Make Your Actions Converse Louder Than Phrases
Credible Leaders: Make Your Actions Louder Than Words
Credibility distinguishes a manager from the average boss. When your team knows that you “stand by” despite the odds, they will trust you and your leadership.
But building credibility is not a piece of cake. It takes conscious effort and total integrity to speak the word. It is not enough just to be a “leader by title” to win the hearts and minds of those around you. Hence, you need to make a conscious effort to hone your leadership skills to show that you can be trusted for who you are.
Here are 7 surefire strategies to help you invest in yourself and reach your potential:
1. Pay respect
What you offer is what you get. Offer respect and be respected in return. It may sound like cliché, but many leaders struggle with this fundamental aspect of leadership and lose people to other organizations.
People are not going to respect you for your title but for the qualities you display. They may turn to you for instructions, but they don’t necessarily see you as the leader of the people. When people notice that your practices are centered around the ability to show respect and appreciation, they will trust you. If you don’t, they will question your every move.
2. Practice integrity
You are not only responsible for getting your team to meet deadlines and goals. But the path you are taking and asking everyone to follow is a powerful reminder that integrity is a precious quality in your life. People seek guidance and guidance during critical times and when things go downhill they know that the wellbeing of your team is your priority.
People need to trust you enough to know that you take the greatest responsibility and are working toward the right solutions, rather than the easy way out. Your team needs to know that you are always part of the solution, not the problem.
3. Be responsible
Leadership can be a lonely journey. While leading your team, a large part of your role requires you to be vigilant, responsible, and in many ways accountable for your actions. You are also responsible for your team.
If you drop the ball it is your responsibility to repair it immediately. Do not dwell or fall into the guilt game trap or ignore it if you think it is not your responsibility. Mistakes and slip-ups are a common burden.
4. Be vigilant
As a manager, it is not enough just to be competent, but also to keep track of things and to stay “up to date”. Your team will reach out to you for insights, ideas, solutions, and directions.
Successful managers invest in continuous development. You never stop learning. You learn from different sources. For example formal training, coaching, colleagues, competitors. It is very important to have this hunger, learn more, do more, and be more. Your expertise enables your team to reach out to you.
5. Become a recognized authority
Your ability to delegate effectively will ensure job satisfaction on your team. Continue to show that your promotion was the result of your strategic thinking and leadership skills. A credible leader is someone others turn to to solve stubborn problems.
You are an authority that people can rely on to help them deal with crises or large-scale initiatives. If your expertise is lagging behind, or you haven’t sharpened your skills to stay relevant in the game, then staying credible is definitely difficult.
6. Deliver results
Show. Don’t just talk about it. Follow the commitments. Take action and see it through to the finish line. Be brave enough to jump in and show what you can do. When an expert is needed to tackle a sensitive client, situation or project, put your hat in the ring.
Your credibility is built not only by leading the team, but also being part of it. Your team’s success is your success. Show them what that means to you. Recognize, praise, and value your team in public when you have all provided accurate, high-quality results.
7. Communicate your vision
Any credible leader needs to have the right goals in order to work on important things. Make sure you understand your priorities well and tell your team the overall purpose of “why” you are doing what you are doing. A credible leader is one who can clearly articulate their goals for everyone so they know what is expected of them.
Set goals and track progress through regular team and one-on-one meetings. By tracking your progress, you can diagnose which goals have outlived their purpose and which ones need to keep moving. Engage your team to meet expectations. If you give your team autonomy and creative leeway, they feel safe to experiment.
Put everything together
Credible leaders are aware of their actions. They pause and reflect to know where they stand and how their actions are affecting their team and their projects as a whole. The one who puts the goodwill of the team above his own is a sign of a trustworthy and credible leader.
In the words of John C. Maxwell, “Credibility is a leader’s currency. With that he is solvent; without it, he or she is bankrupt. “
