Do you use LinkedIn? Do you use it as an extension of your private life, or is it a professional network?

I joined LinkedIn while I was in my MBA program. There was an informal competition to see who could get the most connections, after we had a guest speaker come in and talk about the power of social and professional networks. While I did not have the most connections, I was declared a “winner” by a few because one of my friends worked for LucasArts. (That friend now works for Zynga.)

While I like LinkedIn, and it’s been a great way to keep up with what the others in my MBA cohort are doing professionally (since we’re not close enough for FaceBook), I’ve never really used it as a tool to build a professional network. I linked with friends, some of whom are very impressive professionally, but none of whom work in my field.

I linked to a venture capitalist I once interviewed with because he was in my email address book, and who, as a venture capitalist, links to anyone and everyone who asks. The more connections he has, definitely the better for him.

But for myself, for some reason, I never felt comfortable sending a request to someone I only knew professionally. Which is silly, because LinkedIn isn’t FaceBook. It is about professional connections.

This week, I had a conversation with my boss about what he is doing, considering his impending lay off. We talked about professional sounding personal email addresses and social networks. I mentioned I had applied for a couple of positions. He mentioned he would be honored to be a reference for me, and said he was making up some personal contact cards and would make sure I got one.

That night, I talked with C about that conversation, and he said “Make sure you connect with him via LinkedIn.” It seems like such a simple statement, and yet it was something I hadn’t even considered.

But I kept considering it, and I realized, this is what LinkedIn is for. I sent my boss a connection request. I also sent one to one of the other executive directors I have worked with who has been laid off. I sent one to a high levelHRconsultant that I’ve worked with on a number of projects. And I sent one to the finance manager I work with all the time. They have all accepted my requests.

I also sent one to the former VP I wrote about in Will There Be Cake?. He hasn’t responded, but he might still be inAfrica.

I work very hard to build up my professional network. I go to events I’m not exactly comfortable at so that I have a chance to talk to people I’d never interact with in my job. I am on the planning committee for the Women Leadership Forum symposium we are putting on next week.

I am good at my job, and it is important to me that I am known for being good at my job, but it’s also important, if I want to keep moving my career up the ladder (and I do) that people who never have a chance to see me do my job still see me, and know my name. It’s important that they also see names attached to mine of people they do know and whose opinions they trust. And it is my responsibility to make that happen.

I cannot just sit back and hope people notice me. I have to put myself out there and make them notice me. I can not treat my professional network like a Ron Popeil kitchen device. There is no set it and forget it here. I have to put in the time and effort to make sure my professional network reflects me as a professional.

I am in my mid-30s, married, planning on adopting a child, have a masters degree and work as a manager in my field, and yet there are some days when it feels like I am still learning how to be a grown up. This was one of them.

What about you? Are you tending your professional network?