You're Not Cringy. You're Just Scared. Here's How to Finally Start Posting.

Let's talk about the cringe.

You know what I mean. You write a LinkedIn post, you're about to hit publish, and then a voice in your head says:

"Is this too self-promotional?"

"What will my colleagues think?"

"Am I becoming one of those LinkedIn people?"

The cringe is real. And it's one of the biggest reasons smart, capable professionals never build presence on LinkedIn.

I've been there, and I eventually got past it.

Why LinkedIn Feels Cringy

First, let's acknowledge what's happening.

LinkedIn has a reputation problem. For years, the platform was dominated by humble brags, 4 a.m. wake-up posts, and engagement bait that made everyone roll their eyes.

If that's your mental model of LinkedIn, of course posting feels gross.

But LinkedIn evolved. The cringe posts still exist, but they're increasingly ignored by the algorithm. What works now is genuine insight, real expertise, and authentic perspective.

The platform has grown up. The question is whether you'll grow with it.

The reframe that helped me

The perspective shift:

Your audience isn't there to judge you. They're there to learn and consume professional content.

Think about why YOU open LinkedIn. You're not scrolling to mock people. You're looking for interesting insights, industry news, career ideas, and perspectives from people you respect.

That's what your audience wants too.

When you share something valuable, you're not being self-promotional. You're being useful. You're giving people what they came for.

Everyone Is Doing This Now

Another reality check: posting on LinkedIn is now a normal part of doing your job.

CEOs do it. Investors do it. Lawyers, doctors, engineers, and teachers do it.

It's not some fringe behavior for attention-seekers. It's how professionals communicate in 2026.

When you post, nobody thinks "wow, they're really trying to be famous." They think "oh, that person has interesting things to say."

Or more likely, they just read your post, get value from it, and move on.

The judgment you're afraid of? It mostly doesn't exist.

What's really going on

If I'm being honest, the cringe feeling often isn't really about other people.

It's about vulnerability.

Posting your ideas publicly means they can be criticized. It means you're saying "this is what I think" and inviting the world to disagree.

That's scary. Especially if you're used to staying in the background.

But here's the thing: the benefits of building your voice far outweigh the risks of occasional disagreement.

One valuable connection can change your career. One post can lead to your next job. One idea can establish you as the person to talk to in your field.

The vulnerability is worth it.

How to Start Without Cringing

1. Begin with sharing, not creating.

Share an article you found interesting and add your quick take. Share someone else's post with a comment about why it resonated.

This feels less exposed than creating from scratch.

2. Write for one person.

When you write for "your audience," it feels like a performance.

Instead, imagine one specific person who would benefit from your insight. Write for them. This makes it feel like helping, not showing off.

3. Remember that 99% of people won't see it.

LinkedIn's algorithm shows your post to a fraction of your connections. Most people won't see it at all.

You're not broadcasting to the world. You're sharing with a small subset of people who might be interested.

4. Focus on being useful, not impressive.

The posts that feel cringy are usually the ones trying to impress.

Posts that try to help feel different. "Here's what I learned" hits different than "look at what I achieved."

5. Give yourself permission to be imperfect.

Your first posts won't be your best. That's fine.

The only way to get good at LinkedIn is to practice. The cringe fades with repetition.

What I Tell Myself Before Posting

Before I hit publish, I ask one question:

"Would someone find this useful?"

If yes, I post. Regardless of how it might make me look, regardless of who might judge, regardless of the cringe.

Because being useful is never cringe.

The cringe fades. The benefits compound. Just start posting.

Not sure what to write? Start with 100 LinkedIn post prompts. Or read about how to find your LinkedIn writing style — the right voice makes posting feel way less awkward.