Positive Leadership: 50,000 Page Views for the Positive Leadership Blog

Thanks to everyone who reads the Positive Leadership Blog for taking us over the 50,000 page views mark. We are delighted! We hope that you continue to find our leadership related posts interesting and stimulating.

Positive Leadership: 50,000 Page Views for the Positive Leadership Blog

Positive Leadership: How is Your Credibility?

Leaders and managers spend a lot of time and effort thinking about how to develop their people’s talent, shape their performance, and motivate them to improve.

But when was the last time you focused on yourself? Specifically, how’s your credibility? Does it need some attention? 

Here are 10 ways to boost your credibility with colleagues, customers, and everyone else within your sphere of influence:

1. Demonstrate ownership and a sense of urgency. Your colleagues and customers want a quick turnaround when they have a problem or concern. Show them they matter.

2. Be clear on when you will respond. When a problem or concern arises, quickly communicate details on how you will fix the issue, and ensure it doesn’t happen again.

3. Return calls and emails promptly. Don’t let emails sit in your inbox unanswered, and don’t hide behind your voicemail—especially if you’ve made a mistake. Be reachable.

4. Meet face-to-face when possible. Email is handy, but it isn’t the right mode of communication for resolving conflicts, having discussions, or expressing feelings.

5. Be open, candid, and transparent. Don’t withhold information that you should be sharing. Don’t force others to ask for the truth; volunteer it. Being open instils trust.

6. Earn trust—don’t ask for it. The worst thing a manager can say is “Trust me!” Build credibility with your actions and you’ll never have to ask for it.

7. Follow through with agreements. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Never make others beg for information that you said you would provide.

8. Admit your mistakes. Be accountable for your actions. Nothing destroys credibility more than blaming everyone else and refusing to point your finger at yourself.

9. Restate commitments. If a customer or colleague agrees to anything, restate back to them what they’ve just agreed to. That way there will be surprises—from you or from them.

10. Set a good example. If you blame others, worry, get hysterical, do things in a mediocre way, have disorganised methods, or fail to see others’ potential, so will your colleagues.

Positive Leadership: How is Your Credibility?