How To Boost LinkedIn Engagement: 16 Tips For Rising Business Leaders

LinkedIn continues to be a powerful platform for business leaders to share their expertise, grow their networks and strengthen their brands. However, simply showing up isn’t enough—genuine engagement takes strategy, consistency and a human touch.

From sharing original content and storytelling to thoughtful interaction and strategic use of LinkedIn’s tools, there are many ways for up-and-coming leaders to create meaningful, impactful dialogue with followers. Here, Forbes Coaches Council members share 16 practical ways to increase engagement on LinkedIn and build stronger professional connections.

1. Post Consistently And Be Real

People engage with leaders who show up regularly. Post consistently, whether it’s thought-provoking insights, behind-the-scenes moments or leadership lessons. Authenticity builds trust—avoid jargon and generic posts. Share real challenges, wins and reflections. Show people the human behind the business, and they’ll be more likely to engage with your journey. – Wilson Luna, Wilson Luna

2. Leverage Your Individual Voice And Brand

Leaders at all levels can be very powerful brand ambassadors for a company and its mission. Identifying a leader’s individual voice and brand is key for authenticity and resonance, as these are the main engagement drivers these days. Stakeholders are tired of perfectly polished marketing materials—they want to see the real humans behind the mission in an unpolished, authentic way. – Marina Cvetkovic, Heimann Cvetkovic & Partners

3. Share Insights In Diverse Content Formats

Leaders should share valuable insights, personal stories and industry trends while using diverse content formats like videos and polls. Actively respond to comments, engage with others’ posts and participate in groups to strengthen connections. Posting consistently, leveraging LinkedIn’s features and fostering authentic discussions will help you build credibility and expand reach effectively. – Gamze Acar Bayraktaroglu, Motiva International

4. Build A Disciplined Line Of Thought

Build a disciplined line of thought like the columnists of yesteryear. I remember always looking forward to reading a Dave Barry column, which appeared on Sundays. Today, people seek out Substack to get their columns and insights, for example. Pick up a regular post of substance where people can come to learn from you, trust you and be influenced by you consistently. 

5. Be The First To Engage

People want real connections, not just another sales pitch. If you want more engagement, be the one who engages first. Show up, comment, ask questions and add value without expecting anything in return. The more you give—insights, support, real conversations—the more people will show up for you. Engagement is a relationship. Build it, and the rest follows. – Teegan Bartos, JYC

6. Create Original Content

With the reliance on AI that has happened over the past 15 months, most professionals have abandoned the idea of authentic posts. There’s a huge need for original content on LinkedIn, and it’s become increasingly hard to find. You can improve engagement through authenticity, whether it’s in writing posts or creating videos. It may take more time to create, but the benefits are worth the investment. – Kathryn Lancioni, Presenting Perfection

7. Craft Storytelling Snapshots

Try crafting your posts like storytelling snapshots. Share a challenge you overcame, invite feedback and use polls for fresh insights. In my experience, authentic behind-the-scenes content, including lessons learned rather than polished successes, sparks deeper conversations and builds lasting connections on LinkedIn. – Kerri Sutey, Sutey Coaching & Consulting LLC

8. Tailor Your Approach To Your Audience

Not every culture engages the same way on LinkedIn. Some prefer open discussions, while others value direct insights. To boost engagement, adapt your approach: Share valuable stories, ask thoughtful questions and respond actively. Use visuals, stay consistent and focus on dialogue over broadcasting. Engagement isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s about understanding and connecting with your audience. – Stephan Lendi, Newbury Media & Communications GmbH

9. Show The Work In Progress

Share authentic “work-in-progress” content showing real challenges alongside successes. Unlike polished corporate messaging, this vulnerability creates resonance with followers facing similar obstacles. Complement this by engaging personally with commenters—asking thoughtful follow-up questions rather than just acknowledging their input builds genuine professional relationships. – Jonathan H. Westover, Ph.D., Human Capital Innovations

10. Let Video Show The Real You

Leverage short, authentic videos to share insights, wins and challenges. Video showcases your personality, communication style and leadership voice far better than text alone. Combined with responding to comments and asking engaging questions, it creates a dialogue, not just content, fostering real connection and stronger engagement. – Carlos Hoyos, Elite Leader Institute

11. Give Your Audience A Voice

Reframe your LinkedIn engagement as a “think tank” with polls and data, giving a voice to the audience. Avoid a one-way broadcast and dishing out insights. Instead, spark real conversations by sharing unfinished thoughts, bold questions and behind-the-scenes dilemmas. Asking followers, “Who has a different perspective on this?” can turn passive viewers into active participants. – Thomas Lim, Centre for Systems Leadership (SIM Academy)

12. Start Bigger Conversations

An up-and-coming leader can improve LinkedIn engagement with one thing: consistent, valuable content. Solve a real problem in your post. Offer a fresh perspective on a common dilemma. Ask a bigger question that forces reflection. Your goal? Get your audience thinking. The best engagement isn’t public—it’s the one-on-one conversations that follow. That’s where real influence happens. – Tom Roberts, Cranberry Leadership International

13. Amplify Thought Leadership With Paid Spend

An up-and-coming business leader can boost engagement on LinkedIn by leveraging personal branding and thought leadership. Simply posting insights isn’t enough; companies are running paid marketing campaigns. Sky TV’s promotion of CEO Dana Strong’s content exemplifies this trend. Organic reach is the foundation, but amplifying leadership voices with paid spend drives targeted engagement and impact. – Tanya Arturi, Arturi & Associates Ltd

14. Focus On Interaction And Value

Instead of just posting, actively engage with your audience—respond to comments, ask questions and spark discussions. Share insights relevant to your industry, offer behind-the-scenes perspectives and be consistent in your presence. Engagement grows when followers feel heard and find value in what you share. Another tip is to engage with your followers’ posts. – Denise Russo, School of Thoughts Publishing

15. Lead With Insight And Relatability

Boost LinkedIn engagement by leading with value—share insights, industry trends and authentic experiences. Ask thoughtful questions to spark discussion, engage with comments and respond genuinely. Use storytelling to make posts relatable and mix content formats (videos, polls, articles and so on). Consistency is key—show up, interact and build relationships, not just an audience. – Dr. Adil Dalal, Pinnacle Process Solutions, Intl., LLC

16. Be Vulnerable And Go Live

Share your story, be vulnerable and be willing to talk about the struggles and the hardships you have faced. You want to be seen as a human being first before a business leader. Go live once a week to cover topics that your potential followers are interested in hearing from you about. Engage with your followers’ content by writing comments on their posts and reposts. – Gurpreet Mann, GKM Coaching

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