When you want to build more credibility: 7 actions to take
Some of us feel like we may not have the confidence or “street cred” to suggest a new idea, propose a different way to tackle something, deliver a leadership presentation or even be considered for that promotion. Whatever your situation, you may feel like you don’t have enough experience or expertise to be credible in a given situation.
I have been taught by several professionals that the best way to move into a new area is to “fake it ‘til you make it.” I used to buy into this. Essentially, this saying implies that you are smart and scrappy so you can figure anything out when given the opportunity. While many of us fit this description, I am not so sure I am on this bandwagon anymore. I think there are things you can do to boost your credibility without “faking” it. In fact, faking expertise can lead to bad decisions.
Confidence may feed into credibility but they are not the same thing. Some of us may have credibility in a situation but lack the confidence to be viewed as an expert. Confidence comes from within. It comes from self-assurance and the belief that you are competent, will give good advice and steer the group in a good direction. Usually, this comes with experience but it can also come from security in the knowledge that I have the skills and mindset to be a go-to person in a given situation.
Here are 7 actions you can take to build more credibility and be viewed as an expert or trusted advisor no matter where you are in your professional journey.
Ask Questions.
Some people think that the best way to demonstrate your expertise is to talk. Talk, talk, talk. Tell everyone what you know. I always know the person who may feel the least of comfortable in the room by how much talking they are doing. To build credibility with people means to build trust in you. The quickest way to build trust is to listen and ask thoughtful questions. The smartest person in the room is the one who asks the best questions. Asking good questions means the person has a firm understanding of the situation and knows what might be missing or might need to be resolved. This all gets determined through good questions.
Build Relationships.
I once listened to the podcaster, Jordan Harbinger, talk about “digging the well before you’re thirsty”. His point is to build relationships before you actually need them. Building relationships for the sake of building relationships actually makes good sense. Back to the trust factor, knowing and building relationships before you need them, before you need someone to vouch for you and talk about your competence, is a good strategy to build your credibility in an organization. While having a PhD in Psychology may demonstrate expertise, people decide whether you are credible or not. Proactively build relationships with people so they get to know you and what you are about.
Be Observant.
To be credible, you must understand the culture and organization not just your discipline. Back to not doing all of the talking, you can’t learn and contextualize your expertise until you stop talking and start observing the people and environment around you. Whenever I have started in a new organization, I always remain fairly silent. I ask questions, observe, build relationships and then I open my mouth. It is important to respect the history of the organization as well before coming in an announcing that everything is wrong and must be changed. You build credibility by putting your expertise in context - especially the context of the organization you are working for.
Be Consistent.
Being consistent in our actions accomplishes several things. 1. We become known as dependable. 2. We demonstrate that we know what we are doing because we do the same things or apply the same logic in different situations. 3. We build trust. I know...clearly there is a theme here! Consistently showing up, consistently performing, consistently listening and asking good questions will build your credibility as being a key person to have on a team or solve a problem. Nothing challenges your credibility more than being flighty or fragmented.
Be Sincere.
This is where the fake it ‘til you make it theory falls apart for me. In order to be a credible source, you need to be sincere. You can’t be faking anything. You need to be respectful and authentic in your interactions. I can’t trust you if you are fake or misleading. To demonstrate sincerity, be yourself. Some people may not be comfortable with this. If we have feelings of inadequacy, we may think we need to be someone else or put up a facade to be trusted. Conquering your lack of confidence or feeling that you aren’t good enough (sometimes called imposter syndrome) is essential to being credible. If you believe it, they will believe it. If you don’t, they won’t.
Be Accountable.
Related to being consistent is to be accountable for your actions. Accountability not only means doing what you say you are going to do but also taking ownership when things go right or wrong. As a leader, nothing builds more credibility and trust than admitting you’re wrong. But, you must be sincere when making this admission. People can tell if you are faking. Taking ownership over a project, presentation or outcome demonstrates your abilities and your integrity.
Be Competent.
Last, but not least, you must be competent. Again, faking knowledge or skill may work against you. If you want to be better at giving presentations, then take some training and practice. Building competence can be done by practicing, taking training, teaching others, asking for help from a peer, finding a mentor or coach. Competent professionals make mistakes so this is not to say that you must be perfect. But, you must demonstrate your knowledge and skills in some manner.
I often get asked by those newer to the workforce how to build credibility. I think credibility can be built even early on in your career. Experience helps to breed confidence but if you are sincere, competent, develop yourself, ask good questions, take ownership, and build relationships early, you will be seen as credible over time. Credibility and trust go hand in hand. The same actions for building credibility also build trust. It is difficult to have one without the other. If you focus on being trustworthy, credibility will follow.