How to Respond to Trolls and Build Audience Trust

Dealing with hate, fear and ignorance is hard, even on LinkedIn. But I was willing to take it on. 😲👇🏾 I did a recent video post about Pride month, the importance of AllyShip and why all marginalized groups need to support each other with compassion, empathy and kindness. ✊🏾 And it went viral with 40k views, but not for the right reasons. There were a ton of troll-like comments on there. As an Ally I decided to deal with them, despite the emotional weight of doing so. Here's what happened [SEE PHOTOS]. 🟣 MY MAIN STRATEGY: 1) Delete and report any reprehensible comments. Usually they were so full of misinformation and spread so much fear and anger, it was better to rid of them. 2) Retort the others and explain my position and why it was important and why they were wrong/misinformed. 3) Focus on being respectful and using heart values of empathy, compassion, etc 4) Ask curious questions and be empathetic 5) When needed, get more cheeky and use humour. 🟢 WHAT HAPPENED? 1) One person relented, publicly said so and deleted the comment 2) Others deleted their entire comments 3) One person thanked me for being civil and explaining where I was coming from without putting them down. 4) Another changed their position and how they spoke. 5) Others started commenting and engaging the trolls to support the post like Martin Stark, Lauren Rightler, Ray Gerl, Marney Curfman and more (thank you!) I believe the only way to change the discourse is to engage with love. I tried to give examples, tried to build a bridge of understanding. Divisiveness creates only more divide. Yes there are times to delete, report, and respond in anger. It's hard to know the difference. But if I can reach even one or two people and get them to think a bit differently because they are closer to the fence on the other side, than that is time well spent. What you YOU think? Was it worth the effort? I hope so, but sometimes it's hard. P.S. Have you ever stood up for and called out bigotry on this platform⁉️🤔👇🏾 #PrideMonth2024 #AllyShip #PowerOfConnection

If this had happened 10 years ago, I may have quit LinkedIn. One morning, I woke up, and saw a comment: “You and your son are two ugly people.” Back then, I wasn’t as “hardened” or prepared for the harshness of the internet. I might’ve taken it personally. I remember feeling small and vulnerable in the early days of building my personal brand. Every negative comment felt personal, like a punch to my self-worth. It made me question if putting myself out there was even worth it. The hardest ones were the personal attacks. Comments that made me feel small. Comments that made me question my worth. It stung. It made me pause and think: Why am I even doing this? But over the years, I’ve learned to see these moments differently. The problem wasn’t me. It was them. “Hurt people, hurt people.” It’s something I tell my clients all the time. And it’s something I remind myself with every hateful comment. When I stopped taking these comments personally, something shifted. I stopped seeing them as attacks. Instead, I saw them as opportunities to practice resilience, and to teach. For every hateful comment, there are countless messages of encouragement. People who tell me how much my posts have helped them. People who remind me why I keep showing up. I realized that I’m not here for the trolls. I’m here for the people who need to hear my message. So, here are three lessons I’ve learned about handling negativity online: ✅ Healthy Detachment: 👉🏻 Social media doesn’t define your worth. 👉🏻 Don’t hinge your self-esteem on likes or comments. ✅ It’s About Them, Not You: 👉🏻 People project their pain. 👉🏻 Their words say more about them than they do about you. ✅ Focus on Your People: 👉🏻 Write for those who resonate with your message, 👉🏻 Not those who are determined to tear you down. Now, when I receive comments like this, I don’t react. I file them away into my “teaching folder” and use them as examples for my clients. I’ve built a thriving coaching business, impacted thousands of lives, and helped leaders across Asia grow their brands. All because I didn’t let the trolls stop me. One hateful comment isn’t worth giving up your voice. Don’t let the fear of judgment keep you silent. The people who need to hear your voice are out there. Write for them. How about you? What do you do when you face negativity online? Let's learn from each other 🤝 P.s. ✍🏻 I am Benjamin Loh, CSP, a strategic growth coach and consultant who has taught over 65,000 leaders in over 20 global cities and constructed some of the leading icons (TOT, Award Winners) in the financial industry in Asia through the power of authentic storytelling and authority building. 💪 Follow me for personal brand and growth insights. #socialmediastrategy #personalbranding #personalgrowth #topofmind

Criticism Builds Character... and a Stronger Personal Brand. Online negativity can feel like a knock to your confidence. I get it – I’ve been there. The first time I faced it, it hurt. Someone said I wasn’t "very smart" because of my degree, and a person I knew wrote a post and publicly called my online presence "boring". But here’s the truth: showing up online means facing criticism – it’s part of the deal. The good news? You can flip the script. Criticism is a chance to show resilience, reinforce your values, and grow your personal brand. 9 Ways You Can Turn Criticism Into Personal Brand Growth 1️⃣ Choose Your Battles ↳ Not every comment deserves a reply. ↳ Trolls thrive on attention – don’t give it. ↳ Engage only with comments that add value. 2️⃣ Know When to Delete ↳ Hate speech or personal attacks? Delete them. ↳ Constructive criticism? Leave it – it shows you’re open to learning. 3️⃣ Practise Empathy ↳ Negativity often reflects the critic’s struggles. ↳ Ask yourself: "What’s going on in their world?" 4️⃣ Feed the Algorithm ↳ Controversial comments can boost visibility. ↳ Reply strategically to keep the focus on your values. 5️⃣ Turn Criticism Into Content ↳ Use criticism as inspiration for your next post. ↳ Address common misconceptions and demonstrate thought leadership. 6️⃣ Welcome New Perspectives ↳ Disagreement doesn’t mean disrespect. ↳ Engaging with different views shows maturity and builds credibility. 7️⃣ Own Your Mistakes ↳ Admitting errors makes you relatable. ↳ When I corrected a factual error publicly, it earned trust. 8️⃣ Set Boundaries ↳ Respectful dialogue is welcome. ↳ Personal attacks are not – protect your energy. 9️⃣ Reframe Negativity ↳ Criticism means you’re making waves. ↳ Take it as a sign that you’re standing out and having an impact. Criticism isn’t a roadblock – it’s a stepping stone. Every negative comment is a chance to showcase your resilience, professionalism, and values, building a stronger personal brand in the process. 👉 How do you handle online negativity? I'd love to hear your go-to tips. ♻️ Repost this to inspire someone who needs to show up more online and stop fearing criticism. 🔔 Follow me, Jen Blandos, for actionable insights on business, entrepreneurship, and workplace wellbeing.

🎯 "Don't Feed the Trolls" - But What If They're Already Fed and Coming for Your Work? It's been a month since I shared my ESG Playbook: Holding the Line, and the response has been incredible. Thank you to everyone who reached out! 🙏 But here's what caught me off guard: so many asked the same question - "How do you deal with trolls and bullies in this anti-sustainability climate?" This made me pause. Because yes, they're real. Yes, they're persistent. And if you're doing meaningful sustainability work, you've probably met them too. After thinking long and hard, I found brilliant advice from Aaron Huertas' "Constructively dealing with trolls in science communication" that applies perfectly to our space. Reality check: "The truth is that trolls are just bullies. They usually only talk to each other and no one outside their circles pays attention to what they have to say." 💡 But here's what makes them challenging in our field - "trolls attack people's reputations and integrity in a way that is quite out of bounds in normal science-related discourse." And the uncomfortable truth: "It also happens in academia and in media when individuals and institutions violate professional norms by attacking people through innuendo, mischaracterizations, threats, lies and personal attacks." I'm sharing this because I have also experienced it. The attacks aren't just from obvious places - they're happening in professional settings where we should expect better. So what do we do? 🤔 First, understand their playbook. They're "someone who posts nasty things online with the intent of provoking a reaction, usually emotional, from their targets." They want you angry, defensive, and distracted. Second, recognize the tactics: "Taking a target's statements out of context by twisting single words and short phrases" and "Attempts to score points with a perceived audience rather than engage in direct dialogue." My favorite advice: "Arguing with a troll is like mud wrestling with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig enjoys it." 🐷 Instead? "Brush your shoulders off, do something constructive instead." Every time someone tries to derail your work, use it as fuel. Reach out to a colleague. Share something inspiring. Connect with a journalist. Remember why this work matters. The research shows "trolls are psychologically much meaner than the average person, too, exhibiting traits like sadism and psychopathy, leading them to revel in the mischief they can create online." But here's what they don't want you to know: if you're getting trolled, you're probably having an impact. 📈 I highly recommend reading Huertas' full article (https://lnkd.in/euQ9_r8p) - it's a masterclass in maintaining sanity while doing important work in contentious spaces. What's your experience? Have you found effective ways to stay focused while dealing with "professional" trolling? 👇