It’s important to ensure that you build credibility on firm
foundations.
Would you attend a training course run by someone with no
experience of his subject or would you go "above and beyond" for a
leader who didn't routinely keep her word?
Chances are, you'd answer "no" to these questions.
If you're going to invest your time, energy, and enthusiasm with someone, you
want that person to be credible and worthy of your trust.
But what is credibility? Why is it important? And, how can
you build it?
In this article, we'll answer these questions, and we'll
look at why being credible is so important for a successful career.
What is Credibility? The root of the word
"credibility" is "credo," which means "I believe"
in Latin. Put simply, credibility is the feeling of trust and respect that you
inspire in others.
No single thing creates credibility. Rather, a combination
of things must be in place for you to establish it.
Why is Credibility Important? Think about a time when
you worked under a leader who had credibility. Chances are that she energized
and excited her entire team. You knew that she would do the right things for
the right reasons, and you trusted her judgment.
Credible leaders attract enthusiastic and committed
followers, and people want to work for them. But credibility is important in
many areas, not just in leadership roles.
For instance, sales professionals need credibility to be
successful – people don't want to buy from someone they don't trust, or from a
person who doesn't know about his product.
You also need credibility when you give presentations,
deliver training, and sell your ideas.
How to Build Credibility. No matter what your role or
position, credibility is something that you have to earn. It takes time,
patience, and consistency to build it. Follow the tips below to establish
credibility.
Build Character. If credibility were a pyramid, then
your character and integrity would make up the foundation. To build
character, first identify the core values that you won't violate – people with
strong character stand up for what they believe in, even when it goes against
popular opinion. Spend time getting to know yourself and what you care about
most, and be willing to defend your values and choices.
Integrity is also essential for credibility. You need to be
known as someone who does the right things for the right reasons.
To preserve your integrity, think carefully about the
choices and promises that you make, and never make a promise or commitment that
you can't keep. When you make a mistake, own up to it immediately, and do
whatever it takes to correct it.
You also need to be authentic. People who are authentic do
what they say; there's no mystery about their intentions, or about how those
intentions might translate to their actions. This is why it's important to know
yourself inside and out, and to demonstrate authenticity in everything that you
do.
Develop Expertise. The more expertise you have and
can demonstrate, the greater your credibility.
To build expertise, choose a single area that is
fundamentally important to your role, organization, or industry. This will help
you focus your efforts and ensure that you don't become overwhelmed. For
example, if you're in engineering, you could develop an expert knowledge of the
materials that your products use, and you could then build out from this.
Also, make sure that you stay up-to-date on your industry.
When you're informed about industry trends and developments, people will trust
your judgment.
While your reputation for expertise is important, it's just
as important to protect it and acknowledge what you don't know. When you guess,
or operate in areas outside of your expertise without informing others, you run
the risk of giving out false information, making bad decisions, and being shown
to be wrong. This can undermine your reputation for expertise, and damage your
credibility.
Tip: Be careful in how you communicate your
expertise; you don't want others to see you as arrogant or as a know-it-all.
Stay humble about your accomplishments, and develop your emotional
intelligence, so that you can communicate in a sensitive way.
Be Transparent. People trust what they can see. When
you're open and honest, others don't have to guess what your motivations or
intentions are.
Keep this in mind when you interact with your clients, team,
or suppliers. You inspire trust when you talk openly about your intentions,
values, and goals.
Also, keep the lines of communication open, especially when
you have bad news to share.
Self-disclosure, when you reveal information about yourself
to others, is an important part of transparency. For instance, one study found
that college professors who shared personal information were perceived as more
credible than those who didn't.
Communicate Clearly. Your communication skills play
an important role in your credibility. For example, people who listen
attentively and make thoughtful, informed comments are often seen as more
credible than those who don't listen well, or those who speak thoughtlessly.
Start by strengthening your active listening skills. When
people are speaking, give them your full attention, and ask questions to
clarify anything that you don't understand.
When communicating with others, speak clearly and
confidently. Don't use industry jargon to make yourself sound more
knowledgeable – instead, focus on eliminating barriers to communication, so
that your listeners clearly understand your message. Also, don't exaggerate
facts or stories; stick to the truth.
Be Professional. Have you ever worked with bosses,
clients, or colleagues who were unprofessional? Perhaps they did a poor job
controlling their emotions under stress. They might have disrespected others,
failed to "do the detail," or made little effort with their
appearance.
Professionalism is an important element in credibility
because it shows others that you truly care about your relationships and your
work.
To exhibit professionalism, control your emotions at work.
Don't lash out at others when you're tired, stressed, or frustrated. When
you're in an argument or negotiation, don't take others' comments or opinions
personally. Do your best to remain objective, and keep emotion out of the
discussion.
Come to work well-dressed. It might seem like a small
matter, but how you present yourself says a lot about who you are and how you
feel about yourself. When you dress in a professional and appropriate manner,
you'll likely find that your self-confidence and self-respect get a boost as
well.
Also, meet the deadlines that you've been set, always
deliver high-quality work, and don't make excuses when you haven't performed
well.
Key Points
You establish credibility when you inspire trust in others,
and it's important to your success, no matter what role you're in. It's
especially important if you're in a leadership role.
To build your credibility, demonstrate honesty and integrity
in everything that you do. Work on building expertise, be transparent, be
professional, and communicate clearly.
Source: MindTools
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