Credibility boils down to four key behaviors:
1. Understanding and meeting the standards of others
These standards are the unspoken expectations that your coworkers have for you.
“First and foremost, understand what’s expected of you within this relationship. And sometimes expectations aren’t always bright-lined in a job description. You really have to build that relationship so you can understand what people want from you.”
2. Having a very narrow ‘say-do gap’
That’s “the space between your words and your actions. When it’s small, you’re consistent. When it’s large, you’re at risk of frustrating others.”
Maybe your coworkers consistently show up late for meetings or accept excuses for subpar work.
it’s about “making sure you’re the person who can follow through on your commitments.”
3. Communicating your intent and expectations to others
“You have to make sure that you see your success with and through other people,” The authors write that it’s better to communicate the “what” to your coworkers than the “how.”
In other words, give your team expectations for deadlines and deliverables — but not the exact steps they’ll need to take to achieve them. That way, you’ll inspire creative problem-solving.
“Chances are good,” the authors write, “that someone’s poor performance is a result of something you did not do versus something [your coworker] did do.”
- Holding others accountable when they fail to meet standards
Just as leaders should keep themselves accountable (see No. 2: the say-do gap), it’s important to hold your teammates responsible for their behavior.
Bottom line: Being credible at work is not about how you see yourself; it’s about whether others can trust you.
Ken Amstutz, 