Trust Me: The Importance of Credibility

Dubuque Circles Initiative Leadership Track Series

What is CredibilityLatin for “I believe”The feeling of trust and respect that you

inspire in othersDemonstrating concern that one be perceived

as responsible, reliable, and trustworthy

Why is Credibility Important?People will trust your judgmentAttract enthusiastic and committed followersPeople want to work for themNeeded to be successfulNeeded to sell your ideas

Components of Credibility

HonestyThe most important leadership attribute

since 1980 has always been honestyIf people are going to follow someone

willingly, they first want to assure themselves that the person is worthy of their trust

A failure of honesty poisons the team, damages the trust between people, and breaks down team cohesion

Honesty earns respect of others and fosters their confidence that leaders can be trusted to follow through on their commitments

Forward ThinkingYou have to be looking at the big pictureLeaders must have a destination in mind

when asking others to join them on a journey into the unknown

Constituents ask that a leader know what the organization will look like, feel like, and be like when it arrives at its goal in six months or six years

InspiringPeople admire and respect leaders who are:

DynamicUpliftingEnthusiasticPositiveOptimistic

The enthusiasms of leaders is contagious and gets everyone to feel that they can make the impossible possible

CompetentIf people are to enlist in another’s cause, they

must see that individual as capable and effective

Type of competence that constituents look for does vary somewhat with the leader’s role

Expertise in leadership skills per se is another dimension of competence

How to Build Credibility

Build CharacterIdentify the core values that you won’t violateSpend time getting to know yourself and

what you care about most

Have IntegrityYou need to be known as someone who does

the right things for the right reasonsThink carefully about the choices and

promises that you makeNever make a promise or commitment that

you can’t keepWhen you make a mistake, own up to it

immediately and do whatever it takes to correct it

Be AuthenticPeople who are authentic do what they sayThere’s no mystery about their intentions or

about how those intentions might translate to their actions

Demonstrate authenticity in everything that you do

Develop ExpertiseChoose a single area that is fundamentally

important to your role, organization, or industry

Focus your efforts and ensure that you don’t become overwhelmed

Stay up-to-date on your industryProtect your reputation for expertise and

acknowledge what you don’t know

Be TransparentWhen you’re open and honest, others don’t

have to guess what your motivations or intentions are

You inspire trust when you talk openly about your intentions, values, and goals

Keep the lines of communication open, especially when you have bad news to share

Self-disclosure

Communicate ClearlyPeople who listen attentively and make

thoughtful, informed comments are often seen is more credible than those who don’t listen well, or those who speak thoughtlessly

Strengthen your active listening skillsSpeak clearly and confidentlyDon’t use industry jargonEliminate barriers to communicationDon’t exaggerate facts or stories; stick to the

truth

Now That You Talk the Talk…

It’s Time To Walk the Walk

Stand Tall and Take Up SpaceKeeping your posture erect, your shoulders

back, and your head held high make you look sure of yourself

If you stand you will look more powerful and assured to those who are seated

If you move around, the additional space you take up adds to that impression

Widen Your StanceWhen you stand with your feet close together,

you can seem hesitant or unsure of what you are saying

When you widen your stance, relax your knees and center your weight in your lower body, you look more “solid” and confident

Lower Your Vocal PitchSpeakers with higher-pitched voices are

judged to be less empathic, less powerful and more nervous than speakers with lower pitched voices

Put your lips together and say “Um hum, um hum, um hum.” Doing so relaxes your voice into its optimal pitch.

Try Power Priming Think of a past success that fills you with

pride and confidenceThen recall the feeling of power and certainty

– and remember or imagine how you looked and sounded

Recall the feeling of power and certainty and remember or imagine how you looked and sounded

Recalling that genuine emotion will help you embody it as you enter the meeting room or walk up to the podium

Strike a Power PoseSimply holding you body in expansive, “high-

power” poses for as little as two minutes stimulates higher levels of testosterone – the hormone linked to power and dominance – and lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone

Lean back with hands behind the head and feet up on a desk, or standing with legs and arms stretched wide open

Maintain Positive Eye ContactCultural preferencesBusinesspeople will expect you to maintain

eye contact 50-60% of the timeWhenever you greet a business colleague,

look into his or her eyes long enough to notice what color they are

Talk With Your HandsGesturing as you talk can actually power up

your thinkingWhen incorporating gestures into their

deliveries, verbal content improves, their speech is less hesitant, and their use of fillers decreases

Use Open Gestures Keeping your movements relaxed, using open

arm gestures, and showing the palms of your hands are silent signals of credibility and candor

Perceived more positively and are more persuasive than those with closed gestures

If you hold your arms at waist level, and gesture within that plane, most audiences will perceive you as assured and credible

Try a SteepleUsing a hand gesture when quite certain

about a point they are makingThe tips of your fingers touch, but the palms

are separatedWhen you want to project conviction and sincerity about a point you’re making, try steepling

Reduce Nervous GesturesWhen nervous or stressed, we all pacify with

some form of self-touching, nonverbal behavior

Doing these actions reduce credibilityIf start doing these actions, take a deep

breath and steady yourself by placing feet firmly on the floor and your hands palm down in your lap or desk

Stillness sends a message that you’re calm and confident

SmileThe human brain prefers happy facesWe can spot a smile from the length of a

football fieldSmiling not only stimulates your own sense of

well being, it also tells those around you that you are approachable and trustworthy

Research shows we like and remember those who smile at us

Perfect Your HandshakeTouch is the most powerful and primitive

nonverbal cueThe right handshake can give you instant

credibilityNo “dead fish” or “bone-crusher” grips

In ConclusionThere’s more to credibility than what may

meet the eyeYou can increase your credibility by both your

words and your actionsNonverbals can either help or harm your

credibility

Any final questions, comments, deep thoughts?