Enhance your professional credibility

Credibility is not something you automatically have, nor is it something you can bestow upon yourself- its something others bestow upon you.
The problem is that most people don’t give their credibility a second thought, they automatically assume they are credible, they don’t make any conscious effort to make sure others feel the same way.
The unfortunate truth is that if you don’t take active steps to enhance your credibility, others will do it for you…. and you may not like the results.
Basically, there are three main components to credibility that you need to be aware of in order to gain some points in the credibility market. These are your values, behavior and your reputation.
Your Values: values are acquired over the course of your life and they ultimately shape your expectations of others and of the world. And just as you have values that you use to judge others by, so does everyone else. The problem comes when those who are judging your credibility have different values than you. For example, some people value arguments and lively debate. So if someone values argument and you don’t, it may look to you that the person is mean and likes to argue all the time, when all they’re really doing is trying to encourage a lively debate. But because you have different values, that person loses credibility in your eyes for being a trouble-maker. And on the flip side, the other person may view you as weak because you don’t engage in lively debates, when in fact you simply value keeping the peace more so than arguments.
Therefore, you need to know what others value and to what degree they value it, as their own standards will dictate the level of credibility they bestow upon you.
Your Behaviors: Behaviors are things you choose to do. We all make thousands of choices every day, but hey, be sure to remember that you’re judged by your outward behavior not by your wonderful intentions. .
Some key behaviors to focus on as you attempt to boost your credibility include:
• Don’t over promise. Do what you say you will do.
• Be open about your motives behind a directive or decision. You choose what you tell people.
• own up to mistakes (early and always).
• Keep people’s confidences. Get permission before divulging sensitive information.
• Treat others consistently and fairly.
• Listen to others. You choose where you put your mental focus.
Your Reputation: Your reputation is the total of what your values are and how you choose to act. Ultimately your behaviors lead to your reputation, and then all three of these factors – your values, your behaviors, and your reputation add up to your credibility.
Your reputation is something you have, whether you know it or not. And unfortunately, you can get a bad reputation very easily. In fact, it’s often the small things – like not returning emails promptly – that can tarnish someone’s reputation more so than the bigger issues.
The good news is that you can enhance your reputation by working on it, which will inevitably boost your credibility. You simply need to think about the behaviors you choose and the kind of reputation you want to earn. Therefore, find out what people’s expectations are of you and then meet them.
Finally, realize that being likable doesn’t play a big part in your reputation. You can be very quiet, shy, and totally introverted yet still have a stellar reputation. Conversely, you can have a great personality, be the life of the party, and be totally charming, but have a less than flattering reputation. So no matter who you are, where you work, or what your personality, you can have a great reputation.
And always remember;
Credibility Matters: In today’s economy and job market you need to take the proper steps to enhance your credibility. In fact, if you’re not taking values, behaviors, and reputation into consideration, you could quickly find yourself out of a job with few prospects for new work, as your credibility will be tarnished. A lot is on the line here, so take it seriously. Build your creditability today so you can have the success you desire for years to come.