Three More Keys to Credibility (Part 2)

Carolyn DicksonPosted by Carolyn Dickson on April 8th, 2010 | 0 Comments

Last week I wrote about the Integrity aspect of credibility and how honesty and trust make such a difference in whether you’re believable in the eyes and minds of other people. If you remember, I said that credibility isn’t something you inherently posses, but is a quality bestowed on you by others. They decide if they can believe you and believe in you. There are, however, four components of credibility that you can influence, both by your behavior and the way you present yourself to the world. The four components are: Integrity, Expertise, Dynamism and Openness.

Please take a look at my article, You Can’t Fake Integrity, for a discussion of Integrity. In the meantime, let’s look at the other three components in more detail.

Expertise

My husband and I attend a Sunday evening discussion group, where we watch DVDs of interest to the entire group and discuss their content as they relate to our own lives. The DVDs are produced by The Teaching Company. Last week we were looking ahead to the next program. One particular topic had caught my eye and I suggested it to the group. Two questions were instantly fired at me, even before we examined the program’s content: “Who is the lecturer?” And, “What are his credentials?”

It goes almost without saying that, to be credible, you need to know what you’re talking about. This means becoming an expert in your field, doing your homework, and backing up your ideas and opinions with facts. We look instinctively at a person’s credentials—on a resume, in a curriculum vitae, in a biographical sketch. Who is this person? What has he done? What does she know? Are they credible?

Dynamism

As soon as our group had established the lecturer’s credentials, another question arose. One woman was passionate. “What kind of a speaker is he?” she asked. “I’ve seen too many of these programs where the subject was fascinating but the lecturer was so boring he killed the whole thing.”

One definition of dynamic is: marked by energy; forceful. At VoicePro® we often refer to passion, which is the spirit with which you approach life. Your strong commitment to your job, your colleagues, your company—all mark you as a credible person one can believe in. If you’re content with going through the motions and just getting by, your credibility will suffer.

At the same time, this energy—this passion—must be apparent to your audiences, those with whom you communicate. “Let your light shine,” the Scriptures say. Believability comes when people feel the strength of your commitment.

Openness

One mark of a truly credible person is his or her willingness to listen to the other side (or sides) of the story. This doesn’t mean you are obligated to agree, only that you’re open to the hearts and minds of other people and willing to recognize their points of view, even if you hold a different position. If you can keep from becoming defensive when your ideas, or even your actions, are questioned, your status will rise. Keeping cool under pressure, remaining open physically and emotionally, is a sign of confidence and stature. Open mindedness shows respect for others. It also conveys a sense of your own confidence and personal power, i.e., your credibility.

These four components—Integrity, Expertise, Dynamism, Openness—are integral to building and maintaining your credibility. If any one is missing, your overall credibility will be diminished. Elements of all of them can be developed and practiced over time until they become your normal way of life. Until you don’t have to think about them ever again.

Image by ~Brenda-Starr~

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