Be ourselves. This is simply an easy thing to do, as a matter of fact. A lot of people who have fallen into the credibility gap are quite so bad in interpreting themselves as they thought as a different person. All of us have noticed people who have inflated their job performance, more attractive to a leadership position. As quickly as once they are able to reach the position, they then realize that they have no level of knowledge of either of them deserve for the position. People could look through individuals who have tried to allocate to be one they are actually not. There are people who spend time joining the right clubs, traveling in the right circles, and participating events at high profile while the crowd knows the difference between a real and future leaders.
Be an expert. When we are at the top because we know exactly what our business is, then we gain an uncanny capability to lead others. However, there are still some leaders who are lack of credibility, because they are only prepared with a superficial knowledge, without depth. The more we know the more credible we would be; but it is not all! The credible leader is someone who has high willing to share knowledge with his people and to encourage the exchange of communication and ideas. This is not only what we have to know just based on the position as a credible leader, but how we learn how to know and to share with others.
Be honest. We must not choose more than political arena to see how our best examples of losing credibility with the concealment. What do we think when we hear the words: “I am not a thief” and “I have sexual relations with no woman.” Do we think of honesty? I do not think so. Presidents might have saved face if they are honest in their statements at the beginning. When they have admitted of wrongdoing, the public would probably be giving more forgiveness. Instead, what they have uttered returned to haunt them. The old adage, “What goes around comes around “shows that this is appropriately true. Presidents/Leaders are the first people to test thin-time because they are under control, whether public, U.S. firms or a nonprofit organization they represent. Too many leaders think too far that they are really invincible. If we accept a position as at leadership, then we also have to accept full responsibility for our own words and deeds. Be honest from the beginning, and our credibility remains intact.
Be proactive. It is far from too late to carry out such a credible check. This leaves lines, questions like “What is my credibility at risk?” “What can I do to enhance my credibility?” “What should I do to ensure my credibility is maintained every day?” The more we wish to know, the better prepared we are at our own credibility.
There are no more valuable and powerful assets to our personal credibility rather than the soul of who we are as a person as well as a leader. We indeed take responsibility of the construction and maintenance of the whole things.
