Today I want to talk about Credibility.
The definition of credibility is as follows:
- The quality, capability, or power to elicit belief.
- A capacity for belief.
(taken from Dictionary.com)
To be successful in whatever you do, you need to have credibility. People need to trust and believe in you before they will follow your lead. The things you say must be honored and the things you do must be an example to follow.
If you promise to give something but asks for something in return, your credibility may be questioned.
If you promise to do something but backed out last minute, your credibility will be compromised.
If you are a leader and you do not do what you preach, your credibility will be doubted.
I raise this topic because I have observed an event that happened recently.
A staff has requested to speak to someone of high authority (let’s call him TTH – short for Top of The Hierarchy) in an attempt to ‘help’ fellow colleagues who are deemed to be suffering in their work (himself included) due to high levels of stress cascaded down. Exchanges happened between the staffs and promises were made that voices will be heard.
A meeting was subsequently arranged with TTH and emotions were charged up to the max. And just when everything seems to be set for action, at the last minute, the staff backed out and gave excuses not to meet.
Here comes my questions: As his peers, what will you think? When you are promised a better tomorrow, when you think someone is finally speaking up for you, when this person seems to be the ‘Hero’ and suddenly, he disappears.
Without telling you why, without telling you where.
Will you still follow his lead? Will you still look up to him? Does he still have credibility?
I may have only observed one side of the story. However, my focus here is not whether the staff has done wrong in seeking redress. In fact, I do applaud his intention to help those who needs help.
My focus here is on credibility.
What level of credibility do you want to give to your friends, your family, your business associates, your customers? Do you want them to lose their faith and trust in you because of a short term gain? Or should you offer value and honor your offers to maintain a long term relation?
Let’s talk about internet marketing in the same aspect. If a marketer sells you a product, and you find great value from it, will you find and buy more from the same marketer? Of course!
However, if a marketer who is very good at writing his sales script but sells you a product that has little or no value, or does not help you in achieving what you intend to, does he have credibility? Will you trust his future recommendations?
To summarize, credibility is an important component in our life. Choose to be a credible person and take responsibility for your actions, your words and your choices.
You will make a difference.
