How to be viewed as a credible leader

- If you want to be considered a more credible leader, what does that look like? What do you need to work on? Barry Posner and James Kouzes of Santa Clara University actually wrote a book on this topic appropriately titled "Credibility" and they discovered something interesting. Honesty is the most important part of credibility but that's true whether you're talking about your colleagues or a leader. If you're specifically focused on what makes a credible leader, you need to be seen as forward looking, meaning you have a vision for the future. Now, this is a bit of a catch 22 because if you're at the phase of your career where you're rising into leadership, you may not have had the opportunity to demonstrate that you're forward looking and yet, being seen that way is important, so that the people around you will understand that you have leadership potential. You'll want to make a point of showing that aspect of yourself when you can. For instance, you can try to contribute big picture ideas at staff meetings or brainstorming sessions, or volunteer for strategic planning committees or things like that, but it may be hard to demonstrate that fully until you're actually in a leadership role. That's why you might also think about doubling down on some other ways you can demonstrate credibility. One of them is highlighted by research that the Center for Talent Innovation did into the concept of executive presence. Executive presence touches on a similar phenomenon. What makes someone seem like a leader? They identified three key characteristics that bolster your perceived credibility as a leader. The first appearance is somewhat self-evident. Are you dressed neatly and professionally? It's true that startup founders have pushed the boundaries a bit but in general, it's hard to look like a leader. For the sake of argument, someone who could be sent to meet with clients without embarrassing the company if you're dressed in ratty clothes. Communication skills are also critical. Incredible leader is someone who's able to put forward a vision and get others to buy into it and it's very hard to do that if you're fumbling over your words or you're fidgeting uncontrollably. Making the effort to learn to speak well pays huge dividend. Finally, there's gravitas, being calm under pressure even in extremely stressful situations. That's what we'd all want in a leader. If you demonstrate that you embody that, it's a huge marker of credibility. And the converse is also true because it's hard for people to trust your judgment or your efficacy if you freak out when times are tough. The frameworks provided by Barry Posner and James Kouzes and the Center for Talent Innovation are a great way to think about credibility and what you can do to beef up your own. But there's one more piece that's worth mentioning. None of this matters if your people don't believe you actually care about them. If you're viewed as a mercenary and only in it for yourself, the rest of your skills and abilities are irrelevant. The best form of credibility is using your power and your efficacy on behalf of those you serve.