Week after week, I get messages like this from different companies:

“Hi Tim. I’m hosting an event for senior business leaders in Central London on ??th November — Human Centric Leaders in a Disrupted World. Together we’ll explore how yesterday’s leadership mindsets and approaches cannot build tomorrow’s organisations, and what’s needed instead.

It’s a small, invite-only group of leaders who want to tackle these challenges head-on. I’d be delighted to invite you along as my guest. Let me know and I can send you a link with further details.”

Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Except… when you click through to the sender’s LinkedIn profile, it’s wall-to-wall selling
“Buy my product.”
“We’re the best.”
“Let’s book a demo.”

And that’s when it clicks, this isn’t about leadership conversations or collaboration
It’s about getting a small group of potential buyers into a room so they can pitch to them

I always decline politely
But it does make me wonder, how many others get these messages, and what do you do when they land in your inbox?

Conclusion:
If this is the “new” sales tactic, it’s really just the old one with better packaging

The truth is, people don’t want to be sold to, they want to be part of something real

Authentic connection still beats clever camouflage every time