Do you feel like you lack credibility in your field or organisation? Maybe you have only recently joined a new company or entered a new industry and feeling a little ‘behind the eight ball’.
Maybe you are expanding your horizons and learning a new role, which is outside of your comfort zone.
Regardless of the reason, it is important to establish yourself as a credible practitioner in order to succeed.
According to the Society for Human Resource Management, being a ‘credible activist’ is one of the most critical skills you can demonstrate in the workforce.
So how do you ensure people view you as a credible practitioner? A person they can trust, respect and rely on?
Unfortunately this article won’t act as a ‘cheat’ sheet – there is no one thing that you can do to inspire trust and respect with others. To have credibility, you must earn it. You need to prove yourself, over and over and over again to others. Consistency is key.
Below I’ve listed the top five ways to get started:
1. Be an expert
Know your industry and stay up-to date with new trends, advances and how they will impact the future. When you know the external environment, people will trust your advice and judgement in the internal realm.
Know your products/services, thoroughly. Establish yourself as a trusted advisor by knowing how you add value and what makes you different from others.
Most importantly, know what you don’t know. Confusing? One person cannot be an expert in everything, nor do your colleagues expect you to. Partner with someone in your team or in your network that has expertise in the areas that you don’t.
Building trust with others mean being honest, if you can’t help someone because of limited experience or knowledge that you have – tell them it is not your area of expertise, but point them to someone that you personally trust.
2. Respect others and demonstrate integrity
If you respect others, they will respect you. It’s as easy as that. Differing opinions are good, differing opinions are healthy – but yelling matches, using offensive words or actions and talking behind others backs…well that’s just poor behaviour.
Your stakeholders will not respect you if they see you reacting poorly to decisions you disagree with, nor will they feel they can approach you.
Your working relationships are one of the most important tools you have when you’re trying to establish credibility. Which brings me to integrity, people will look at the decisions you make, and weigh up in their own mind, whether it was the right decision or not.
My advice? Stay true to your morale compass. Not only will it help you sleep better, but it will install trust in others that you are not there to take a shortcut, you are the long haul.
If you make a mistake, own it as soon as you’ve realised. Everyone makes mistakes – after all, we’re only human. Furthermore, brainstorm ways that you can fix/resolve it. Admitting that you’ve made a mistake is hard, but owning and providing a few solutions will go far when trying to preserve your integrity.
3. Pay attention to how you communicate
Listen, listen and listen some more. When others speak, give them your full attention, ask relevant and informed questions and comment only when appropriate.
Where you are not the subject matter expert, don’t pretend to be. Where you have information that you think is of value to share, do so, in a thoughtful and confident manner.
Change your diction depending on your audience; when speaking with senior management or executives, use their language, likewise when speaking with entry-level employees, ensure that you are using terminology that connects.
People are attentive, and how you communicate will go a long way as to how they perceive you.
4. Avoid exaggeration or spin
Avoid any exaggerated stories that might make people question your integrity or level of honesty.
Avoid using hyperboles or spinning a story. While it might make you a great story teller at after work events, it makes people question what else you might be exaggerating.
It’s a sure fire way to make people question your credibility.
5. Meet deadlines
If you say to a colleague, client or boss that you will have something to them by 5pm on a Thursday. Do it or let them know why it won’t be coming to them when you said it would.
The easiest way to lose people’s faith is by not meeting deadlines, particularly if you set the deadline.
It shows you don’t value their time and can’t manage your own time and schedule. All link back to your credibility as someone who sticks to their word.
So what are you waiting for? Become a member at that industry-specific association, do your research and commit to further personal development; remember to respect others and monitor your behaviour in the workplace, and lastly listen to others.
Before long, you will have increased your credibility at work and become a trusted advisor to the business.
What tips would you recommend for building your credibility at work?