, I started to create opportunities for myself by showing up on LinkedIn as a complete beginner to start with 4. VALUES - As a multi-interested person, I had to learn what I truly valued - look into Ikigai, the Japanese concept meaning “a reason for being” (I love community, connection and confidence) 5. ENERGY - Accepting my best will look different everyday and when I was having a low energy day, to show myself compassion instead of beating myself up over it I started off afraid that I had nothing of value to share on this platform, and now I can share just how much showing up has completely changed my life. If I had waited until I was fearless, I would have been waiting forever. I'm a strong advocate for starting before you're ready, trust me, it pays off. 📸 Pic taken at LinkedIn HQ in London back in 2022 for the LinkedIn Creator Accelerator graduation! P.S. LinkedIn Guide to Creating when are you bringing this back? 👀 #womenintech #personalbrand #linkedin #licreatoraccelerator

I walked into my favourite cafe when I spotted a familiar face. I went over to say hi and he asks, “Anna, where do you find all your content ideas for LinkedIn?” “I use the same technique from storytelling. I bank my stories. It’s like saving money in the bank. Instead of money, I use stories or ideas of stories.” Finding Content for LinkedIn: The Art of Storytelling Ever feel stuck on what to write about on LinkedIn? You’re not alone. But here’s a tip – finding content is a lot like finding a story to tell. Here’s how you can make it happen: 1. Dig into Your Day-to-Day Your everyday experiences are goldmines. Think about the small wins, the challenges, and those aha moments. There’s so much content hiding in your daily grind, just waiting to be shared. 2. Find the Lesson Every story has a takeaway. What did you learn from that tough project or that difficult conversation? Share the lessons you’ve picked up along the way. 3. Know Your Audience Just like a good story, your LinkedIn posts should resonate with your audience. What are their pain points? What interests them? Craft your content around these insights to make a real connection. 4. Show, Don’t Just Tell Instead of saying you’re a passionate leader, share a moment when you had to lead under pressure. For example, I once had to rally my team for a crucial deadline with just hours to spare. I described the chaos, the strategy, and the eventual triumph. Paint a picture with your words – describe the scene, the feelings, and the outcome. This makes your content more engaging and relatable. 5. Be Authentic People connect with authenticity. Share your real successes and failures. Be honest about your journey. Authentic stories are the ones that stick. 6. Engage with Your Audience Storytelling is a conversation. Encourage your readers to share their thoughts, experiences, and stories. Ask questions and engage with the comments. This not only enriches your content but also builds a sense of community. Finding content for LinkedIn doesn’t have to be hard. Treat it like storytelling – start with your experiences, find the lesson, and share it in a way that speaks to your audience. You’ll find that not only will you have more content ideas, but you’ll also create deeper connections with your readers. Hi, I’m Anna Ong! I'm the host and creator of What's Your Story Slam, an event where people from all walks of life come together to share their stories. It's like standup but with stories. It's a platform to connect and inspire each other through storytelling. Keen to learn more? DM me, and let's chat! P.S. What’s one personal experience you think would make a great LinkedIn post? I’d love to hear it!

My 3-step guide to create monthly LinkedIn content without burning out (might be worth saving:)) Tired of staring at a blank page trying to figure out what to write about (and how to write it)? Here’s how I overcome the dreaded blank page so I can consistently create authentic, high-quality content without investing 100s of hours per week or being “cringe”. 1. The Content Call This is how you can come up with content ideas that are authentic to you (capture your tone of voice and experiences) AND are relevant to your audience. • Schedule a call with another person (in my case it’s with my content strategist Max Radman) • Record the call (we use Riverside) • Talk (about your business, current challenges, events and priorities) • Transcribe the conversation and identify relevant topics from your discussion If you don’t have anyone to schedule a call with, treat it like a video journal. 2. Content Outlining This is where you: • organize the ideas you gathered • further infuse personality into the content • and set some guidelines    Think of this like building the frame of a puzzle before you fill it in. • Transfer each topic, any notes, and the associated transcript to separate Google docs or Notion • Brainstorm hook ideas that evoke 1 key emotion and that contain specific details from YOUR story (numbers, facts, dates) • Outline the key takeaways that you want the reader to remember from each post • Add details about the context of your post (how you felt at the time, where you were, who influenced you, etc.) 3. The writing process This is where most people get stuck. It’s a two step process that many people try to do in one: 1. Drafting, experimenting, creativity 2. Editing, trimming, refining It’s impossible to be creative and editorial simultaneously. First, you draft. Don’t worry about being perfect. Start writing and putting pieces of information together in different ways. Experiment. You’ll start to see how the post comes together as you fill in gaps in the text. Once you’ve got a draft that: • has a hook, body, and CTA • evokes 1 strong emotion • has a linear story • focuses on 1 topic then you can go back and polish it. Add a picture or video of yourself to complement the text, and you’re ready to publish. Like every new skill, your first few tries will take time (it was the same for me). I promise, with practice, and by following these steps, you’ll be spitting out banger LinkedIn posts before you know it! In this week’s issue of The Content Founder, I walk you through our notus ’ content creation process from ideation to posting in a live video tutorial. It went out at 8:00 today. So, if you didn’t see a 💆🏽 in your inbox this morning… …then go subscribe here 👉 https://lnkd.in/d6uxQe_3 The next issue goes out in 2 weeks. #contentfounder #personalbranding #content

How I overcame my dread of writing and inconsistency to become a LinkedIn Top Voice. I checked multiple times to believe it—how did I become a LinkedIn Top Voice, one of just 300 people recognized each year? It felt surreal. Writing was always a struggle for me. It took ages to get words down, and I’d often think, “Is this worth my time?” That doubt led to inconsistency and staring at a blank screen. I’m an external thinker, so I work best when I can talk things out or brainstorm with others. But finding a writing rhythm was tough, especially with dyslexia. Over time, I created a system that quiets the negative self-talk of “I’m not a great writer” or “This takes forever.” Here’s how I turned writing into something I enjoy: 1. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆: Save content that catches your attention, whether it’s “This is great!” or “I disagree!” Use these moments to share your perspective. 2. 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗜𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗚𝗣𝗧 𝗔𝗽𝗽: Talking my ideas into the ChatGPT app captures my voice better than typing. It feels like chatting with a friend—natural and effortless. 3. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿: Shut down the inner critic and stay on track. A good partner keeps you focused and motivated, even when you’re tempted to quit. Perfection isn’t the goal—consistency is. Harness AI and tools to build a system that fits your flow.

Here’s an actionable, low-effort way to keep a steady stream of LinkedIn content ideas—so when you sit down to write, you’re not starting from zero: Start a single note in your favorite notetaking app (Notion, Notes, etc.) and make a shortcut on your phone's home screen. Then, anytime you say something insightful to a colleague, learn something new, have a random brilliant idea, or do something even slightly LinkedIn-worthy—jot it down. Not a whole post. Just a rough sentence. Enough to jog your memory later. I call them “shower thoughts” because my best ideas usually hit when I’m doing something totally unrelated—showering, driving, waiting in line. So I keep my notes app handy and drop in a quick line when inspiration strikes. Voice notes work great for this, too. Then, when I’m ready to post, I scroll through my old musings, pick one that clicks, and flesh it out. No pressure to be creative on demand. No blank page anxiety. Just one less barrier between you and consistent content. This is pretty much my entire LinkedIn “strategy.” 😅 How are you coming up with content ideas?