Credibility is a leader’s currency. With it, he or she is solvent; without it, he or she is bankrupt.
– John Maxwell
Effective leaders lead by example. Leading by example establishes credibility. The process of establishing credibility as a leader involves time, effort, and patience, but totally worth the investment. When your team perceive that you “own” and practice ethical values, they are far more likely to emulate your behavior and follow your lead. So how do you create a credible brand? I do not pretend to know it all and I concede there is nothing revolutionary about this. But allow me to share the top five that I have so far observed it work:
- Respond professionally rather than personally. Actions that benefit you personally and are to the detriment of others will reduce your credibility. As a leader, you are paid to take decisions and may many times have the final say. In doing so, you will sometimes have the luxury of options, sometimes not. There are times that an option could lead to your personal benefit or enhance your personal brand. Keep in mind that you must view issues from the broader perspective of the organization, customers, stakeholders, etc. Carefully consider your options and be aware that decisions that may benefit you in the short term may have longer-term implications for reducing your credibility. When crisis come, be the last to take care of yourself. In times of crisis, people look up to the leader and how you respond makes a big difference. Be seen to be professional, forgetting the pain or gain to your person and respond with others and the wellbeing of the organization, unit, group, family, team etc in mind. Take the tough right decision even if it affects you personally. Your credibility will take a big leap instantly.
- Go the extra mile yourself. It is almost hypocritical to demand more from your team when you give less than more. Making sacrifices, going over and beyond, and having a better attitude even in the most difficult times is more contagious and appealing than a myriad of passionate appeals. Endeavor to be a good example of going the extra mile to your team or followers. When you ask for more from your team, show them what more looks like.
- Your word, your bond. And this is especially to your team – employees, people not necessarily business bottom-line. Credible leaders walk the talk and make their actions speak to their words. When you have made a promise to your people, fulfill it whatever it takes otherwise get back in time to manage expectations. Thus, be very careful what you promise. Better to overdeliver than to overpromise and underdeliver. Do not negotiate hard on anything with your subordinates that you will negotiate for yourself with your superiors. It is downright insulting. It is becoming a very common example of loss of credibility for most business and executive leaders.
- Be competent and excellent. Credible leaders know their stuff – atleast they know much more than just a basic understanding of their field. These leaders are experts at developing multiple solutions to problems and situations they are faced with or organizing their teams to develop solutions. They are constantly learning and it is evident that they are learning. They give comfort when you speak to them. They do not have to have all the answers and knowledge but they show great interest, ask the right questions with genuine willingness to learn. But when someone really knows his stuff, his credibility soars and especially makes good first impressions. Credible leaders are intentional and diligent not haphazard. They are excellent or pursues excellence. They want things done well to the best way they know how and they demand excellence from their team too.
- Be trusting of your team. Credible leaders are confident about the abilities of people and know how to delegate effectively. These leaders acknowledge that people become more engaged and committed when they are trusted. Research shows that only 49 percent of employees trust their senior management. This is an alarming statistic. Trust goes hand in hand with credibility. And when you visibly show trust to your team members they will return it overtime. No matter how long it takes, trust turns to become reciprocal. It is not easy to trust much when you have been let down or had your fingers burnt and I have experienced it. Yet I think there isn’t another way around it – you need to trust your team else you are going nowhere and the team aren’t going anywhere with you. I am learning to focus on the other examples when trusting brought good dividends than the few occasions when it diminished my returns. And from a credibility perspective, you are better of trusting if you want to be trusted and seen as a credible leader.
