What do you do when you get a request for a recommendation - and you don't know the person?

Marte: I usually write a generic recommendation mentioning their blogging, online presence, etc.

Hi Marte,

I too, was approached by a Linkedin associate for a recommendation. I knew the guy personally, and had spoken with him on a couple of occasions after our sales meetings as he worked at our company’s business division (commercial RE), however, nobody from our office had ever done any business with him so I couldn’t even ask anyone for opinions.

I respectfully declined because I felt I was NOT a good reference, since we never worked together and it would not be of benefit to anyone.

I have used "Business Partner", then explained how I know them.  If you are not comfortable with it, by all means, decline and let the person know why.  Was it me?  HA.

Tough one Marte.  We all want to help each other but I personally wouldn't ask anyone who didn't know me to wrote a recommendation.  I would decline and explain why. 

Marte,

Truthfully, I just delete them. Guess it's not the appropriate thing to do, it would be more straight-forward to respond, yet I haven't.

Marte - When in doubt, don't. I have declined many requests for recommendations on LinkedIn and usually write a brief note explaining why I can't currently recommend that person and it seems most people understand.

It's always difficult to decline a request for a recommendation but honesty is the best policy and if you don't feel you know someone well enough to give an enthusiastic recommendation you shouldn't feel bad about respectfully declining and they should be respectful and graciously accept your decision.

Of course if I ask and you decline I'm going to be mad at you forever...

only kidding, I'll eventually get over it!  

Marte, you are a better person than me, if I have NO IDEA who the person is, I delete it.     A recommendation is to be just that...and if you don't know them, how can you?

Marte~If someone I don't know is asking for a recommendation, I think that is telling in of itself. If I've gotten to know them, but have never used their services, then I would state that in my recommendation.

Have an AWESOME Valentines day!

Mi Marte,

There is nothing mean about being honest and truthful especially when our reputation is on the line. We work so hard to build it up and as we all know it could come crashing down real fast.  

Although we have only been asked by a few for a recommendation, if we've never done business with them, or aren't familiar with them at all, we would ignore it, but so far this has never happened to us...