3 types of Credibility
I had a conversation the other day with a friend, who spoke about the three types of credibility:
•Educational Credibility- This doesn’t always look the same. Could be seminars, colleges, conventions, conferences, online training, books you’ve read, etc. Doug Fields says ‘leaders are learners’… That is powerful. People who are willing to learn are also willing to listen. Those who are willing to listen can be trusted. Trust is credibility. Educational credibility generally transfers well wherever you go.
•Positional Credibility- This would be your job title. Do you have a team under you? Are you a boss? Positional credibility can be great for where you are now, but it doesn’t always transfer well. It may not always be as great as it seems. If combined with the third type of credibility, then it becomes much more influential.
•Success/Experiential Credibility- This would be someone who has had a clearly successful track record or perhaps has consistently show excellent work over a long period of time. This transfers well. Wherever you are, your experiences and even “failures” carry weight. This is your resume. The downside of this is that it takes time, but the upside is that it takes time! Anyone who establishes themselves over a long period of time proves their own stability, and perhaps even integrity.
Credibility is a mysterious force. It is difficult to come by, but easy to lose. To get ‘the job’ done, we need credibility. We need to have people who will listen to us. We need to be able to motivate an army. We need to be supported. Earning credibility isn’t just playing a game. It is real life. It is showing people you care.
If I was a betting man, I’d put my money on the first and third types. That’s just me.
Which type of credibility are you working towards right now?
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