When someone takes the time to give you kudos or positive feedback on LinkedIn, it’s a nice gesture that deserves recognition. However, it can be tricky to know how to respond appropriately. You want to express gratitude without simply replying “Thanks!” and leaving it at that. Here are some tips on how to thoughtfully acknowledge kudos you receive on LinkedIn.
Say Thanks and Personalize Your Response
First and foremost, say “thank you.” This shows you appreciate that the person took time to give you kudos. However, don’t stop there. Personalize your response based on who gave the kudos and what exactly they said. For example:
“Hi [name], thank you so much for the kind words about [detail they mentioned]. I really appreciate you taking the time to provide such thoughtful feedback.”
This shows you read their message and specifically value what they said. Replying with a generic “Thanks for the kudos!” can come across as dismissive.
Provide Additional Context or Detail
If possible, expand on the kudos given by providing more context or detail. Did their praise relate to a project you worked on? Share a bit more about your role and what the experience meant to you. For example:
“Thanks [name]! That project was a real labor of love for me. I appreciate you noticing the extra time I put in to get the design just right. It was a terrific learning experience that pushed me creatively.”
This shows you care about the work, not just the kudos.
Share What You Admire About Their Work
When someone goes out of their way to offer praise, it can be meaningful to return the favor. If appropriate, share what you admire about their work in response. For example:
“I really value your perspective on this, [name], coming from someone whose work I’ve admired for quite some time. Your illustrations have such a unique, captivating style. I appreciate you taking the time to pass along kind words to me today.”
This mutually supportive approach helps build a positive rapport.
Offer to Connect or Meet Up
If the kudos comes from someone you don’t know well on LinkedIn, you can use it as an opportunity to connect further. For example:
“Hi [name], I don’t think we’ve had the chance to connect directly yet. I really appreciate you taking time to send such thoughtful feedback. Would you be open to connecting on LinkedIn? I’d love to learn more about [detail of their work].”
Or, if appropriate, you can suggest meeting up in person to continue the conversation:
“Thanks so much for the kind words! I’d love to grab coffee sometime to hear more about the work you’re doing with [relevant topic]. Does next week work for you?”
This helps turn online praise into real world connections.
Offer to Return the Favor
Another thoughtful response is to offer your help in return. Is there any way you can support their work and provide value to them? You could offer to connect them to useful contacts, promote their work, collaborate on a project, write a recommendation, etc. For example:
“I so appreciate you taking time to share this feedback! Please let me know if there’s any way I can help support the great work you’re doing as well. I’d be happy to connect you with a few folks at [company] who I think could be really interested in collaborating.”
This pays the kindness forward.
Share Your Gratitude Publicly
In addition to responding directly, you can also amplify the praise by sharing it publicly. For example, you could like or comment on their post thanking them. Or, share their kudos on your own profile or in relevant LinkedIn groups.
For example:
“So grateful to [name] for the wonderful feedback about my work on [project]. Support from respected peers like them inspires me to keep growing. Check out their impressive work at [link]!”
This helps show others you value what they said.
Follow Up After the Initial Response
Don’t end the conversation with a single reply. Follow up after your initial response to show you’re continuing the relationship. Share an update on the project they praised, or send another note when you see more of their work. For example:
“Really enjoyed our chat last week. Just wanted to follow up and let you know that the presentation you gave me such thoughtful feedback on ended up being a huge success! [detail of how it went well].”
This extra effort helps nurture an ongoing professional connection.
Respond in a Timely Manner
Try to respond within 24-48 hours, if possible. Leaving praise unacknowledged for weeks comes across as rude. If you can’t respond right away, send a quick reply like “Thanks for the kind words! I’m swamped with deadlines today, but just wanted to let you know I really appreciate you taking time to share feedback. Looking forward to following up properly when I have a free moment!” This demonstrates responsiveness.
Keep Your Response Concise
While you want to personalize your reply, keep it focused. Craft a response that feels thoughtful but not overly effusive. Shooting back a 500 word essay gushing about how amazing their kudos makes you feel can come across as awkward or over the top.
Stay Positive and Uplifting
Keep your response positive in tone. Don’t undermine their kudos with false modesty (“Oh that project wasn’t a big deal…”) and don’t shift the focus to self-criticism or complaints. Accept the praise with grace and use your response as a chance to say something encouraging back to them.
Don’t Ask for Anything Right Away
Unless you have an existing relationship with them, avoid responding to kudos by immediately asking for something in return. For example, don’t follow up praise on your design work by asking if they’ll now endorse you for design skills on LinkedIn. Wait for the relationship to develop more before making requests.
Proofread Before Sending
Read over your response to check for any errors or awkward phrasing. Because they took the time to thoughtfully praise you, you want to match that effort by sending them a polished, well-written reply.
Don’t Overthink It
While you want to be thoughtful, don’t agonize endlessly over crafting the perfect response. They will appreciate a sincere, prompt acknowledgement, even if it’s not Pulitzer-worthy prose. Overthinking can lead to delayed or stilted replies.
Receiving praise and positive feedback feels good. But thoughtfully acknowledging it cements and nourishes the relationship with that person. Following tips like personalizing your reply, offering to connect further, expressing mutual admiration, and continuing the conversation beyond your initial response helps turn online kudos into meaningful professional bonds that benefit you both.
Examples of Responding to Kudos on LinkedIn
To see these tips in action, here are some examples of polite, gracious responses to kudos received on LinkedIn:
– Sarah’s post: “Shout out to Michael for delivering an incredibly compelling presentation to the board yesterday! His speaking skills and command of the material were very impressive.”
Michael’s reply: “Sarah, I really appreciate you taking the time to share such thoughtful feedback! That presentation was a milestone I worked hard to prepare for, so your comments mean a great deal. Looking forward to connecting more on LinkedIn and in person.”
– Juan’s post: “So impressed by Julia’s leadership on the Hanson account. She consistently goes above and beyond for her team and clients.”
Julia’s reply: “Juan, thanks so much for the kind words! I strive to lead by example and bring out the best in my team. Glad to hear it showed in this case. I admire your stellar client work as well – your creativity and strategic thinking are top notch. We should grab coffee sometime to swap insights!”
– Lauren’s post: “Kudos to Matt for once again blowing us away with his development skills! His work modernizing our site is next level.”
Matt’s reply: “Lauren, I really appreciate you taking time to share such thoughtful feedback! Our new site overhaul was a labor of love for me – I learned so much taking it from conception to launch. Beyond the technical skills, I’m grateful I got to flex my creative muscles a bit. Your work never fails to inspire me as well! I’d be happy to walk through my process in detail over coffee one of these days.”
These real examples demonstrate acknowledging kudos graciously while also furthering the relationship.