from LinkedInTalks

Breaking Connections

By KonstantinGuericke

Here are the top ten reasons we've heard why members break connections:

1) Accepted invitation without realizing that sender could now ask for

introductions, send profile updates, etc.

2) Wants to keep connection list visible to connections, but a few bad

apples "crept in" and so now hides her connection list from all

3) Knew that you make introductions for connections, but weren't comfortable

making introductions because they didn't know the sender well enough to

recommend them, sender picked poor targets or sender's pitch to meet the

target included only a poor value proposition for target

4) They show their connection list, but connection doesn't theirs

5) Connection didn't recommend their connections when making introductions

for them, so their connection put them into an awkward position with regards

to their connections who was the target

6) Connection asked for too many introductions, sent too many profile

updates, etc.

7) Connection added things to their name field that shouldn't be there

(email address, strange symbols, etc.)

8) Had a falling out with the connection (in life, didn't act on their

introduction requests, gave endorsement to connection, but now want to

remove it, etc.)

9) Wants to get rid off people in second degree who water down strength of

network by having connections they don't even know

10) Just too many connections--now wants quality over quantity to create a

better LinkedIn experience

In the past, you had to go through a customer service form to break a

connection. However, as we have gained more members (6.5 million now) and

more members understand the value to keeping their connections to people

they know and trust, our customer service became swamped with disconnection

requests, so we have now freed them up to deal with other requests. We hope

people will break their weak connections and thus strengthen the LinkedIn

network over all.

The direct link to break connections is here:

http://www.linkedin.com/connections?displayBreakConnections=

When you break a connection, the other party does not get notified. However,

they may notice you are no longer a connection of theirs (especially if they

just a few connections). Down the road, we also plan to introduce "weak

connections", so if it's not urgent, you can wait to "reducing" the level of

a connection to weakers rights & responsibilities rather than break the

connection. For example, if you met someone at a conference, had a nice chat

and want to keep tabs on people, but really don't know them well enough to

make introductions, you may want to wait with breaking that connection since

selecting a weaker level might be what you ultimately want to do.